Edith Falls

Edith Falls top pool

Edith Falls

View above Edith Falls

We finally decided to leave our resort pool and move on towards Darwin. Wednesday saw us pull in at Edith Falls - with a lower and upper body of water it was a beautiful day spent lolling around in water (with a bit of a hard walk in between getting to the upper falls).
A lovely campground with showers & loo and lots of bird life made for an enjoyable evening.

Another day in Paradise

Katherine Gorge (no 1)

Katherine Gorge (no 2)

Freshwater Crocodile in the Gorge

Katherine River

After an early morning cruise up the Gorge we spent the rest of Tuesday laying by the pool - bliss.
The cruise was fantastic with great views, interesting commentary on the history, rock formations and plant life. We saw a couple of crocodiles, a turtle and a couple of buffalo ( plus the gorge of course)

Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge 

Our rock climb

Part of our walk 

Katherine - A quick stop at our first shopping centre for 2 1/2 months to get supplies and then an hour to kill waiting for the bottleshop to open. Only one opens on Sunday in Katherine and then only from 2pm to 6pm. Three policemen on duty at entrance checking licenses and asking your plans. Then you have to hand your license over to buy wine. Beer is okay but 1 cask wine per person.
We then headed out to Katherine Gorge or Nitmiiluk National Park. Temperature when we arrived yesterday was 37c. Thankfully they have a beautiful, croc free, pool with a bar!!
Monday morning saw Jen & I up early to do a quick 10km walk to view 2 lookouts- bit of a workout but great fun / lots of laughs to the extent fellow walkers said there was no way we could sneak up on anyone. Now I know you will all find that hard to believe as I am normally so quiet - must have been Jen.
Cooler 36c now and we've spent the rest of the day chillin by the pool. (thanks Rob & Garry for doing the housework, washing & cleaning the cars)

Elsey National Park

Mataranka Waterfall

Rapids for swimming (we hope the crocs don't like it here)

We stayed 2 nights at Elsey National Park and could easily have stayed on longer - such a beautiful spot and so peaceful.
An enjoyable walk to Mataranka Falls and an amazing swim in the Thermal springs at 'Bitter Springs' whilst we were there. You hop in at on spot and float around 200mtrs to another. The water is luke warm and crystal clear. It was so good I had to go around twice!
There was amazing bird life in the park and at night you could here the wild donkeys. Sadly we didn't see any. Lots of swimming with one eye watching for crocs. Only freshies but apparently some big ones!
Ah well another few days in paradise.

Mataranka Springs

Sunrise at Daly Waters

Daly Waters Inn

Great sense of humor!

Rob in jail at Daly Waters

Add caption

Off to a great start at Daly a Waters with a spectacular sunrise and lovely breakie and then onto to town itself which isn't much more than a pub these days but an amazing history behind the town. Like a lot of places in this area of the NT they feature heavily with World War II and not much pre this. Still amazing stuff.
The staff were Irish this time for a bit of a twist.
Onward we visited the Pink Panther pub in Larrimah and then into Mataranka township for supplies before heading off to Elsey National Park. Beautiful quiet camping in the bush and lovely swim at the Rapids (to avoid the crocs)

Daly Waters

Cape Crawford (fuel $2 per litre)

Road train near Cape Crawford

HyWay park at Daly Waters

Sunrise Daly Waters

As I sit here at the HyWay Park & Fuel Stop at Daly Waters (there is even lawn) I am amazed at the fortitude of people who embrace life in regional Australia. It is a tough existence and out here certainly without any of the trimmings we enjoy in daily life!
We travelled from King Ash Bay through to here yesterday with a quick stop at Cape Crawford. This was along the Carpentaria Highway and like other states -NT has taken a liberty calling this a Highway. However it was bitumen so I'll stop complaining. Unfortunately a rock did in one of Garrys tyres so we all had a lesson on changing a tyre on a Prado. Here is a hint Alan & Gai - check it out and consider taking your own jack.
Mining is big in this area and it's sad to not only see the destruction to the landscape but there is so much info around in how they are unable to control the contamination to water and land. MacCarthur River Mines are the big player in this area and the Government should be making them more accountable.
We arrived at Daly Waters to find it whilst not lush, certainly green and welcoming. Like most places we've come across in the outback it is staffed mostly by backpackers. Where are all our unemployed Aussies?
One main exception was Burketown which had aboriginal staff with a few grey nomads. Good on them.
Onto Mataranka today.

King Ash Bay

River Crossing near Domadgee

Sunrise King Ash Bay

King Ash Bay fishing club

Jabiru

We woke Tuesday to another beautiful day (although slightly restless sleep fretting over gas) and back on the road to Borroloola. After a couple of hours of rough travel we arrived at the outback town situated within the Wandangula Aboringinal Shire. Pretty rough looking town but again everyone very friendly.
We stocked up on a few supplies and headed off to King Ash Bay.
This is a lovely fishing community on an inlet to the gulf and is run by volunteers. Great facilities including a nightly bar with happy hour and different activities (Karaoke last night - although none of us volunteered)
We are going to spend a couple of days here just chilling & fishing. Sadly no swimming yet again due to not only the snapping handbags but also a rumored 8 foot cod with lurks around the waters. Actually met a lady at Karumba who's young son was eaten by a large cod so we're not taking any chances with this one