Katherine Gorge

Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park

http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/nitmiluk.html


Early this year we went down to check out Katherine's beautiful gorge country hoping to do a canoe trip. Unfortunately due to river conditions after the wet, the gorge wasn't open to canoeing yet (rangers monitor movement of salt water crocs over the wet season, and rapids). We did some hiking to Northern Rock hole instead. This was a 2 hour hike with a spectacular water fall at the end.



Gorge country First views of Northern Rock hole

We had the rock hole to ourselves for a swim and picnic.

Hiking to Edith Falls on the way home to Darwin

Top swimming hole

The hike wet our appetite for canoeing, so we returned for an overnight canoe trip last weekend. This time, we were able to hire a canoe (well, actually a heavy duty kayak) and canoed up to the 6th gorge to camp overnight.




The second gorge - spectular cliffs and hanging water gardens lining each side of the river. The water is up to 30 meters deep in this gorge. It's impressive to paddle - what tourism ads are made of!

Smoko stop - gorge 4


At this time of the dry season, the water levels are quite low so there is not a lot of current and lots of portaging between gorges. From start to campsite this meant a 5 1/2 hour tough canoe/portage trip.


6th Gorge Campsite

As we were the only ones there, the whole of gorge 6 was just for us!

Evening fish with our campsite in the background


View from the 'kitchen'


Half-naked chef at work
(he, oops, IT was really hot - 30 degrees at night on our sandy beach!)

No fish for dinner, but Craig did catch a small barramundi.
Luckily we didn't know that there was also a 2.5 meter fresh water croc who lives in gorge 6 - says the ranger when we got back!

Early morning dip

Heading home


Because the water levels are so low, the portaging between gorges is quite long and strenuous. Luckily the canoes were bullet-proof (and not ours...)

Notice who's doing all the work?
(and lis is happily sitting on a rock taking pictures!)



Awesome trip, I'd definitely recommend it

(though start training early cuz Lis was sore for 2 days after!)

Corroboree Billabong

Corroboree Billabong

Earlier this month we went out to Corroboree Billabong (about 1 1/2 from Darwin along the Arnhem Highway) for a morning fish. We hired a tinny for 4 hours, and luckily Craig did actually know how to drive it (through the croc-infested waters!).

The sunrise through the morning mist was amazing.

But we had to get down to fishing business as there is supposed to be some great barramundi in the billibong.


That is, Craig got down to business, I was just taking LOTS of pictures of the scenery, birds and animals.

The billabong is an absolutely gorgeous fishing spot.

Jabiru
These and the brolgas are pretty iconic to the NT

Sea eagle

Lis trying to show Craig how it's done

(but I failed as well - neither of us got even a nibble! Oh well, at least the scenery was nice, and there was no fish cleaning to do!)

Beautiful stands of lillipads

And then there were the crocs...
We must have seen at least 25 - 30 crocs in the billibong, varying in size from 1.5 to 3 m or so. It was pretty cool - and they stayed far enough away (that we know of...) that we felt pretty safe.
The crocs are so slow and lazy looking that it's hard to imagine them lunging for their meals.

Apparently this is for temperature control, and not just waiting for some sucker animal just to walk into his mouth.




So, who's coming to Darwin so we can take you to the billabong...?

Darwin update for June 2008

Greetings All!
A bit of an update for you.

Craig and I have been working hard up/down here in Darwin - long hours at work and in the hospital, and the occasional weekend work days. But we are still taking time to enjoy the area and do a few weekend get-aways.

Here are a few pics of the things we've been up to in the last couple of months.

Craig fishing at the local Nightcliff forshore
with an approaching storm coming from behind.

Some of our garden friends















Craig found these guys below while moving our pot plants around.

Can you spot the 4th one?











Litchfield National Park

Litchfield is a great park just 1 1/2 hours south of Darwin. It's got lots of popular waterfalls, hikes and rock holes that are great in our 33 degree NT weather.

I'm pretty sure every tourist that comes to Darwin gets a trip down to Litchfield at some point - it's definitely on our tourist itinerary.
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/litchfield.html

Check out the pictures from a couple trips we've done down there.

Wangi Falls

Cathedral termite mounds

Buley Rock Holes -
I got washed down this waterfall, but Craig managed to stick it out.

Unfortunately, in the wet season some of the water holes are off limits...

But not Buley or this next one, just so you know Mom...

Florence Falls

Weekend trip with some classmates

You can see us with the noodles in the middle

It's tough being a med student in the NT!

Camping at Robin's Falls

In April we took advantage of a long-weekend to enjoy a nice camping trip to Robin's Falls. It's a beautiful quiet waterfall just south of Adelaide River.

Dining area by the creek
(At night I checked for croc eyes every time I went near...)

A little rock climbing to complete the weekend...

A post-climbing swim

Daly River and the Merrepen Arts Festival
http://www.merrepenfestival.com.au/

At the end of May a bunch of us headed down to Daly River (about 2 1/2 hours south) to enjoy the Merrepen Arts Festival. Lovely camping, Aboriginal art auction, and a great concert by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and Melbourne based string quartet the Ad Hoc String Collective under the stars in the bed of the Daly River.

(You can see the back of the stage screen on the left.)

Enjoying a lazy morning camping breakfast

Miscellaneous other happenings

Dripstone Cliffs sunset picnic with our friends Julie and Carmen

And then there are the Tales of South Australian Wines, cont'd...

An old favourite, the Black Chook from Penny's Hill. Still as good in Darwin as it is in Adelaide.

Quick reminder from last year about our trip to McClaren Vale, and this stop at Penny's Hill.

http://www.pennyshill.com.au/

We obviously kinda miss having great wineries basically in our backyard!