Mataranka - Katherine Gorge - Edith Falls

Finally we stay put for a few days in Mataranka so I can do the washing.... yes, unfortunately there are still chores to be done!

Tony ready for a snorkel down the river.   Beautiful thermal springs here at Mataranka.... only 200m walk down the road from our camp to a small oasis.   The river is so clear here he could see fish, lillies growing on the bed of the river & other interesting species which I was glad I couldn't see!

Noodles up the Top End are very popular for floating in rivers & thermal pools.   That will be my next purchase is Darwin....   We put a deposit on a noodle at the park and floated down the thermal river.  When you reach the end of the river there is a path to walk back & then float down again.  The current is too strong for most poeple to try and come back up.  The water is so warm it was very easy to spend a few hours just "bobbing" & talking before heading back for a happy hour drink....

Our camp at Nitmiluk National Park in Katherine Gorge.  We are travelling with a couple we met at Mataranka for awhile so have set up camp opposite each other.

The moutain goat in this picture managed to climb up to the Katherine Gorge Lookout in 30 deg + heat.    Tony wanted me to stand a little closer to the edge for this photo - I am still not sure why!   My hiking stick has been fantastic in helping me up & down stairs & rocks & Tony has taken charge of the other stick!

If you look closely at this picture you will see the millions of bats hanging in the trees during the day & night.  The smell was squite disgusting in parts of Katherine Gorge & the awning needed a wash before we left here!   Still a great place to stay. 

We decided to take a 4 hour cruise down Katherine Gorge to see 3 different gorges.    The gorges were truly spectacular & managed to see a few crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks.  We had to change boats at each gorge & the walks in between were quite interesting.   Some aboriginal artwork & beautiful boardwalks.

At the last gorge we arrived at Lilly Ponds where we were able to swim in the waterhole or stand under the waterfall.   Tony swam but this waterhole was like ice!!!   Lovely spot to have our lunch  & then cruise back to camp.

Beautiful Katherine Gorge - walking back to our boat   Tony disappointed he couldn't put the kayak in here.   Because of the late wet season there are still too many crocodiles around.
They hang buoys from the trees with rope & if there are bite marks on it there are still crocodiles around!

Our camp site was interesting here at Edith Falls.   Felt like we had been parked on the side of a dirt road.  No water, no power.

As we arrived at Edith Falls at lunch time, we set up camp and headed off for a 3 km walk up to Upper Falls (which I have to say is all up hill) & as you can see from this photo it is very hot walking and not much shade (32 deg)    Tony nearly had to use his hiking stick as a cattle prod to get me up the hill.   I am finding the heat a little overwhelming at times!

However, the reward at the top was fantastic.   If you managed not to slip or fall on the rocks it was great to cool of in the rock pools up there.  BUT, there was more uphill trekking over rocks to get back to camp!    At the bottom of this walk there is also a plunge rock pool in the Caravan Park where you can cool of as well.  I have never swum so much!!