Tuesday 20th March 2012 Day 21 Darwin to Katherine NT

After yesterday’s trials with the Kombi we decided to pack up slowly and head to wards Katherine. We checked into the Caravan Park and I asked what was on around Katherine, next minute we are booked onto a boat cruise up through a small part of the Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge). It leaves in 45 minutes and its 30km’s up the road so off we went making it as the boat had just loaded everybody else on. Starting off this lady asks if we speak German answering no, but we soon find out we are on the cruise with a bus load of German tourists.  The only other English-speaking people were the boat operator and the cruise guide boat comical fellows. We cruised the gorge with some spectacular walls and were moored at this spot where we got off and walked a rocky track to a huge two-stage waterfall and pool. Off we went clothes and all into the crystal clear and cool water. We both swam to the waterfall for a shower, the water coming down hard onto our heads. It was so refreshing. The only disappointing thing was that as the level of the water was so high the boat was unable to access any other of the 13 gorges that make up the Katherine Gorge. One funny part was the German’s tour guide asked us about our trip as she was from Adelaide as well and we mentioned the kombi. She then realized they had passed us on the way to Katherine. She mentioned this to the German’s and there were some laughter obviously directed to us, Ja Ja. A great time!

A great place for a swim

Katherine Gorge