August 17, 2010

August 17, 2010

Nitmiluk National Park’s English name is Katherine Gorge. Much of the interior is very hard, flat sandstone a hundred million years old. In this park the Katherine River has carved its way through the rock in a zigzag fashion following fractures in the land.

We want to canoe up the river through the gorge. But since Aimee is still recovering, we opt for the two-hour cruise instead. Since this is the dry season and the water is low, the boat has to stop along the way at a series of exposed rapids. There we walk a few hundred yards to a second boat and cruise the next gorge. Compared to the canyons of the western US, Katherine is not deep but it is pretty. We see little wildlife except for two freshwater crocodiles, the harmless little cousins of the saltie. It is possible to stairstep your way to five more gorges; since the second is supposed to be the most scenic we don’t continue on. Back on dry land we do a short hike to a canyon overlook and then run through the small Visitor Center museum.

Soon after lunch we hit the Stuart Highway north. An hour south of Darwin, we exit and drive to Litchfield National Park. We have gotten several strong recommendations for it, so we make room in the schedule. It is supposed to be a mini Kakadu. Since it is late we immediately head to Wangi Falls at the end of the park road to find a campsite. The campground is full so we pull into what looks like the picnic area parking lot and hope we don’t get kicked out.

We walk several hundred yards to Wangi falls for a quick look. It is a beautiful twin waterfall in an idyllic setting with a massive plunge pool at the bottom. It is so perfect it looks manmade. We take a short walk (that turned into a long one) around the isolated rainforest that hugs the falls. Aimee gets to see the Flying Foxes hanging in the trees. Afterwards I run back to the camper to get my bathing trunks so I can take a swim before dark. Since there are other swimmers, the chances of a Saltwater croc living here are virtually nil. Salties never pass up an easy meal. The water is nice and refreshing and I make it all the way to the falls. That probably was unwise for me since I am not much of a swimmer. I sink and this water is pretty deep.

Back at the camper we finish our transformation into Australians by cooking a steak on the Barbie. Every campground and motel so far has had communal gas BBQs for guests to use. BBQ is an Australian passion.