Katherine (Nitmiluk) Gorge

We have been to and driven through Katherine before but have never stopped long enough to explore Katherine. It is quite a nice little town, a hive of activity being the hub for travellers and trucks heading north, south, east and west, and seems to have most things you need.

Our days have been spent relaxing, exploring, had a couple of swims at the hot springs in town, shopping for supplies, and just enjoying being on holidays but mostly just loving the warm weather. The days are warm, about 33 degrees, clear blue skies, and the nights cool down to about 15-19 degrees, which is great for sleeping.

We drove out to Katherine (Nitmijuk) Gorge and boarded the boat for the 11am two-gorge cruise. There were about 60 people onboard the boat. We cruised the first gorge but as there is a rock bar preventing the large boat going further, we all disembarked and walked past some aboriginal art high on the rock walls and got into a smaller boat to cruise the second gorge.

The tour guide told us that a few movies have been filmed here, including ‘Top End Wedding’, ‘Jedda’, ‘We of the Never Never’, ‘Rogue’ and in the 1990’s a NT ad featuring Daryl Somers floating down Katherine Gorge on a lilo saying ‘You’ll never never know if you never never go’.

It was a pleasant couple of hours on the water, and when we returned to the jetty, we walked up to Baruwei Lookout about 2kms return walk. We were pretty hot and sweaty and as we approached the top of the stairs to the lookout, we heard laughter and squeals, and found out that Andrew had just proposed to his girlfriend Jade about 30 seconds before we got there. We were excited for them and happy to share their joy and we took their photo for them. They were from Sale in Victoria.

While in Katherine, we are enjoying staying at ‘The Rapids’. It is aimed at over 50’s and specifies no children, so is nice and quiet except when everyone gathers for Happy Hour/s every night. LOL.

Some nights the owners join us, but it is usually the caretakers Tracey and Steve and whoever happens to have arrived that day.

We came in for 2 nights and will end up staying for 7 nights before moving on.Meer informatie