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Published: July 14th 2012
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11 July 2012
We ate a breakfast of sliced fruit and cut the rest of our fruit and veg into sandwiches and salads to comply with quarantine requirements as we left Kununurra and drove into the NT this morning. However it seems to be an honour system however, there was no staffed checkpoint. Apparently it is stricter entering WA, and we've been given some honey and half a watermelon by travellers going the other way.
We drove through scrubby plains with a few hills, with what appeared to be some limestone outcrops. We had a look at Gregory's tree on the way past, it's a boab tree carved with the dates of Gregory's exploration departure and return dates. We were thinking of staying at the Big Horse Creek campsite but it was full, so we continued to Timber Creek caravan park. It backs onto the creek and they feed freshwater crocodiles there each evening, so we got a good look at those. The boys had a swim in the pool as it's very warm here.
12 July 2012
We left Timber Creek and drove to Katherine, past some scenic hills topped with a neat streak
of orange rock. We stopped to look out over the large Victoria River and the hills behind it, a pretty spot on the road. We are camped in Shady Lane Caravan Park, which has the nicest toilet block we have seen on our trip so far, very glamorous indeed. It's very warm here.
After lunch we stocked up on groceries, especially the depleted fruit and veg. Fresh dates are only $10/kg here, half the price they are in Perth. We then had a dip in the Katherine Hot Springs. This is a very popular spot, a nice comfortable temperature for a dip on a warm day. Katherine seems to have quite a lot of shops and services, and there are many tourists here (the large carpark at the visitors' information centre was nearly full). Dinner was turkey sausages and vegetables for the omnivores and noodles and vegetables for the vegetarian.
13 July 2012
Friday the 13th is always lucky when you're on holidays! We went to Katherine Gorge in the morning and walked to a lookout (2 hour walk). It was very hot and humid, they said it could get to 37C on the rocks
today. Lovely outlook over the gorge, with its deep green river and light orange and grey gorge walls. Wattle is still in flower along the banks. We saw two wallabies, one with a gorgeous baby, and a whip snake. We had an icecream at the visitor's centre (a very nice centre with a good information section and a big deck with tables and chairs). We booked canoes for tomorrow (booked out today).
We then went back to the hot springs for another swim, and also visited Keefe House, a historical house still furnished as it was when occupied by a well known local nurse.
Pop gave Alex some poker lessons, which he enjoyed!
14 July 2012
Another fine, hot day in Katherine. This morning, Alex and Kyle had a swim in the caravan park pool, which they have been keen to try out. We then went to Katherine Gorge for our canoe hire. We had two double canoes, and paddled down to a stopping point near where the first gorge joins Katherine Gorge. The current is gentle so it was quite easy paddling. We saw a number of freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves. We stopped
for lunch and a swim before paddling back. The water temperature was very pleasant. The gorge is quite busy - we saw quite a few tour boats, as well as helicopter flights overhead and other canoeists.
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