16^th of September

We left Timber Creek and headed to Katherine Gorge, which is around 300km drive.  Along the way we stopped at the old Victoria River crossing, just to see what it was like to cross the mighty Victoria River before they put a proper bridge!.  We also stopped in the Eastern part of the Gregorys National park at the Joe Creek Picnic area.  Just the picnic area provides a very scenic view of the escarpments surrounding the place.  We then decided to do the 1.8km loop walk, which takes you up along the cliff face and then returning via the valley floor.  It was a great walk, pretty scenic plus lots of palm trees that grow along the edge of the cliffs.  We also spotted several rock art on the cliff face along the path.  This is a pretty amazing walk, well worth the extra stop!.

From there we headed pretty much non-stop to Katherine Gorge or Nitmiluk National Park as it is called.  It is located around 26km out from the township of Katherine.  We rocked up at the visitor centre and booked ourselves a powered campsite and a three gorges boat tour the following day, starting at 9am.  Then we went to the campsite to set up and relax for the remainder of the day. As soon as we had setup camp, we were visited by some of the local wildlife in search of food.  Kangaroos and birds.  One of them was a blue faced honey eater with a broken leg.  It had managed to work out that humans show pity on wildlife that is crippled!  So of course we gave it some food!  At least it posed for a photo instead!

Next to the campsite is a fantastic swimming pool with a bar and a restaurant that opens after 6pm.  I went to check the place out and the menus.  The girl at the counter was quite happy to allow me to browse the menus without purchasing anything.  We decided we would make use of these facilities tomorrow evening after a jammed packed day. 

The Katherine river cuts through a very old sandstone landscape.  It has formed a zig zag channel that is over 13km long.  The river is cut up to thirteen pools or sections, which are separated by rocky rapids, which are not passable by boats.  Thus you can only see the first three gorges via boat.  Thus you have to walk between the rapids and take another boat once you are into the next section.  After the third section, the rapids become pretty difficult.  Thus the longest boat trip you can do is the three gorges tour, which we booked into.  The other pools up stream are not accessible, unless you rent a canoe and paddle up yourself.  It also means that you have to carry the canoe over the rapids yourself!!  This can take several days, that is if you plan to see all the 13km of the gorge.  

The alternative is to fly over the whole gorge system via helicopter.  That is what we opted for as well, so late in the day I called the helicopter service to check if we could do that.  We opted for a 2.5 hour trip up across all the gorges, landing in a very remote area to view Aboriginal rock art and then go for a swim.   Once done, fly back across the gorge system again.  

Sibba insisted that this time, the helicopter must have the doors in place!!  The pilot assured me that was the case and told me the helicopter was air-conditioned as well.  So we booked it for the following day at 3pm. 

Then, I had a frantic evening trying to catch up on the blog!!

The trees full of bats in Timber Creek.

Welcome to Batman City!!

Joes Creek picnic area is pretty scenic.

The cliff face one walks along on the walk from Joes Creek picnic area.

Rock art on the wall.  This depicts the snakes from a dream time story!

Aboriginal rock art.

Aboriginal rock art.  I must admit I hadn't seen this sun pattern before.

Sibba with her fly net protection gear on!

This is the old Victoria River Crossing (Only in the dry, mind you, otherwise the car would be several meters under water!!)

The Blue Faced Honey Eater posing for his feed!!  It had one leg broken.