Good Morning Katherine!
Low 14°c (57°F) – High 29°c
(84°F)
A bit of a shock to the system this morning as it was freezing cold
when we woke up – well technically not freezing cold but much colder than we’ve
had since leaving South Australia especially after the week of heat in Darwin. Still after reading somewhere this morning
that Melbourne was having its coldest start to Winter since 1948 we were happy
to be looking forward to a top temperature of 29 some time during the day.
For our last day in Katherine we had booked two tours of Nitmiluk
(Katherine) Gorge which we have done before, but it was a great opportunity to
have another look at this amazing sight.
As we did previously we booked separate sessions so that someone would
be with Kitty. Shane booked into the
9.00am tour and I was booked for the 2.00pm.
As it turned out I was grateful to have the later booking as it was very
cold for the morning tour.
Nitmiluk Gorge is a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by
the Katherine River. The gorges and the
surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people,
who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In the Jawoyn language, Nitmiluk means
"place of the cicada dreaming". Nitmiluk Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges,
with rapids and falls, and follows the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu.
During the dry season, (April to October) the waters are placid in most
spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing. Freshwater crocodiles, harmless
to humans, nest along the banks in most parts of the Katherine river however
during the wet season when water levels rise, Saltwater crocodiles regularly
enter the river. Traps sit in various
parts of the river and during the wet season are baited to catch and remove the
Salties and return them to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season
again. Swimming in the wet season is
prohibited for this reason.
Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge and the only way
to see all thirteen gorges is via helicopter.
Our tours today were just on the first two gorges taking in the second
gorge which by all accounts is the most scenic.
Several Australian films and television shows have featured this one. There is a fair amount of walking by the time
you get from the carpark to the actual boat ramp and then again to transfer
from one boat to the other between the two gorges. In wet season the tours can be done on the
one boat as the water level rises several metres, but in the dry season the
gorges are separated by rocky outcrops and a path has been built between the gorges
to reach the next jetty. Sadly the light
wasn’t great for photos until we were on the way out but still worth the trip.
It was a pretty tiring day as while Shane was doing his trip in the
morning, I was washing up a storm again, washing sheets, doona cover, clothes
etc, as we venture into the unknown tomorrow starting our journey towards the
Western Australian border and into territory we’ve never been before which is
both a little daunting and exciting at the same time.
Tonight’s dinner – Roast Pork with all the trimmings – who says camping
has to be basic!
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