20th June

The reason for visiting Katherine, apart from the fact you have to pass through it to get to Darwin, is to visit the Katherine Gorge. We did the 2 Gorge trip which covered the 2 best ones to see.

                             Not very spectacular for a start but that was all about to change.

                             The Cliffs got taller,the water deeper and the Gorge narrower.

For the second Gorge we had to change boats. They have 3 boats up there, which they power upstream at the end of the wet, when the water levels are high enough to clear the rocks.Then they bring them back the same way. Thats why they have big horsepower outboards on them.

                                 A happy looking tourist posing for the camera by the river.

                         The cliffs are getting higher again as you get into the second Gorge.

Then it gets narrower. In aboriginal myth this is where the rainbow Serpent lives. There is a spot in the 2nd Gorge,at its deepest point, roughly where this photo is taken, where its believed to live.
Thats all for now folks,more soon.
Cheers Dave and Helen

19th June
One place I missed out on the way to Mataranka was the Daly River Pub. A great little place that was once a stop over in the old days for Qantas to re fuel on their way to Singapore. There is only the Pub and  the old Hanger there now. It has a lovelly Bouganvillia over the roof though.

The inside of the pub is quite unique as well. Check out the apparel hanging above the bar!!
They do a pretty good meal as well, out the back and the Barra burger was quite large.
Helen had the Barramundi and I should have too, as the Burger didnt have much flavour.

 On to Katherine and another Caravan Park.
No free camping this time as we want to have a look around and do a trip up the Katherine Gorge.
So we booked into the Katherine Big Four lower level caravan Park, down by the river.
We booked a trip up the Katherine river, Crocodile spotting with a Barby on the river bank upstream to finish.
Not as dangerous as it sounds as there were only Fresh water crocs in the river,or so they told us.
Apparently they dont eat you so often!!

One Croc did come out of the water on cue and gave us a look at what a small one looks like. About 2 meters I would say. Apparantly there was a bigger one but he didnt turn up.

Look hard and you can see him/her. There was a lot of Turtles in the water as well. You can just see one coming out of the water just behind the Croc.
Next time the Katherine Gorge.
Cheers Helen and Dave

15/16th  June
We arrived early at Mataranka and got a good spot in the Camping ground,right by the Loo's and Showers..

This was in the territory Manor motor camp just down the road from Bitter Springs hot pools. You hop on a Noodle,hook your thongs over the end and float down stream.

The water is 34deg and flows for about about 400 meters through bush and palms, then you get out and walk back along a track just long enough to cool off, then hop back in and do it all over again.
Very relaxing especially when you go down later after everyone has gone and you have it to yourself.

We swum there 3 times, but we looked at the other springs but this was the best by far.

They had a Barramundi feeding demo twice a day but the water was a bit cool so they didn't perform at all. This splash was about the best we got. it didn't cost anything so nothing lost by walking down for a look.

The other thing there was a flock? of Peacocks in the park.
On to Katherine next post.
Cheers Dave and Helen

13/14th June
What you love about the NT is this! They used to have an open speed limit but dropped it to 130kmh after a few people got killed up this way.

 When you get to the end of the Barkley Highway you reach Threeways Roadhouse. Its called this because if you turn left you go to Alice Springs,right you go to Darwin or if you turn around you go back to Townsville. three choices,we chose Darwin.

 Anyhow we topped up with fuel and carried on until we got to Banka Banka station where we stopped for the night. A nice place,no Power but fresh water and a hill up the back with a great view of the Sunsets.

 The camping ground with grass, something you don't always get up here.

The view of the camp from the hill with the sun setting behind us.

 The sky goes a lovely shade of Violet just after the Sun goes down and is best seen from on top of the Hill.

 The Sunset wasn't too bad either. They had some entertainment on in the camp that night, but unfortunately most of the blokes sloped off early, as it was State of Origin game 2.

There is still plenty of these things on the road. This one loaded with Hay at 10 tonne per trailer so not such a heavy load, on its way to Mt Isa,with 2 more trips from Cairns to go apparantly.

We stopped at a free camp on the Stuart Highway heading towards Mataranka Hot springs and shared it with a few others. We took the last 2 spots. You didn't want to snore or f--rt as the whole place would hear you. Most free camps are like this it seems. The last time we travelled you were lucky to get a couple of vans stopping. That was 7 years agao and things have changed somewhat.

Next time onwards to Mataranka Hot springs.
Cheers Dave and Helen

12th June
As you cross the Barkley you come across this.

 Yes we are crossing into the NT, just out from Camooweal.

 We stopped for the night at a free camp called the Wonarah Bore.

 And yes you know when you are in the NT by the flys!! They drive you mad unless you put the bee keepers hat on. Not elegant but works a treat. The flys go when it gets dark and you get-------

Fantastic Sunsets. You cant beat an outback Sunset.

Cheers Dave and Helen

11th June
The other attraction in Mt Isa is Mining of course as this is the only reason the town exists.
They have a tourist mine you can go in as the main mine is closed to the public. No cameras were allowed so we had to pay $10.00 for this!!

$10.00 to look an idiot. I suppose we looked just like all the others!!
This was just before we went down in the cage behind us. It wasn't very deep but it gave you a good idea of what mining was like back in the 60s.
The camp was a bit dusty but not too bad considering.

 A view over Isa from the lookout with the big chimneys of the mine in the background.

From here we headed west across the Barkley Highway, towards Tennant Creek. We have done this bit before, but coming the other way. It hasn't improved any,its still as boring as ever, though the road is in better shape.
Back soon.

7th/11th June.
We left Gregory Downs and back tracked to the Burke and Wills roadhouse (140km) where we topped up with fuel and headed down the B/Wills Developmental road to Cloncurry and then on to Mt Isa.
All went well until a Kangaroo decided to run into the side of the caravan. More damage to the Roo I suspect.

 Just a bit of broken plastic. The other Roo shot between us and Warwick and Di's car and missed both of us. His lucky day I guess.

 We stopped the night at the Corella Dam,between Cloncurry and Mt Isa. We decided to stay by the River as the Dam site was a bit exposed and it was pretty windy.

A nice quiet spot with only about 6 vans there.

 Finally made it to Mt Isa and cracked open the Yorkshire Tea to celebrate. It was this years secret Santa, thanks Dave!! I had long eaten the Shortbread that came with it unfortunatley.

 We visited an underground Hospital that had been dug during the second world war in case Mt Isa was bombed by the Japs. Very interesting though not a place you would want to spend a lot of time in.

That's it for another episode.
Cheers Dave and Helen

6th June.
Back to Gregory Downs where we left the Caravan and the next day Helen decided the van needed a wash. So it was buckets of water from the river and get stuck in. It did look better but it doesn't take long to get dirty again.,

 The girls on the bridge where we saw our first Croc in the wild. He/she was sunning itself on the bank until we came along then it slid into the water. It is in there you can just see it!!

 After a busy day Croc spotting it was time for the camp fire. Spuds in their jackets in the fire with plenty of butter and cheese,lovely.

 Doesn't that make you feel warm now?

Just a short one tonight,tomorrow its the trip back to Mt Isa.
See Ya!!
Helen and Dave