Katherine

Springvale Store & Homestead

We arrived mid afternoon in the pretty town of Katherine to 33C degrees and high humidity - and I was looking forward to being warm. Careful what you wish for! To hot to do to much plus after three days of driving we needed to stop.

The Katherine Hot Spings, natural thermal springs, is right near the park so of course I had to check them out.. The temperature maintains a constant 32C and there are several crystal clear pools winding through the trees and then out to the Katherine River. Pandanus and palms and grassy banks create a tranquil setting (out of a Hollywood movie) and I'm told the water travels all the way from the New Guinea highlands and takes over 1,000 years to reach here. Sounds good to me.

Knotts Crossing

The oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory is a beautiful stone construction called Springvale Homestead and was constructed in 1878. Its set in park like surroundings with a wonderful canopy of South American Raintrees and near the Katherine river a few kilometres out of town. Well worth a visit. Also we had a look at Knotts Crossing a very beach like setting on the Katherine River with so much sand you would think you were on the ocean and a popular spot for fishing and swimming (watch those crocs) with the locals.

The Climb Up to View Katherine Gorge

We put the woofs into doggy day care so we could go out to the Nitmiluk National Park - Katherine Gorge. The Jaywon people, traditional owners and the Northern Territory government jointly manage this park which is 30 kilometres east of town. The 13 separate gorges are sculptured from sandstone over millions of years by the Katherine River which winds along for 12 kilometres. The gorges have sheer rock faces of more than 70 metres in height. We undertook a hot and rugged climb to the Baruwei Lookout and had fabulous views along the River and rock face.

Katherine Gorge from up above

It was interesting to learn about the dry and arid climate that exists here in the winter months or from April to October before the wet season begins. According to the Jaywon people the seasons are not defined by weather but into a time to hunt, a time to harvest and a time to roam combined with the flowering and fruiting of plants and mating and birthing of animals.

Back into town and drive north another 40 kilometres to access the Edith Falls or Leliyn in another part of the Nitmiluk National Park. On the way we saw a wonderful sight of the very large red tail black cockatoos flying right in front of us with their red tails clearly visible. This is not a pretty drive as controlled burning has turned the country into a black and charred landscape. The Falls are not in full flow in the dry season but still very pretty with pandanus and paperpark fringed pools. Crocodiles are found in all these areas, both the saltwater (salties) and the less aggressive variety of freshwater crocs. Personally, I wouldn't be hanging around to prove which is which if you know what I mean!
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Leliyn

Friday morning time to leave and we hope to find greener pastures. Our only complaint about our stay in Katherine was our very dusty and dirty van site. The "Grim Raker", (I named him) would start raking leaves about 7am from those previously mentioned South American Raintrees which are everywhere in Katherine, and kicked up the most unbelievable amount of dust. The day before we left there was another one raking as well! We are over it. The dogs are now the grey heelers !