Our journey to Katherine consisted of a lot of time in the car and some great sneaky roadside camp spots.
Day 1 - Yulara (Uluru) to about half hour before Devils Marbles. Just under 800km. A stop in Alice Springs for a quick shop (including donuts aka bribes) then just lots of driving! Found a great camp spot hidden from the road right next a lovely old windmill. The kids enjoyed the freedom of a secluded bush camp spot and enjoyed riding their bikes up and down the side road. Emilia showed her bush skills by collecting twigs and sticks to build a kids-only campfire, it was so cute we had to light it for her. Her and Jackson sat around it whilst Daniel and I sat around the main campfire!
Day 2- another huge day of driving but this time with some more interesting stops. Drove about 650km with stops at Devils Marbles, many circular rocks that look like they have been strategically placed throughout the landscape, and Daly Waters Pub, an infamous outback pub where patrons are encouraged to donate belongings. This has resulted in a thong tree, number plate fences, walls of badges and business cards and rows of underwear hanging above the bar. Emilia was very amused and said loudly 'Look at all the booby holders Mum' when we walked in. After a few beers, some icy poles for the kids and the placement of our 4StrayKatz card we headed off to find a camp spot. We were in luck again and found a great spot down a side road. Had a campfire and marvelled at the stars.
Day 3- today began with a stop at Mataranka Hot Springs for a relaxing and refreshing dip before heading to Katherine. Our caravan park was only a few minutes walk from the Katherine Hot Springs so we had a dip there too. After an afternoon spent doing jobs (washing, grocery shopping, cleaning out the car) we were ready for a day at the Katherine Gorge the next day.
Day 4- We had a relaxing morning at a nearby section of the Katherine River that had rapids and rockpools to play in before heading to Katherine Gorge with a plan to hire one kayak so (in addition to our own kayak) all four of us could paddle the gorge together. It was not to be. The first section of the gorge was closed as they had not been able to give the all clear for saltwater crocodiles so the only way to see the gorge was to be ferried to gorge two and kayak from there. Hence the kayaks were completely booked out. The only other way to see the gorge was to do a 12km hike! Not a chance on a 34deg day. Instead we just watched the resident fruit bats for awhile then headed back to camp to use the pool instead. It was disappointing but we consoled ourselves with the fact that we had seen many wonderful gorges in the Kimberley and we still had Litchfield and Kakadu NPs to see so we were bound to encounter more natural wonders before the trip's end.
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| Jackson rebuilding the cow with the bones he found at our roadside stop. |
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| A very nice view from our free camp. |
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| Emilia and Jackson enjoying the campfire she built for them. |
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| Our little devil at Devil's Marbles. |
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| Nah, can't lift it Mum. |
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| A small crack let water slowly seep in between the rock causing this perfect break. |
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| On the highest one they could find. |
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| Jackson after helping to collect firewood, he managed to find every bit of charcoal wood in the vicinity. |
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| Enjoying the warm water at Mataranka Hot Springs. |
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| Caught in Flight - one of the thousands of bats at Katherine Gorge. |
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| The trees were heaving with them. |
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| It looked like this one was beating his chest. |
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| It is meant to be a colony of bats but I think these ones should be a 'bunch of bats'. |
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