We arrive around 12pm in Katherine and book into the Big4 and get setup. Its a huge park and very busy and just outside town but we like it. It has a huge pool(but cold after Mataranka Springs) and a lovely little restaurant to the side of it.
We got in the car and had a big drive around to get our bearings and see what there is in the town, stopping at the Katherine Hot Springs not far from our caravan park and test the water... lovely and warm but not quite as warm as Mataranka! Its also been damed and concreted but is very clear and popular. We will be back with our bathers!
I have checked out the toilet blocks and laundry and its all great so we are going to stay a few days. The sites are big and lots of shade from the trees. Head to the shops and find Woolworths and get our groceries stocked up and back to the van. We head to the restaurant for happy hour and have a lovely meal before retiring for the night. Its 32 dg and a bit humid hope we can sleep tonight?
Tommy didn't sleep very well as he cant sleep with the air-conditioner on and it was really hot last night, think it only got down to 25dg. Up early and straight down to the hot Springs after breakfast. Got in and found a lovely shaded spot to just relax and started chatting to an older couple. Turns out they are camped right beside us at Big4! We stayed at the springs for a few hours as there are a few different pools and a waterfall on one side where its been damned. Lovely and relaxing!
When we get back we spend a bit of time chatting to Willie & Lindelle, the couple beside us. Tommy was looking for some parts for the van so we decided to go back into town to have a look and stumbled on the market in the centre of town. Had a look through, mostly arts & Crafts for the tourists and had something to eat from the stalls. We had a relaxing day and BBQ for tea and an early night after making plans on what to do next.
On the way back out he turned the cave lights out and its soooo dark... cant even see your hand in front of your face! We made our way back out and Tommy & I decided to walk the track around the outside of the cave and read the signs around about vegetation and animals before we left. On the path we couldn't believe how many ants there were, all different sizes and different colours. At one point we saw a huge amount of large red ants around a big hole in the ground, I walked past because they give me the shivers but Tommy stopped to watch them. Next thing they all started going towards him. He jumped over most of them onto the other side of the path and guess what? They followed him.... Oh it was horrible. I was screaming and we walked away with Tommy laughing at me! When we got back to the ranger station we asked the guide about them and he said it was probably red ants which were attracted by meat....... us! and yes they would follow us! had a great time and were really tired by the time we got back. Straight to the springs when we got back then down to the caravan Park pool for a dip and met some of our neighbours. I called Nitmiluk Parks and booked a diner cruise for tomorrow. We heated up some left over stew and had some toast with it for tea just too tired to cook!
So the journey begins with the guide telling us some of the dreamtime legends and how they relate to the gorges and about aboriginal ways, culture and bush tucker and where its found, pointing out trees, bushes, fish and of course the odd crocodile! He took us close in to see wall painting and birds and lazy crocs(just small ones of 2 or 3 meters) lying sun baking on the rocks. The views were spectacular and the colours glorious! Its not long before we are at the end of the first gorge and need to get out the boat...ahead of us is a landing and setup at the top of the steps is a gazebo and some chairs and water tanks. We are told we need to walk a few 100 meters to the next boat ramp but along the way to make sure and check out the cave paintings done by Aboriginals thousands of years ago. Spectacular! even the walkway is great, they haven't moved rocks to make a path but filled in around them with concrete and it makes it so much better than walking along dirt paths.