Blogs from Pine Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, Oceania

The turnoff for Kakadu National Park is at Pine Creek, and we had to decide whether to head into Kakadu or trek north to Darwin. We decided to head north into Darwin, as we were catching up there with friends that we had met in Queensland last year, and I was keen to get a new set of tyres fitted on the caravan before we move on too far. Pine Creek was founded when workers digging holes for the Overland Telegraph Line discovered gold, triggering another Australian gold rush. There have been a number of gold and iron ore mines operating in Pine Creek, with an open cut gold mine only closing in 1995 after having extracted 21,700 kg of gold over a ten year period. The open cut pit is now filled with a lake. ... read more

Geo: -13.8245, 131.835Yeah, we did it. The alarm went off at exactly the right time this morning. Joined the mob in Galloping Jacks for breakfast...our first formal one of the trip (we have been sticking to an apple and juice.)Not sure if we are water nymphs or water rats but it was back to the 'cruise' again this morning. This time in the impressive Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Gorge.Katherine is the fourth largest town in the Northern Territory and is often referred to as the "cross roads of the north" and it is a short 29 kms from the gorge. The Katherine Region has an area the equivalent of Victoria and welcomes some 300000 tourist a year.This group of tourists's first stop was to the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre and this is one with a view. ... read more