June 23 - 26

Day 83 – June 23 – Edith Falls -> Katherine Gorge

When Ben woke up this morning he said ‘After breakfast I’m going to do my aboriginal things’ – meaning digging in the dirt, collecting rocks and breaking up sticks. Funny what the kids take away from our various adventures!

We drove to Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, and checked into the campground next to the gorge. The kids enjoyed playing in the campground swimming pool – which we were glad to have since the gorge is closed to swimming due to risk of salt water crocs. After lunch we went on a 4 hour, 3 gorge cruise. After a frustrating long wait in a queue with hundreds of people leaving on various cruises, we finally got on our boat twenty minutes late. We had a very pleasant ride through 3 gorges past numerous freshwater crocs (no salties!) with short walks in between the gorges with aboriginal rock art thousands of years old.

We wished we could have paddled canoes here – it would be very peaceful without all the other people. The best part of the cruise was visiting a beautiful tall waterfall near the 3rd gorge – in the middle of nowhere, with a deep clear pool. We swam and sat under the fall and relaxed.

A good cruise but we’re all cruised out now. Don’t think we can take another beautiful rock pool and waterfall! That night we ate pizza at the café while the kids swam in the pool, and listened to Greg and Julia Evans sing covers from the 70’s (we don’t think it was Greg Evans from ‘Perfect Match’…)

Day 84 – June 24 – Katherine Gorge -> Mataranka

Bruce and Michelle went for a 1 hour walk up to the Katherine Gorge lookout while the kids stayed and read in the motorhome. The rest of the walks were all quite long and too much for the kids.

We left the Gorge and visited the Katherine museum on our way back into town. We had yummy Devonshire teas and mango smoothies at the café, and watched an excellent DVD on the 1998 floods in Katherine as well as the 1st plane (a Gypsy Moth) used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. While we were at the shops getting groceries and supplies we overheard on the radio that Australia has a new Prime Minister! We are completely out of touch… Michelle and Erin are proud that we finally have a female PM.

At our last stop in Katherine we had a swim at the Katherine thermal pools, but they were too crowded and murky for our liking. We travelled on to Mataranka where we much preferred the Mataranka Hot Springs.

Day 85 – June 25 – Mataranka -> Daly Waters Pub

We went for a 2.5km walk along the creek in Elsey National Park to Stevie’s hole, but we didn’t swim. It had the obligatory crocodile warning sign, with murky water, a strong current and no other people. Not so brave this morning! We walked back to Mataranka Springs for another warm soak, before we briefly visited the replica Elsey Station Homestead from the movie ‘We of the Never Never’.

The last few days we’ve had no mobile reception (either on Bruce’s phone – Optus or Michelle’s phone – Vodafone). Only Telstra works, so Michelle has been rediscovering the frustrations of pay phones – remember them?

This comment is for Grandpa – we have had a few people comment on all the bikes on the back of the motorhome, but this morning a lady actually took a photo of them! She said she wanted to show her daughter who was planning her own AA trip. Grandpa should patent his design!

We visited Bitter Springs before we left Mataranka, another great thermal spring fed creek. We jumped in one end and drifted 100m down to the end with the current. We did this a few times and even tried swimming back up against the current – hard work. The water is so crystal clear…

We arrived at Daly Waters pub at 3:00. We had an icecream and a drink and checked out the interesting decorations (badges, t-shirts, banknotes and even bras!), and had a game of pool. The place was packed in the evening. We avoided the bar and the hideous music and had our own BBQ and a game of Trivial Pursuit. So hot tonight – the boys took off their shirts so they could get to sleep.

Day 86 – June 26 – Daly Waters Pub -> Devil’s Marbles

We left before dawn for the long drive south along the Stuart Highway. After a few unmemorable stops for fuel / morning tea / lunch / afternoon tea / etc, and seven hours later we arrived at the Devil’s Marbles. On the way the kids alternated watching Brady Bunch in the back and watching the endless scenery in the front.

We stayed at the campground at the Devil’s Marbles and spent a few pleasant hours scrambling over rocks and exploring lots of nooks and crannies. It was cool and windy, which meant no flies!

We ate dinner outside watching the sunset in the west as a beautiful full moon rose in the east. Can’t believe it has been a whole month since the staircase to the moon in Broome! After dinner the boys played AFL until it was too dark to see the ball, and then we played scrabble before bedtime. Much cooler tonight – as we are over 500km more south than last night, you can really feel the temperature drop.

PS. Check out who's doing the washing up!