4 Stray Katz: Passing through the gates to Hell….well the corrugations were hell, but the scenery made up for it.

An hour or so out of Hell's Gate Roadhouse to 15 minutes south of Katherine

Wednesday 24th- Saturday 27th August

We left early from our roadside camp and pulled into Hell’s Gate Roadhouse for breakfast. The roadhouse is named after the nearby rock formations that sit close to the road – Hell’s Gate. It was called this as those travelling through Outback QLD to NT in the early 1900s were given police protection up until this point, at which they passed through the ‘gates to Hell’ where they were then on their own until they made it (or not) to Katherine. The area is remote these days, I can only imagine how wild and unchartered it was back then.

We had planned a few days to do this section of the Savannah Way, as we’d heard the corrugations were quite bad. However due to the wasted days in Burketown we had to rush through. The road was definitely very bad in some places and the car and van got very shaken up. We stopped every hour or so to check everything and found heaps of screws loose and the bumps had even shaken some cupboard handles off, but the most annoying thing was when the corrugations shook open a jar of Dolmio, so I opened the van to find a river of pasta sauce!

We ended up getting to just out of Katherine in only 3 days…..

Day 1: 50kms west of Doomadgee (QLD) to Foelshe River (on Savannah Way), NT.

Wednesday 24th August

The corrugations weren't too bad on this section and we stopped for the night on the flat shale rocks on the edge of the Foelshe River. There was enough water for a refreshing dip and we spent the afternoon relaxing and watching other cars, and a few trucks, do the river crossing (some of the locals went extermely fast which was fun to watch). Daniel went for a kayak and spotted a huge barramundi. He tried his luck later that evening (fishing out of the kayak) but the barra wasn't biting.

The roadhouse at Hell's Gate had heaps of character.

We finally made it to the Territory.

Leaving evidence of our journey (and hopefully not creating a future 'graffitier')

Practising using the cast net in the shallow river next to where we camped on the first night.

The kids enjoyed playing with the little frogs they found along the creek bank.

Up on the hill behind the creek where we camped there was an abandoned, and burnt out, dwelling. The old vehicles strewn around the place looked eerie in the late afternoon light.

We got up early to enjoy the stunning colours of another Outback sunrise.

Getting some warmth from the fire- the morning was chilly. As you can see we camped on the rocks at the edge of the creek - a lovely spot. Jackson is in the background looking for the cane toads that Daniel walloped the night before!

Day 2: Foelshe River (along Savannah Way) to a roadside stop on the Carpentaria Hwy (about 200kms east of the junction with Stuart Hwy) via Booroloola.

Thursday 25th August

So today were the bad corrugations everyone was talking about!! We certainly got shaken about. Daniel did a stellar job towing the van in difficult circumstances. Driving at a slower pace meant we got to enjoy the scenery though, and we marvelled at the mass of termite mounds that lined the road, there are just so many. We also saw kangaroos, wallabies, eagles and even a dingo whilst driving along. We stopped for a break at Wearyn River, where the boys fished whilst I did yoga and Emilia did some sewing, then we bumped along until Booroloola where the road turns to bitumen (thankfully).

The following 8 photos are from an unexpected gem we discovered after leaving Booroloola (we only found it as we were looking for a place to stop as I'd forgotten to turn the fridge from gas to DC). We pulled into Carabirini Conservation Reserve and read about the 'Lost City'- weathered sandstone that has eroded to create spectacular formations. It was such a scenic walk (although the flies were very friendly) and we could see why it is likened to a mini Bungle Bungles. We were all very impressed.

Sweaty feet and dusty ground = filth

I made her pose for some lovely pictures in the early evening light at our hilltop camp spot.

Enjoying a sunset cuddle.

The corrugations shook everything around so much that I nearly got knocked out by a random selection of food items every time I opened one of the high cupboards. We decided I should wear a helmet to keep safe!

Hill top roadside stop on the Carpentaria Hwy to just near the RAAF Tindal Base just out of Katherine (didn't realise we were definitely on military land until the morning- whoops).

Friday 26th August

After another early start, and another magnificent sunrise, we made our way to Bitter Springs and floated in the warm water (with about 100 other people!). The warm water certainly helped clean off some of the dirt we'd accumulated on our feet over the last few days! After a long soak we headed towards Katherine and took a track off the highway hoping to find a spot to camp for the night. We found a place, but as fighter jets began flying over us I started to get worried as I thought we might be camping on an Army base. Daniel convinced me not to worry and the night went okay. As we drove out the next day I noticed a sign a bit further up the highway stating that it was a Commonwealth RAAF base and access was prohibited!!