Chris and I did a cruise on the Katherine Gorge and left the kids with Nana and Pa (swimming in the caravan park pool). The gorge was spectacular and a different view from yesterdays heicopter flight over it. Even got to see our first crocodile for the trip.
In the afternoon we all went back to the Hot Springs for more fun in the warm water, then Chris and I went out for tea with CHC staff (I ate barramundi for the first time and it was most deliscious!)
Katherine Gorge
One of the locals
Some of the tourists at the Katherine Hot Springs
We left Katherine and drove north to Edith Falls in the Nitmiluk National Park. The campground was lovely with hot showers and our own lawn area plus a tree by our camper for the kids to climb, so we decided to stay there for 2 nights.
The loop bushwalk around Edith falls to the upper pool was such a pleasant surprise and has to be the highlight of our trip so far. The waterfall and rockpools were so scenic and the water was crystal clear and not cold. We all swam there for at least an hour - next time we would take a picnic and stay all day.
Edith Falls Top Pool
Top Pool - a great family swim
Top Pool - another fanstastic waterfall for Trudy & Ryan to play in
Again it wasn't far driving north to our next destination of the Douglas Hot Springs. We set up in the campground and spent at least 2 hours lazing in the warm water. It was amazing to feel the difference in the water temperature depending where you wanted to settle into the sand - ranging from hot bubbling up through the sand to cold where the next creek merged. We got chatting to another family from the Adelaide Hills who knew a mutual friend.
Hot and Cold creeks merge - you select your location and temperature
Friendly Blue Wing Kookaburra
The next day we set off at 8:30 which was our earliest start for the trip! We continued north, looked around Adelaide River, and Bachelor, then headed into the Litchfield National Park. We camped for 2 nights in a lovely spot at the Wangi Falls campground.
Litchfield was beautiful - did a walk around the Wangi falls (couldn't swim there yet as the water is still high from the wet season and risk of crocodiles), walked to the Tolmer falls, watched birds at the Tabletop Swamp, swam in the Florence falls rockpool and watched a madman climb to the top of the waterfall and jump off!, and our favourite place that we swam at each day was the Buley rockpools (a series of gentle waterfalls and water holes). We made friends with another family there who we swam with both days and have since caught up with in Darwin.
Amy jumping into Buley Rock Pool
Relaxing on a small waterfall at Buley Rock Pool
Ryan jumping into Buley Rock Pool with Trudy relaxing
Updating the journal with some local assistance (or distrations)
Another tourist jumping off the top of Florence falls (its a long way down)
On the way out of Litchfield we wandered around the old Bamboo Creek Tin Mine which was interesting to see how hard the old miners had to work with basic equipment and difficult conditions. It really gives me a sense of the limited resourses we have here and the importance to recyle.
We stopped at Berry Springs and had a wonderful swim in the clear green pools there, swimming from the waterfall down along the narrow creeks to the next pool.
We have been out of range for a number of days (hence the delay in updating our Blog) and it was while we were swimming at Berry Springs that we spoke on the phone to someone in Adelaide who informed us of just how cold it is there at the moment...it seems hard to believe that we are in the same country!
Crystal clear Berry Springs (again with warm water for Trudy)
Swan dive from Mikayla
For you Ms Strauss - hopefully better than an apple for the teacher ?
(Pilot this was named after actually was Capt Alison Strauss)
We have settled into the Freespirit caravan park in Darwin and I have caught up on washing while the kids have been swimming in the pools and Chris has been tinkering on the camper/car (he has alot of time to think of new inventions and improvements while we are holidaying!)
As always , take care and stay warm - The Schrapels xxxxx
As always , take care and stay warm - The Schrapels xxxxx
Happy birthday Ryan for today. We have been thinking of you having so much fun in the waterfalls. Love to all your family. Lots of love from the Wuttkes
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