Matt Down Under

I’m still in Darwin, working on my tan and I’m actually fairly busy with work for some exciting online projects at the moment, but I decided to take a break from the computer and go back to Katherine on Thursday, where I will walk the 58km Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park before they close it for the wet season starting October.

The Jatbula Trail is a wonderful 4-7 day trail that connects Katherine Gorge with Leliyn (Edith Falls). It features stunning terrain, fresh water pools where you can go swimming at the end of each day, fascinating Aboriginal rock art sites and temperatures that can exceed 40°C during the day. The number of walkers is restricted, only 10 are allowed each day.

There is a beautiful review of the trail on the website of the Sydney Morning Herald. And here is a link to a PDF of the official brochure including a small map.

When I went on a road trip from Alice Springs to Darwin with my friend Rachel a few months ago, we camped at Katherine Gorge and Leliyn (Edith Falls), but I didn’t actually realise that the two places were connected through a nice hiking trail, until a few days ago when a young backpacker from Austria arrived in my hostel. He had just walked the trail and told me about it. It turned out he actually also did a lot of the other walks I did over the last few years, such as the Overland Track, Maria Island and parts of the Great Ocean Walk.

It was then when I realised, I could actually go hiking. For weeks I had been looking for some direction again, trying to find out what to do next. At the moment it looks like I will head to Broome and then Perth sometime during the next weeks. I would like to have a nice trip around the Kimberley before the wet season in the top end begins. The main problem at the moment is mostly, where to get a 4WD from. Hiring? Maybe buying one? I’m looking at all options.

But now I’m going hiking first. Just one week and then I’ll be back in Darwin. I’m totally looking forward to it, for a couple of reasons. First of all, I LOVE the heat. In Darwin it’s so hot and humid even when you stand in the shade and don’t move, you’ll sweat. I love it. It forces you to drink a lot of water, and it just feels very healthy. Going hiking in the heat is even better. Just bring lots of water, some fitness and experience, and the usual safety gear like my PLB, and it’s all good.

I’m also looking forward to the trip, because I can leave a bag in my hostel, with all the stuff I won’t need on the trail. Unlike on the Great Ocean Walk, where I carried everything. It’s ok, but not most enjoyable. I simply picked up a lot of stuff over the last months, like books and fishing gear.

Actually I’m quite lucky I still get to walk the trail. It will be closed from October to April for the build-up season and then for the wet season, and the last day where they accepted bookings for was the 25th September. However it was booked out so I had to take a few days earlier.

I also ordered a new lens for my camera and really hope it will arrive in time before I leave.

HIKING!! I really missed it.