Nitmiluk National Park, N.T.

Temperature at 8.31 a.m.:  20oC
Nit nit = cicada
Walks today:  Bemang Lookout, Upper Pool, Middle Pool, (Leliyn Trail).
Edith (Leliyn) Falls.
All followed by shopping at Katherine then that promised wheel alignment at Katherine East (phew!).
Boy was it hot by the time we arrived at Katherine East.
Unleaded petrol:  $1.289 per litre (unleaded)
LPG:  $0.89 per litre.

Controlled burning.  In the Northern Territory, fire management of the national parks etcetera is a carefully carried out process whereby a patchwork effect of burning off of bushland is carried out. 
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After leaving Katherine, we drove about one hundred kilometres south to Mataranka, a place of thermal springs.
The caravan park we booked into for the night is a short walk from Bitter Springs, a comfortable thirty four degrees Celsius thermal pool in the Elsey National Park. 

Here's Honey Pie having a dip at Bitter Springs Thermal Pool, Mataranka, which we visited before dinner. 

How Hot is Hot?

At eight in the morning, it's almost seventeen degrees Celsius, not too bad I hear you say?  Temperature climbs quickly.
Our caravan park is on the way to Katherine Gorge on the Katherine River.


If I don't show you this sign you won't believe me will you ?
This was at the entrance of the Katherine River Gorge Lookout walk.
The river tours were booked out.  

Discrimination of a different kind?

Controlled burning. We ventured down to Katherine Springs to be confronted by this.  No closures, no warnings, just stay away from the smoke, tourists were told.  We left without really getting a chance to enjoy the springs.

Great place to cool off at the end of a hot day.
Plunge pool at Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine.
After completing the gorge walk (not as impressive as we'd hoped) we drove back into town (temperature still rising) and did some shopping and searched for a suitable outlet to get the car's wheels aligned...no luck, but one guy suggested we call him again tomorrow morning as he might be able to fit the service in then.
We also visited Katherine Springs but as you can see above, not much luck there either.
Next stop, Edith Falls, (Leilyn Falls) on the Edith River north from Katherine. (Same national park as Katherine Gorge.)
We camped at the national park, within walking distance of the trails.  Once again we were lucky to get a camp site...caravan spots were very limited.
That night we were offered a free talk by the park ranger where we learned about the joint management of the park by the Northern Territory government and the traditional owners and the day to day management of the park.

More Dirt

Driving the Northern Territory brings no surprises.  The countryside reminds me a lot of the Hawkesbury region of N.S.W.
After vouching to stay off dirt roads-what do we do?  Drive thirty six kilometres on dirt, off the Victoria Highway, west of Katherine to visit the falls of the Flora River.  (And back again.)
So creepy walking along the river bank...
In Katherine in time for lunch, which we have at The Coffee Club...ahhh, air conditioning!  It's so hot in town.
Visit N.T. Rare Rocks where we purchase a few samples of rock specific to the region.
Find many interesting specimens.
Here we're able to get telephone coverage so catch up with family and especially, one certain Birthday Boy!
We were very lucky to get a camp site tonight, managed to get tucked in behind a nice shady hedge without being crowded out.

Kathleen Falls, Flora Nature Reserve, N.T.

Longtom and Archer Fish.
Beware of Crocs!

A Night at Katherine.  Lucky to find a camp!  

Crossing Over

After a delightful breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup we did a tour of Lake Argyle (largest man made lake in Australia), Ord River Dam and Durrack Family Homestead.


Lake Argyle - Diamond Mine close by...but no visitors allowed.
Home of Argyle Pink Diamonds.
Also home of Primordial Rock, only found in the East Kimberley region of  Western Australia.

Wattle?  Durrack Homestead.
Durrack Homestead if had not been moved would be at the bottom of the dam today.

Crossed the Northern Territory border at noon (N.T. Time).

Gregory's Tree, Dated July 2nd 1858.  Now a tree of significance. 


Timber Creek was considered for the night but we decided to continue on to Gregory's National Park where we found a 'real' camp at Sullivan's.  We were the only ones camped there to start with, but not for long!  Full house before the moon was high in the sky.