Second day in Katherine left camp about 7.30am to go out to the Katherine Gorge, for a cruise up the river. This is 30kms out of town in the Nitmiluk National Park, hence the early start for a 9.00am tour. We can’t believe how the temperatures have gone down about 10 degrees over the last two days. Perhaps Darwin won’t be as hot as we are expecting. Or maybe this will be temporary. Must say it’s much more pleasant. Even a little cool in the morning and this evening. After the gorge trip which was two hours we went back into Katherine and looked at a few things there but not a lot going on in this town. Had to wait around for the bottle store to open at 2.00pm. These are the rules no sales in alcohol before 2.00pm. Even got questioned by a young policeman before we could enter showing photo ID and asked where we are staying, when we said at a caravan park they said that’s not a proper address. After all this I said can’t we buy half a dozen beer and he looked at me said yes go in. I think he was just trying to be difficult. He only looked like a kid.
We have now started our boat tour up the Katherine river gorge in the Nitmiluk National Park. The weather isn’t the best, thin cloud with the sun trying to come through. I think the 9.00 am tour might have been too early as the gorge walls can be quite dark without the sun.
Going along in the boat. It’s bigger than I have shown in this picture holding 60 passengers six across.
After arriving at the top of the first gorge we had to get off the boat and walk over the rocks, along boardwalks and up and down steps which were placed there to make it easier for crossing over.
Walking over some of the boardwalks and this shows why we had to walk over to the next gorge. Too many rocks and not enough water for the boats to get through. But it was an enjoyable walk. Another boat was waiting for us in the next gorge.
Here are the steps. This shows how high and flat the gorge walls are. Couldn’t even get the full height in the picture.
There is some Aboriginal rock art in the middle there but hard to see, some pinkish colour.
Now over the obstacles of rocks etc and going down to get into the other boat to take us to the second gorge.
Continuing up river.
Nice area for the crocodiles to sunbath but didn’t see any.
Always interesting to see what’s round the next corner.
Sometimes the sides of the gorge get quite narrow.
The side of this is so flat and high. Too high to fully get into the picture.
We have got to the top of the second gorge. Now have to turn around and head back down stream. There is another boat waiting in the gap for us to turnaround then they will come on up to the the top.
Just sat back and enjoyed the ride back to where we get off the boat then walked back over the rocks to meet up with the first boat.
Before getting onto the boat looking back to the area between the two gorges.
Last photo on our way down the river to be dropped off where we started from.
Now at the Katherine Historic Museum. The above plane a Gipsy Moth which was flown by Doctor Clyde Fenton. He earned his pilots licence to join the Royal Flying Doctors Service, but the founder had a policy as not using doctors as pilots. As a result, Fenton privately raised money for an aircraft. In 1934 he arrived in Katherine as the Government Medical Officer. He started an aerial ambulance rescue service which grew into the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service. He flew in this service for six years. He began flying his Doctor service with his first second hand Gypsy Moth costing (£499). This plane crashed two months later so he replaced it with another. It too eventually crashed in Darwin. Then he purchased a third and that too crashed. Following that crash the NT people helped to purchase a new Gypsy Moth. Some months later the Government finally provided a Fox Moth Ambulance Plane. An interesting story.
The old Morris Minor. My parents had one of these and slowly upgraded to a Morris 1000. After that the 1100 came out in two tone colours, very upmarket in its day. Mum chose a cream roof and the rest was a mid green. I remember it well as we were all so proud of it.
A line up of more vehicles.
What about this for a very old bulldozer.
Can’t imagine this pulling Pops old boats.
Back inside was this old 1928 Chrysler 65. It cost(£800). Then the average wage was £347 per year. It was 6 cylinder 65hp petrol engine. It could go 70mph. WOW.
Back in town to see the old Railway Station. It was all fenced in, so couldn’t look inside. The train is still sitting on the original rail tracks. We followed these tracks which is kept well by mowing the grass to expose some of the rail. You could just see enough rail to follow it.
Finally we reached the railway bridge. Now just used for walking over. It was high up over the Katherine River.
Walking under the bridge looking up at it. No water flowing in this part but further on, the river still had water flowing under it. In their wet summer season water would be flowing through here very fast. We saw part of a film clip showing the flooding that Katherine can get. People were walking along the streets up to their shoulders in water. Just imagine the height of the bridge which would be on a level with the road running in front of the shops. So that would mean the actual bridge would be under water. Amazing.
After our day out and finally waiting to purchase our half dozen beer we arrived back at our park driving down this very attractive drive to where the sites are as you can see through the trees. Very pretty and peaceful.
All set up waiting to bring the beers out.
Camp swimming pool but we didn’t swim due to it being quite windy.Can’t get over how the temperatures are about 10 degrees cooler than WA.11th June,
We have changed our plans a little since my last posting. We have now decided not to do the loop out through the Kakadu National Park. As it is a public holiday weekend in NT it will be very busy and short of accomodation. So we are just going straight up towards Darwin stopping at Pine Creek, Adelaide River, the Litchfield National Park then up to a place called Bark Inn. Then on to Darwin. Also not rushing us as much, more time to take things slower. This blog is a day late so won’t post one tonight.
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