4 Stray Katz: Glowing red rocks and an infestation of bats.... Judbarra Gregory National Park & Timber Creek

Judbarra/Gregory National Park & Timber Creek, NT

Monday 21st - Thursday 24th August

After a huge day driving down from Dundee Beach, with a 3 hour stop in Katherine to restock and do some jobs, we arrived at the stunning Judbarra National Park in the late afternoon, just in time to do a walk up one of the rocky mountains to the base of an escarpment. The Ngawilbinbin walk took us up a steep slope covered with Livistona palms until we reached the bottom of the escarpment, where we walked along looking for indigenous art. We arrived back to the Joe Creek day use area just as the red rocks of the surrounding landscape began glowing as the sun started descending. There was no-one else around so we decided to spend the night - it was such an amazing spot surrounded by huge rocky ranges. We got up early the next day and did the nearby Escarpment walk. We didn't quite make it to the top before the sun peeked over the Eastern range, but we still enjoyed the sunrise from a reasonably high vantage point. Again it was a great walk through spectacular landscape, rocky mountain ranges with the Victoria River running in between. We got to see a short-eared rock wallaby up close - it was as interested in us as we were in it! After breakfast on the edge of the Victoria River, at the old road crossing (where the kids had fun skimming rocks in the shallow water), we headed to Timber Creek, just an hour up the road.

Near the start of the stunning Ngawilbinbin walk

We walked along the base of the escarpment, some sections, like this one in the picture above and below, had large sections of overhanging rock.

The rocks were interspersed with so many palms

Some of the gorgeous wildflowers growing along the track

As we got closer down the vegetation changed and there was a lot of very spiky spinafex - it was all so green though, due to the flood they had in March.

Hot and sweaty at the end of the walk- it was around 6pm but it was still very warm

Daniel put the drone up to get this great shot of the glowing rocks at sunset- you can see a road coming in, we camped at the end of that so we had such an amazing view of the surrounding ranges.

The colours on the rock as the sun set were just spectacular.

Jackson cooked us nachos for dinner. You can see the caravan at the back - it was such a great sneaky camp spot.

Climbing up to the top of the escarpment the next morning - just before sunrise

The landscape is just stunning - you can also see the Victoria River to the right, snaking its way between the ranges.

Up the top - it was only 7am but it was already getting hot

The cute short-eared rock wallaby that we saw on the way up and the way back down.

Enjoying the view.

The small township of Timber Creek was our last stop in NT before we headed over the border to WA. The place is currently overrun by black flying foxes- there are thousands of them and they have all decided they like the trees in the middle of the caravan park. Before we booked in they warned us that if we camped in the shady middle section of the park our car and van would get covered in bat poo! We decided against this and instead chose a spot on the edge of the park, where we ended up having a lovely view of Timber Creek and a frangipani tree. Over the 2 nights we were there we:

Visited the well stocked Timber Creek Police Museum where we were guided through the displays by Bazza, the volunteer who mans the museum. He is such a character and has led a very interesting and unique life so we were thoroughly entertained during the hour and half we spent there.
Watched freshwater crocodiles being fed in the creek that ran through the back of the caravan park (this was a bit of an anticlimax though as the bucket full of meat got dropped into the creek!).
Sat safely away from the trees and watched the bats take their nightly flight - they left just after sunset each night and the sky was literally black as they all took off together. The came back about 4am so we got an early wake up call each morning!!
Explored a few sections of the Victoria River, including Bradshaw Bridge where we went crocodile spotting. It was incredible to learn (at the museum) that during the recent floods in March the water was over the bridge.
Watched the sunset from a lookout near town and admired the river as it changed colour in the fading light.
Visited the Western section of Judbarra NP. We'd hoped to go to Limestone Gorge but the road was still closed due to flood damage so we visited the old Bullita Homestead instead. It was interesting to wander through the old buildings and the stockyards and learn about the hardships the early pastoralists endured.

Bazza (who runs the Timber Creek Police Museum) insisted that we get a photo wearing a selection of old police hats!

The unsuccessful freshwater crocodile feeding event - Daniel spent most of the time fishing out the white bucket that the guy running the feeding had accidentally dropped into the creek. Once he got the bucket out there was still some meat left, but the guy hung it down too low and a crocodile took it all in one bite, then the show was over!!

Exploring the banks of the Victoria River - the rocks were all so interesting.

Sunset from a lookout just near the Timber Creek Nackeroo monument - a monument honouring the army members and their Aboriginal helpers who, in WW2, patrolled the northern part of NT in case of a Japanese invasion.

The incredible boab tree at the old Bullita Homestead in the Western section of Judbarra NP

The homestead was right on the banks of the East Baines River, and we read a harrowing account of a flood in the 1970s when a lady spent a half the night wedged into a tree holding on for her life (of course the flood had to occur when her husband was away!).