Back To Kathraine

• ·     Back to Katherine

After going around Kakadu we headed back to Katherine and stopped at the same C.P. nothing much changed a little more people around as the Katherine Show was on, so we had a show day.

Pretty good outing - seeing a big regional show was a lot to take in.

The highlight was the rodeo. What a great spectacle and so close to the action. These guys are absolutely mad and the two dudes that offer themselves as targets to get the bulls off the arena are insane. Tough job - hope they were well paid as they ran around all night being chased by angry bulls.  As a sport these guys work harder than an AFL player and a lot more dangerous, not to mention the Dunlop volleys- only in the Territory.

We’re on our way to the West.

Hooroo 

Enjoy the pics!

The dogs were clever

  

who's gunna give!

Only the Territory would have racing on an oval.

These guys were unbelievable

Yee-ha

Get on a bull ,w'll give you a helmet though. Crazy

What a nut case! in dunlop volleys

someone out the back must of had a laugh they let another bull out!

The bulls had the points

This is going to hurt

Oh no........

I might be alright

 Nup Ouch!

The guy on the left knows the bull can see pink

Those volleys must be a special grip model
 

If it wasn't thrilling enough, send in the kids!

another young fella

A Chiro gift certificate we hope

Great entertainment.

Must have faith in there fences up here. 

The kids got a dirt and all view

I'm go'in alright

I'm getting off here!

Our Kakadu stop over

•    Kakadu Campsites
•  ·       Merl
•  ·       Muirella Park
•  ·       Maradugal 
•  ·       Gunlom

It’s the dry here in Kakadu and things look like they could use a drink, the camp sites are good considering how much traffic come through during the peak period. Overall I have found Kakadu fantastic and so much diversity of landscapes over a BIG area.

The visitors generally follow either a clock wise or anti clockwise direction to cover the sightseeing features we have opted for the clock wise.

Our first nights camp was at Merl.  Base camp for the sunset at Ubirr which has a lot of rock art and views over Arnhem Land and the East Alligator River.

Views over Arnhem Land 

The next day we hiked around Bardedjilidji walk and then on to Cahill’s Crossing. The crossing is the boundary to Arnhem Land that is a tidal vehicle crossing. Downstream salt water, up stream fresh water, this is a man-made structure that the Crocodiles use to their advantage. The fish need to cross at high tide and they wait in the fast flowing water in hope to pick up an easy meal. What a great spectical with people fishing, cars and trucks crossing and crocodiles all in the mix -  Action a plenty.

This peanut was't gunna give up his spot for truck or croc

Who needs a 4x4?

Who said crocs don't like fast water!

Surf"s up

We'er not sure why the breast stroke.

Croc action at Cahills Crossing

Getting a little close, the crocs were swimming with their hands out .

One of the many look outs This is looking out to Anbagbang billabong

At our next camp Muirella Park we did a few walks in the area.  One being the Anbangbang Billabong. I had walked off to explore, (as I do) and mind you beyond the  Access Closed sign.  When I came back to where Di was waiting there were some Frenchies in a bit of a flutter ( the girls had run away and the two boys were behind Di) and in front of them all was a 2 meter crocodile that was heading for a noisy Goose but suddenly decided to make a v line towards the tourist and Di,  this really put the spooks into you . We were safe but you felt a little vulnerable being on the food chain given half a chance.

Spooky when there sneeking towards us

"I'm watching you"

Our next camp was at Maradugal which we left the camper and headed for Jim Jim Falls.  Real 4x4 track into the falls loose sand, rock, creek beds slow and steady.  I drove in and Di drove out much to the horror of the Mucho 4x4 drivers.  Female driving and in a Santa Fe – haha.

We could not cross the water crossing to get to Twin Falls but the falls at Jim Jim were pretty good.  “ CAM SSNAKE- HURRY”,  “HHURRY UP”……. I got there eventually and there was Di  bailed up by a tree snake which was making a stand at our fretting tourist.  It moved off when I came, after I took a few pics.

On the way to Jim Jim falls another croc trap at the swimming hole

Snake country!,looking towards the falls

Great spot for a cuppa

Our last camp was at Gunlom which was a long dusty corrugated very rough road into the camp site.  Another popular spot with a waterfall and really spectacular swimming holes up above the water falls.

The water fall drop off at gunlom

Early in the morning found this swimming hole

We got up the top of the falls early - Ahh the serenity!

Aah Yep!

Nice

Kakadu was a real treat we would defiantly recommend it.

It was time to move on ,Back to Katharine.

Hooroo

Katherine and beyond

·         Mt Isa

·         Three Ways Roadhouse

·         Longreach Waterhole – Elliott

·         Katherine

·         Mataranka

·         Darwin

·         Bark Hut Roadhouse - Kakadu

After Lawn Hill N.P.  we  clocked up some kms towards N.T.  First stop Mt Isa.  We stayed a couple of nights and had a look around (don’t think we want to live here!).  Expensive groceries here.    You tend to do a lot of long distances to get to where you want to go so its wake up pack up drive for hours and not see much and do it again! Hence Mt Isa to Three Ways to Elliott - Longreach Waterhole for a night just out of Elliot N.T. , great bird spectacle, hundreds of Pelicans and other water birds moving up and down the water way, made a nice sunset scene.

Pelican Highway

All sorts of birds

You could watch them all day!

Really graceful

Pelicans from behind

Pelicans from in front

Pelicans landing at sunset

Really Pretty place to watch the sun go down

 On to Elsey N.P. just out of Mataranka. (Fuel at Barkly Homestead $2.10 per litre and we have since heard $15 to have a shower).  Speed limit in NT  130km – handy when you need to overtake a road train but real dangerous when a van in front  is only doing 80km and you have trucks and cars and vans piling up behind and drivers that loose patience and take on a few vehicles at once on double lines near bends and just push their way in.

130 speed limit wow!

Beautiful aqua colored rivers (Roper Creek) that look so inviting for a swim.  The signs said that swimming was open so we took a dip off the swimming platforms that were provided, refreshing cool water on a hot day. On the way back to camp we walked up river and noticed a croc trap about 50 mt from the swimming pontoons.  You hope that the bait in the trap is tastier than tourists.

Roper River great spot to swim or be a part of the food chain

Croc trap around from swim hole

Wallaby's on the other side of the river

I can recommend the Hot springs at Bitter Springs just north of Mataranka  for a dip just get there early before the crowds, the oldies were hoping it had anti-aging properties and looked like they were going to brew themselves  all day and school holidays are here at the moment so throw in the mums, dads and rowdy kids. Human soup mmmm.

Katherine Gorge

Katherine was a bit of a zoo, a lot of aboriginal mayhem on every corner around town – even early in the morning (a bit scary really) so we opted for a quieter and cheaper  caravan park 9 km out of town so we could have a look at Katherine Gorge.   We had an early start to get this hike done(Butterfly Gorge) in the cool of the morning (temps about 30 every day)but real hot sweaty dehydrating heat from about 11am to 4pm and real cold a night.

  In to Darwin for about 4 nights doing the tourist stuff (beer can regatta – markets, sunsets.  The museum – would recommend this) and a windscreen replacement and car service ouch!   Darwin’s van parks are expensive and most reports from other travellers are similar – disgracefully dirty amenities for the huge price and very noisy. Litchfield National Park for the day was good but just way too many tourists.

Alot of people on the beach not alot in the water though!

Darwin Beer can Regata

Cycad's at Litchfield N.P.

They look prehistoric 

Magnetic Termitme mounds at Litchfield

Butterfly's are always worth a pic

Next destination is into Kakadu with the first night being at Bark Hut Tavern/Caravan park and for $15 per night non powered out the back which is quite and relaxing by the pool is hard to beat.

This is how we was a camper up here
"Di not a hope"