Matt Down Under

This morning I left Darwin and jumped on the early Greyhound bus to Katherine. Timing couldn’t have been better because for the first time since I returned to Darwin five weeks ago, it rained.

After a good three hours I was in Katherine. It was incredibly hot there, even at 11 in the morning. The bus stop was right across the street from the Katherine Visitors Centre, which was excellent because I wanted to go there anyway. Not only is there a shopping mall nearby where I wanted to do some last-minute shopping for hiking supplies, but I was also hoping they would have some sort of bus transfer from the city down to Katherine Gorge. It’s around 30km outside town.

Fortunately there was a bus that runs three times a day, so the very friendly lady at the Visitors Centre booked the next one for me. She also offered to book a bus that would pick me up at Edith Falls after the walk, but I’ll try to hitch a ride with other people.

It was a bit on short-notice, so the booking didn’t get through to the bus driver and nobody came to pick me up. The lady then made some phone calls and only a few minutes later, an employee from Nitmiluk National Park came to pick me up with his own car. He said he happened to be in the city anyway and was happy to help out. It was really an incredibly friendly gesture.

While we were driving down to the park he explained to me a lot how the park changes during the seasons, from floods to bush fires. There was actually a huge smoke cloud on the horizon right at that time. He drove me to the visitor centre where I bought a camping permit, then he gave me a lift to the campground and showed me some good spots for photographing birds. I was very happy.

The campground was almost empty compared to a few months ago when I stayed here during my road trip from Alice Springs to Darwin. I pitched my tent in the heat and then went on a short walk to take photos. There were so many birds and wallabies around the campsite, I think it’s one of the greatest places to camp in the Northern Territory.

I was hoping I could hire a canoe and paddle down the river, but when I got there it was only about an hour before closing time, so I missed out. Sadly. I did some canoeing when I was a kid and ever since then I was hoping to try it again.

I just felt incredibly well today. It is so good to be out there again, sweating in the heat, having the flavour of the eucalyptus trees around me all the time, watching birds and wallabies and sleeping under the stars. I really missed camping and hiking. Tomorrow morning I need to get my permit for the Jatbula Walk and book the ferry because the walk actually starts at the other side of the river. Then five days of hiking in the heat.