May 2016 - 14/5/16
We spent a further couple of days at a caravan park in
Katherine to primarily be in phone range as it was our youngest son’s last
couple of days in Australia before flying out for about 6 months on a European
adventure. As he commented to us it was no different to our Australian travels where
we disappear for periods of time.
We did manage time in the swimming pool and restocked our
provisions for the next stage of our travels west.
Heading west from Katherine we had decided to spend a few
days at Flora River Nature Park about 100 west of Katherine. We turned off the
main highway and were greeted by warning signage describing the road as a
rough, corrugated dirt road and to drive to conditions. So we stopped and
lowered our tow tug and caravan tyre pressures which reduces the vehicles
impact on the road surface and lessens the fatigue imposed on our vehicles,
along with reduced speed.
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Letting down the tyre pressures
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Then about 500 metres further down the road we came across
another sign displayed, showing the Nature Park as closed. Steve checked the closed
signage to verify that the closed sign hadn’t fallen open and yes it all
appeared correct as it had been padlocked in place. One U turn executed and we
travelled 500 metres back along the road before stopping and re-inflating our
tyres. An hour and a half exercise we could have done without. At least the
notification wasn’t at the other end of the 46 kilometre dirt track.
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| A not so nice sign |
All the Northern Territory Government documentation we have researched
has promoted most of the state’s attractions are generally open from 1st
April with all open for the onset of the peak tourist season from 1st
May.
In contrary to this we have found the major attractions had
been open but most the advertised draw cards were unavailable. This has been
the same set of circumstances for many people we have met over the last few
weeks with examples “they took our money to enter Kakadu but none of the roads
to the attractions were open”.
Disappointedly we travelled for another hour or so west
along the Victoria Highway and stopped for the night at Sullivan Creek camping
area in the Judbarra Gregory National Park with about half a dozen other
campers in a nice bush setting which was basically a road side stop.
We continued west and after travelling 19 kilometres we
stopped to participate in the Escarpment Track walk located about 3 kilometres
west of Victoria River Roadhouse. Luckily the temperature had dropped overnight
providing some very welcomed relief from the constant heat of the last few
weeks.
We spent two hours scampering along the sloped stony surface,
spell bound by the views of the rugged cliff faces and the carved out valleys
with the Victoria River flowing through the middle, a highlight of the Judbarra
Gregory National Park. The temperature was still hovering around the 30 degrees
with a light refreshing breeze making for pleasant conditions. The
disappearance of the humid conditions was most welcome.
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| The flood plain of the Victoria River |
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| Beginning of Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing along Escarpment Walk |
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| He made it Escarpment Walk |
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| We made it Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing back down Escarpment Walk |
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| Progressing back down Escarpment Walk |
About 10 kilometres further west was another similar walk at
Joe Creek picnic area which also looked very inviting but viewing its
information board showed it to be a class 4 track which would have stretched us
as we were still partially worn out from the class 3 track of the Escarpment
Track.
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| Scenery from base of Joe Creek Picnic area |
Steve was happy to find a location to camp for the night but
Mary “issued a protest”, as we had barely travelled 30 kilometres for the day.
It was Steve’s turn to drive and Mary was most indignant that she had driven
about 150 kilometres the previous day.
We continued west stopping to view any sights that we came
across and eventually set camp at Big Horse Creek campground about 10
kilometres west of Timber Creek.
Big Horse Creek campground was very busy with other
travellers camping for the night with the majority travelling to Western
Australia. We chatted with another couple discussing one another’s travel plans
and they requested if they could join us at our proposed next stop over at Keep
River National Park.
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| Up close to Victoria River at Big Horse campground |
What a gem Keep River N.P. turned out to be. The campground
was nearly 20 kilometres along a dirt road from the highway and the road was in
very good condition to the degree we had no need to lower our tyre pressures.
We initially had the place to ourselves with the only other noise coming from
the whistling of the birds, a couple of dingo’s howling in the background and
the sound of trees moving in the light breeze. After a couple of hours the
other couple arrived, (Lesley & Steve from Nambucca Heads NSW) and the four
of us participated in a late afternoon walk from our Gurrandalng campground. We
meandered along a track which weaved through sandstone rock formations with
geological formations similar to the Bungle Bungles located which are located about
400 kilometres away in Western Australia.
We were so mesmerised by the scenery and the changing
colours of the rock faces during sunset that we took 2 hours to complete the
publicised 1 hour easy walk.
Tea was cooked on a camp fire and the four of us chatted the
evening away seated around the lovely setting of a fire.
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| Keep River N.P. Cockatoo Lagoon |
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| Keep River N.P. Cockatoo Lagoon |
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| Keep River N.P. Cockatoo Lagoon |
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| Keep River N.P. Cockatoo Lagoon |
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| Keep River N.P. Cockatoo Lagoon |
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| Keep River N.P. Cockatoo Lagoon |
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| Keep River N.P. with Boab trees becoming more common |
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| Keep River N.P. campground |
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| Keep River N.P. |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P. |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P, our caravan the white dot |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P watching sunset changing colours |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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| Keep River N.P |
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Keep River N.P
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