After leaving Katherine the three of us Colleen, Steve and I to the road west heading to Kunnanara, first stopping at at a camp 58 ks out of Katherine. By tea time the camp was chockas (full). Lucky we had got there around midday and got some good spots around the edge where we could park altogether. Good toilets although out of toilet paper so I left a roll in the ladies for the next visitors. Luckily I had bought a very large pack at the Reject shop some way back for a very cheap price so it was my habit of leaving a roll in the devoid toilets in my travels.
The next morning we moved on to Victoria River Roadhouse not knowing what it would be like. What a surprise quite some ks before the roadhouse to drive in to what can only be described as a giant crater and being surrounded by mesas or jumpups as some call them. Very much the same as we had seen on the way to Boulia earlier in the trip but these ones were fully covered in tree growth. Being in the tropics with a lot more rain there is an abundance of growth, grass and trees. When we arrived at the Victoria River Roadhouse we were still in this crater like area with these mesas all around us.
After spending a night here we popped over to the shop and paid for a 2nd night just to experience more of this wonderful place. To wake up to a myriad of bird calls was amazing. The trees in the park were alive with their sounds and music. In the heat of the day all would be quiet till it cooled down in the afternoon, then they would all be back for another rendition of their favourite songs.
It was hard to get good photos as they darted around in the trees keeping behind the mass of green leaves but occasionally one would show itself and I managed to get a few photos as well as a little wallaby who came to the edge of the long grass a few times to watch us and we watched her/him.
Being able to have a nice long shower was wonderful both days and to fill up our water bottles before leaving was an extra bonus. All for $7.50 a night each unpowered.
This must be a very popular spot as it fills up quickly every afternoon with a range of different travelling options from flash buses, to tents.
We went for a walk down to the river along a narrow overgrown track, but found it ended high above the river, just as well as there were crocodile warnings around, definitely no swimming.
Our companion Colleen having lived most of her life in this area is a mine of information telling us the names of trees, birds and plants as we dined on wild passionfruit on our way back from the river bank.
Colleen was able to point out to us on our way to Victoria River, the road signposted Scott Creek where she lived as a young bride, entertaining us with funny stories of her time living there.
Baby Galahs |
Curlew |
Curlew upended looking for food |
Rainbow Lorrikeet |
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