Aaron & Lib's Australian Adventure

Nitmiluk NP

Blue Winged Kingfisher Nitmiluk NP

17/08/16 Day 82 (We). Yesterday was another fantastic day. We drove out to Nitmiluk NP to cruise the beautiful Katherine Gorge. We caught the two hour, 2 gorge cruise. We had to check the dogs into the vet for doggy day care on the way out there. It was an awesome time out on the water. Half way through the cruise we had to get off one boat and trek upstream past aboriginal rock art to the second boat and vice versa on the way back. For lunch we drove back into town to Katherine Springs where we ate by the water’s edge. Afterwards Mum and I went for a dip in the crystal clear water. It was very much like stepping into a luke warm bath. We made our way up to the start of the stream and then gently floated back down. It is shallow and I could touch the bottom the whole way.

Freshwater Croc, Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

Croc Trap, Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

Today we left Katherine and drove down the road to Mataranka. We were all now in unknown territory. After arriving in town we checked into the Bitter Springs CP and set up camp right on the banks of the Roper River. After lunch we drove back towards town to Territory Manor to watch the Barramundi feeding. I had a go at feeding them after the demonstration given by the guide. They were feeding them pilchards in a very murky dam. She said there were four Barra in the dam as well as black fin fish and turtles. We even saw a cane toad swim by. We then had some light refreshment and drove into town to get some supplies. On returning to camp and hiring noodles, we donned our togs and headed down to Bitter Springs thermal pool in the Elsey NP. It is only a 500 m walk from the CP. I took a snorkel down but there wasn’t much to see under the water as apparently fish don’t like the warm water. It was crystal clear and a balmy 33C. We floated gently downstream using the noodles for buoyancy as it is deep in places and more relaxing when you can just float gently along. At the end is a set of stairs and a short stroll takes you back to the start to begin again. Very relaxing indeed.

Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

19/08/16 Day 84 (Fr). Yesterday was my 42^nd birthday. It was a very memorable one. I had a great day. We were on the road by 0700 and our destination was the Daly Waters Pub. It is an awesome hotel in the middle of nowhere (everywhere?). It has a CP on one side and a pool on the other. You do have to walk through the bar to get to the pool. Inside the bar is an amazing collection of donations from patrons around the world. There are undies, bras, money (notes), clogs, t-shirts, thongs, cloth badges, tools, flags, business cards, ID’s, hats, caps and many other items. Across the road was the soovinear shop with helicopter landing pad and the Daly Waters Servo.

Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

After checking in, setting up camp and looking through the pub it was about 12 pm so we decided to have a beer and get a feed. And then that’s when the fun started. The Victorian Variety Club Bash started rolling into town. It soon became a real party in the pub as almost 70 teams rolled in for lunch. Most had gone to town in decorating the cars and themselves. We saw Sponge Bob, Wally, Smurfs, Big Bird, The Count, Ernie, Barbie, the Flintstones but the real highlight were the Elvis’. They pulled up in a big 351 Ford with LED lights flashing all over and Elvis music blaring from its external speakers. We had seated ourselves right at the front of the pub and so we had a bird’s eye view of the whole parade and the ensuing shenanigans.

Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

We spent all afternoon at the pub drinking, gawking and talking to the Club members. They continued on their journey to Darwin and so we went back to our campsite to have a tub before returning to the pub for their famous Beef & Barra off the Barbie meal. The entertainment leading up to dinner was Sam’s One Man Band and he was fabulous. He played heaps of songs you could sing along to. Mainly Grey Nomad classics. They had 3 callings for the meal. We had to pre-book it at the bar. We were in the first calling for 1830 and there was one at 1900 and 1930. There were two chefs, one cooking the beef and the other the barra. As our names were called we went up to collect our meat and then headed over to the salad bar to pile heaps on our plates. Boy was I stuffed after that meal.

Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

They had two other bands on and the second was a real fizzer. A lot of people left during their act but the third band was good and I was glad we stayed around to listen to them. During the break in the music for the 1930 calling out came the cake with two of the bar staff singing me happy birthday. Soon the whole crowd at the Daly Waters Pub was singing me happy birthday! Lib, the cheeky bitch, had organised it when she was booking the meal and Mum was keeping me occupied looking at memorabilia through the pub. It was a fantastic night to top off a fantastic day.

Nitmiluk NP

Osprey, Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk NP

Katherine Springs Thermal Pool

Today we were on the road by 0700 and made our way to Renner Springs by lunch time. Sick of driving for the day we pulled up and checked into the CP behind the roadhouse. We spent the remainder of the day relaxing, bird watching and swimming in the pool. We saw a couple of new birds including a variegated fairy wren. There were also brolgas, corellas, geese, chooks and some pretty little finches.

Katherine Springs Thermal Pool

One thing we have seen plenty of on the roadside are decorated termite mounds. People feel the strange need to dress them up in all sorts of gear including but not limited to singlets, t-shirts, work shirts, bras, caps, hats, safety helmets, scarfs, masks and gloves. It is all very strange.

We also started to see Wedge Tailed Eagles eating carrion by the roadside. Man are they big!

Katherine Springs Thermal Pool

Campsite at Bittersprings CP

20/08/16 Day 85 (Sa). This morning we had an amazing sunrise at Renner Springs. We were on the road by 0715 and drove through to Tennant Creek where we stocked up on food to get us through to Alice Springs. The town had a weird vibe and had a very tired look about it.

Campsite at Bittersprings CP

After the shopping we drove further down the highway and stopped for lunch at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). After lunch we took a short stroll in and around the granite boulders. They are incredible. They were on my must see list and I was very chuffed that we’d made it this far.

Bess is driving very well on the road and we’ve had no more hiccups since leaving Darwin – touch wood.

Campsite at Bittersprings CP

We are spending the night at the Wauchope Hotel in the CP at the rear. It is a gravel pit but it suits our needs. Tomorrow we hope to make it to Alice.