The Top End

By Jeeves, its been hot lately. Perhaps its just the humidity for the temperatures have remained in the low 30’s. Its lucky the designer of theNorthern Territory have designed in lots of springs, waterfalls and swimming holes.

From the township of Katherine we traveled to nearby Nitmiluk National Park and stayed near Katherine Gorge for a couple of nights. We did the mandatory boat trip up three of the gorges. Then it was over to the other side of the park to Edith Falls. It has a magnificent swimming hole below the falls. Swimming is permitted between 7:00am and 7:00pm the rest of the time it is reserved for freshwater crocs (these are the ones that supposedly don’t eat you).

Then it was on to Litchfield National Park for a couple of days.

More waterfalls with plunge pools for swimming and the Buley Rock Pools: this is like a series of spa pools in a river cascade. We had our morning bath there on Tuesday before moving on to Darwin.

We thought that World War III must have started as there were fighter jets constantly roaring past. We later learned that the Yanks are out and they have been playing war games with us. We haven’t heard who is winning. Just when we started getting used to the aircraft noise, the Darwin Show started and it is located adjacent the caravan park we are staying at.

We have done a bit of sightseeing around town

and went on a day trip to the TiwiIslands where we got to experience a smoking ceremony, viewed Tiwi dancers and artists in action and of course went to the local swimming hole. We also went to the beach but there was no swimming as this is the domain of the saltwater crocs (the ones that eat you).

Farewell Kimberley Hello Katherine

The Kimberley certainly throws at you a variety of landscapes. After the Fitzroy we stayed a couple of days in the Halls Creek area including one night camped beside Palm Springs where we swam then fished. Even Joy caught fish in the warm pool. (Fortunately our neighbours plied us with pancakes so we didn’t go hungry)

Then it was onwards to Turkey Creek our base for a 4WD tour onParnululu National Park (better known as the Bungle Bungles ). The tour left at 5.30am and returned around 7pm so it was a long day but a magnificent journey with walks at both ends of the park. Unfortunately our camera could not capture the scale of Echidna Chasm or Cathedral Gorge, the destinations for the walks.

We then traveled to Kununurra where after a rest day we took a scenic flight over the Ord River Irrigation Area, Lake Argyle, the Argyle Diamond Mine and the Bungle Bungles. Monday, it was boat trips on Lake Argyle then down the Ord to Kununurra.

Last Tuesday we entered the Northern Territory and spent a night beside the Victoria River. We did a walk up to an escarpment to view Aboriginal paintings and then traveled to Katherine for a relaxing dip in the hot springs (32 degrees and it was like a warm bath). Stay tuned for more of our adventures since then.

Crossing the Kimberley

Following almost a week of lounging around Broome: dining in Chinatown, lazing on beaches, inspecting pearls (one too many for Adrian’s liking), sunsets on Cable Beach and tours of crocodile and pearl farms; we hit the road again. Firstly onward to Derby where there were no horse races, then Windjara Gorge and now Fitzroy Crossing in the heart of the Kimberley.









The scenery has changed with majestic boab trees dotted along the highway and savannah grasslands. The gorges that we have seen so far have been breathtaking and have the added bonus of crocodiles sunning on the banks and swimming in waterholes. (Look closely in the pic and you might see a croc)






Whilst in Fitzroy Crossing we’ve: been to the Rodeo; taken on a boat cruise up Geikie Gorge; and done some short walks in the national park. Adrian tried his hand fishing for Barra but without luck. The locals say they really bite in the warm weather but seeing it’s been in the low thirties, it’s far too cold.