7 - Katherine

May 2016 - 8/5/16

We continued our time at Mataranka immersing our bodies in the beautiful spring waters a second day. Unfortunately none of the national parks walking tracks had been reopened from the wet season. The positive for us, the expected commencement of the busy tourist season was still a couple of weeks away so we were hoping to enjoy the available attractions in a more sedate atmosphere while we could. 

Steve had woken with a stiff neck which locked up as the day progressed. The nearest doctor was at Katherine about 100 kilometres away and we made an appointment for later in the day. 

This is where a good wife can show her true worth. Mary packed the awning away, hooked up the caravan and drove to Katherine, oversaw the doctor examination then set the caravan up in the local caravan park. 

Steve’s diagnosis was stiff neck muscles possibly from lack of exercise caused by the required concentration of driving long distances. 

So we stayed in a caravan park at Katherine for 5 nights waiting for an x-ray appointment and the follow up doctor’s appointment. 

This seemed to work in our favour as the day time temperatures were then hovering in the 36 - 37C with night time temperatures still in the high 20’s. We predominately stayed in the cool of our caravan with the air conditioner operating 24 hours a day. This would be the first time we have used our air conditioner for any extended period of time and we did appreciate its comfort. 

We even frequented the caravan park swimming pool a couple of times each day, which included a few dips in the darkness of the evening without any illuminating lights.

Katherine River low level crossing near caravan park

Cooling off in the caravan park pool

Bubbles in the caravan park pool

A few drives and a visit to the local museum kept us occupied for nearly 3 hours and then it was back to the caravan park for another hour or two in the swimming pool. 

As Steve’s neck started to free up we shifted camp to the Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) where we spent time walking around some of the tracks and took the 3 gorge boat cruise. Once again we seemed to be spending a lot of time in the camp ground swimming pool seeking relief from the heat and our air conditioner was still operating 24 hours each day. 

We thoroughly enjoyed the boat cruise along Katherine Gorge viewing the towering cliff faces lining the edges of the gorge. At one location the water was about 40 metres deep and another section the boat was scraping the bottom for a short period. We changed boats at each gorge walking a short distance amongst the rocks dividing each gorge before getting onto another boat to continue along the river. 

In gorge three we stopped for a period where we walked a short distance up a gully to Lilly Pools where we had a refreshing swim in the water and got to stand under a light cascading water fall.

Plenty of flying foxes in Katherine Gorge area

Walking track to Katherine Gorge lookout

View from Katherine Gorge lookout

View from Katherine Gorge lookout

Rangers setting crocodile trap on Katherine River

Katherine River Gorge change over

Katherine River Gorge change over

Katherine River Gorge change over with good scenery

Cruising Katherine River

Cruising Katherine River

Cruising Katherine River

Cruising Katherine River & yet another gorge change over

Cruising Katherine River- end of 3rd gorge

Katherine River - looking towards 4th gorge

Lily pond & Mary eager for another swim

Mary at the base of Lily Pond waterfall

Steve at the base of Lily Pond waterfall

Time to go but Mary was still in the water closest to the falls

Lily Pond

Time for our return trip along Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge one of the gorge change over stations

Final look at Katherine Gorge

The end of our boat cruise along Katherine Gorge

A 20 minute walk back to our caravan and we were ready for another cooling off dip in the water.

Katherine Gorge swimming pool

For us, viewing Katherine Gorge was another special highlight of our Australian Travels.

From Katherine Gorge we travelled about 40 kilometres north to a campground at Edith Falls still in Nitmiluk National Park. There is no power available at this campground so we were without that air-conditioned respite.

It wasn’t long before our bodies were awash in perspiration within a short time of alighting from our nice air conditioned tow tug and we were once again immersing our bodies in the waters at Edith Falls.

Edith Falls

Relaxing in the soothing water of Edith Falls

Mary at the base of Edith Falls

Mary in Edith Falls pond

The following day we did the Leliyn Trail hike which just happened to involve another upper falls water hole which we naturally immersed our bodies in. One fellow tried to breast stroke against the flow of water into the water fall unsuccessful. This gave Steve some incentive and he swam flat out freestyle into the water fall successfully touching the stone wall at the rear of the falls but was quickly pushed out by the flow of water, puffing and panting.

First view of the upper falls

Mary viewing the area of the upper falls

Mary viewing the area of the upper falls

Steve testing the upper falls flow

Mary in the upper falls pond

Mary in the upper falls pond

Some of the track to the upper falls

Another viewing of the upper falls

Edith falls with the upper falls walking track

The weather over the last couple of weeks had been a constant 36 – 37C with the occasional cool 35C daily temperature coupled with humid conditions created an energy sapping environment. Our main pleasurable escape from the heat was spending time either in swimming pools or water holes and Edith Falls provided beautiful pools in a magnificent setting.

Previously to the last couple of weeks we had never spent as much time in the water, with the whole encounter turning into wellbeing, delightful experience.