Top End Offerings
I have been trying to get around to posting some pics of my trip over a week ago now, when I flew north to the 'Top End' of Australia. Darwin was another one of those places on my list of places I wanted to visit...it's just a shame that Andrew didn't have the time off to come with me on this little jaunt. Going to the Northern Territory at this time of year can have it's downside as it is the start of the monsoon season, but I was blessed with excellent weather, and my only complaint was the endless humidity, but I was in the tropics, so couldn't expect much else. Just to have dry days was good enough.
The 4hr flight had me flying over vast remote regions of the interior. I am always in awe of the size and remoteness of Australia, and I am always reminded of those early explorers who mapped out the Outback on foot/horse/camel and who really never knew what was out there. I enjoyed my exploration by air!
This landscape reminds me of an old persons skin stretched out like partchment with thick veins pulsing with the life-blood of the outback!
Before long the coast and Darwin came into view.
I decided to take full advantage of being in the region and I had booked myself on 2 full-day tours, as I figured this was going to be the best way to see as much as possible in a short time. It turned out to be perfect. So, my first day was a trip south to Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge. I was thrilled to find that there were only 9 of us booked for this tour, so plenty of room on the bus to spread out and move around depending on the scenery. Our first stop was Adelaide River, a tiny settlement of about 190 people. During the Second World war, Adelaide River was the headquarters of a large military base. Just on the edge of the town is the Adelaide River War Cemetery, with 434 Commonwealth graves, including those from the bombings of Darwin by the Japanese in 1942.
As I was looking around the graves and reading the inscriptions I came to a very sudden halt as I almost put my foot down on this little guy. Just as well I didn't because it is a rather venomous brown snake...in fact one of the most venomous we have. I took my photo and let it go on its way!
Next stop was Leliyn or Edith Falls in Nitmiluk National Park. There was chance to have a swim here in the pool, but, despite it being 40c, I was more intent on seeing the local scenery. Nitmiluk is in the care of the local Jawoyn Aborigines and in their language means Place of Cicada Dreaming. I can tell you that the noise of the cicadas was deafening at times.
Edith Falls
These little lizards were all over the place
Northern Rosella
After a very welcome lunch and many refills of my water bottle (it was 45c) it was time to set sail along the Katherine River and through the fantastic Gorge. The gorge really consists of 13 gorges, but we just went to 2 of them. This sandstone spectacle began over 23 million years ago. It was a truly amazing feeling gliding silently past sheer cliffs of red and brown, orange and yellow and in awe of the beauty of nature and the elements.
Wildlife seems to abound in this place....these wallabies were everywhere.
Then time to head home. It is common in this tropical region for the clouds to build up during the day and for spectacular electrical storms to occur. We had one as the bus returned to Darwin...alas, no chance of decent pictures, but a nice sky, nonetheless!
The 4hr flight had me flying over vast remote regions of the interior. I am always in awe of the size and remoteness of Australia, and I am always reminded of those early explorers who mapped out the Outback on foot/horse/camel and who really never knew what was out there. I enjoyed my exploration by air!
This landscape reminds me of an old persons skin stretched out like partchment with thick veins pulsing with the life-blood of the outback!
Before long the coast and Darwin came into view.
I decided to take full advantage of being in the region and I had booked myself on 2 full-day tours, as I figured this was going to be the best way to see as much as possible in a short time. It turned out to be perfect. So, my first day was a trip south to Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge. I was thrilled to find that there were only 9 of us booked for this tour, so plenty of room on the bus to spread out and move around depending on the scenery. Our first stop was Adelaide River, a tiny settlement of about 190 people. During the Second World war, Adelaide River was the headquarters of a large military base. Just on the edge of the town is the Adelaide River War Cemetery, with 434 Commonwealth graves, including those from the bombings of Darwin by the Japanese in 1942.
As I was looking around the graves and reading the inscriptions I came to a very sudden halt as I almost put my foot down on this little guy. Just as well I didn't because it is a rather venomous brown snake...in fact one of the most venomous we have. I took my photo and let it go on its way!
Next stop was Leliyn or Edith Falls in Nitmiluk National Park. There was chance to have a swim here in the pool, but, despite it being 40c, I was more intent on seeing the local scenery. Nitmiluk is in the care of the local Jawoyn Aborigines and in their language means Place of Cicada Dreaming. I can tell you that the noise of the cicadas was deafening at times.
Edith Falls
These little lizards were all over the place
Northern Rosella
After a very welcome lunch and many refills of my water bottle (it was 45c) it was time to set sail along the Katherine River and through the fantastic Gorge. The gorge really consists of 13 gorges, but we just went to 2 of them. This sandstone spectacle began over 23 million years ago. It was a truly amazing feeling gliding silently past sheer cliffs of red and brown, orange and yellow and in awe of the beauty of nature and the elements.
Wildlife seems to abound in this place....these wallabies were everywhere.
Then time to head home. It is common in this tropical region for the clouds to build up during the day and for spectacular electrical storms to occur. We had one as the bus returned to Darwin...alas, no chance of decent pictures, but a nice sky, nonetheless!