Day 6, April 30, Katherine Gorge

Originally, the third day in Kakadu was planned for today, but since there wasn't much to see and do there, we made a change. One of the main attractions of the Northern Territories that I had skipped for time reasons was Katherine Gorge!

On the way, we stopped at Gungurul for two rather dull walks, and after about 5 hours, including photographing water buffalo outside Kakadu and shopping in Katherine, we arrived.

This massive gorge of the Katherine River is located in Nitmiluk National Park, next to the town of Katherine, which, with 25,000 residents, is the fourth largest city in the Northern Territory (after Darwin, a suburb of Darwin, and Alice Springs). Katherine had been completely flooded this March after torrential rains, the worst flooding in decades. However, everything was fine again now; the people here know how to clean up after floods.

Upon arriving at the national park, there was one disappointment and two positive surprises: the campsite was not very nice but at least scarcely occupied and right next to the swimming pool area. This and the adjacent area of non-powered sites were a lovely park landscape with trees. And a large colony of flying foxes. And very many birds that were quite accustomed to visitors.

Rose-breasted cockatoos, bowerbirds, parrots (red-collared lorikeet and northern rosella), the social apostle bird, honeyeaters, blue-winged kookaburras, and more! The tropical heat was bearable in the pool and then in the shade next door, where we sat comfortably, photographed birds, and read. In the late afternoon, we took a short walk to an observation point. Back at the camp, we watched the flying foxes take off in the evening.