 |
| View of plunge pool at the camp |
Edith Falls is in Nitmiluk National Park some 60 km north of
Katherine (turn off is 40 km north of Katherine). It’s a beaut place with a
huge plunge pool below the falls and big pools and waterfalls on the plateau
above the main pool. So popular this time of year that we were told by fellow
travellers that to secure a spot in the camp area you had to be there by 10:30 –
so we were lined up at 09:30 and lucky we did as it was booked out by 10:30.
The camp area is an oasis with green lawns, BBQ’s, clean
amenities, hot showers and plenty of drinking water. Only downside is that
there is no power and generators are not allowed (yahoo!).
We stayed 5 nights and had to be careful that
we had the solar panels tracking the sun throughout the day to keep the power
up so we can watch - I Fish, the News,
Footy and the Voice every night. I have a small admission to make here – yep I
am watching the Voice! I figured out early in our trip that I am can handle one
reality TV and sad but true - I chose the Voice. Loving those blind auditions!
 |
| The easiest part of the hike to the top |
There is a two hour trek up to the plateau above Edith Falls
which is very rocky and difficult in places.
 |
| Almost half way - had to go down to water level and up again |
A real test for Linda’s new hip.
She made it but was sore for a few days later (I didn’t tell her but so was
I).
 |
| Swimming at the top waterfall |
About half way through the walk
there are beautiful rock pools and a waterfall – last time we were here four
years ago Linda and I swam under the waterfall. Unfortunately this time Linda
couldn’t risk the slippery and steep rocks to get to the water - so after
trekking uphill for an hour in warm weather she couldn’t have a swim. Being a
gentleman I left her in the shade sitting on a rock and spent 15 minutes
swimming while she sweated it out on the rock!
 |
| Kimberly Rose - pretty rare |
Met a guy who convinced me to go fishing outside the
National Park for Barra and Sooty Grunter. So we drove out to where the Edith
River crosses the road into the Park and after trekking a few kilometers
upstream and finding no water (I mentioned in an earlier post that it was a
very poor wet season this year) we returned to bridge to have a few casts –
hooked a Sooty on a pooper but lost him a foot from the edge. Hard work trying
to catch a fish with hardly any water so we gave up and went back to camp. I
did see a small wild Barra – first one for this trip!
 |
| Gorge-ous old guy |
The Edith River runs into the Katherine River which is
famous for the scenic Katherine Gorge. So we decided to treat ourselves to a
boat cruise up the gorge and a spectacular buffet lunch overlooking the river. Bloody
expensive but one off the “bucket list”. So after travelling back 80 km to the Gorge,
we and hundreds of other folk lined up for the two hour cruise.
 |
| A pretty spot |
Whilst is a
beautiful area we got off the boat with the impression that it was too rushed,
too commercialised and not great value for money compared to other gorge tours
we have done. Oh well – we headed up for
our spectacular buffet lunch overlooking the river – only to find out that it
had been cancelled as not enough people had booked the lunch. We were offered
the equivalent value from there standard lunch menu - and good food it was –
but not the same as the spectacular buffet lunch we were expecting.
 |
| Oops - caught shopping! |
We left the Katherine Gorge having spent $200
on cruises and food and feeling a little disappointed. Oh well as I said
earlier – one off the bucket list.
As a foot note: After we finished the Gorge tour we headed
back into Katherine to do some serious shopping as we expected that this would
need to last us till we got to Mount Isa some weeks away. So after the 45
minute run home in the heat we packed our goodies into the caravan fridge.
Nearly lost the lot! - lesson learnt – do not pack up the caravan fridge with
warm food and vege’s when its above 32C every day and only gets to 17C at
night. Took at least three days for the Caravan Fridge to catch up!
Check out my short video - link below.
No comments:
Post a Comment