Edith Falls and Cooinda Yellow Waters

Finally move on from the lovely Katherine Gorge campsite. About 30kms back into Katherine. Look at the new Ghan railway then to Springvale Homestead. Said to be the oldest house in the Territory but closed. Next stop Katherine hot springs which are gorgeous. 32degs like Mataranka and similar to the air temp in the sun. Dave floats along for maybe 100 m through the palms in clear blue water.

Back into red hot Katherine and but loads of food from Woolworths including two giant celery bunches for $1 each. 70kms to Edith Falls. Campground grassy but hot and no kitchen. Busy and we are given a spot next to Mr Ridley-the talented Mr Ridley? Tent up matress in sun to air and off to the pool. Beautiful. Big swimming hole with a waterfall at the back maybe 150m across. Swimming is so nice. Deep and no crocs to be seen. Stroll happily back to the tent to find sprinklers have come on. This is how there is grass in such a dry area. Unfortunately one of the sprinklers is washing our matress. More or less dries in the last half hour of sun. Hot night.

Sweetwater Pool walk next morning. 9kms mainly, through trees but coming to pools fairly often. Very different to Katherine Gorge. Sweetwater Pool is maybe 50m across and deep. From there the track is the Jatbula trail, a 50km wilderness walk to Katherine.

On again to Pine Creek. Too hot for the railway museum but a Devonshire Tea in the lazy Lizard pub is perfect. Lucky the bar maid is from Brighton and can understand our craving for a cream tea. Youngmi loves the décor and tries playing the piano.

 Too early to stop so on to Kakadu. Giant termite mounds, burning off of the scrub and a lookout make the trip interesting. We have to stop at Road works for 30 minutes and as usual chat to the stop sign man. He loves the Territory but is growing a beard so he can move to PNG and work in a gold mine.If all goes well he will make $350,000pa and it is easier than holding a stop sign 12 hours a day in the sun. We thought he had been in the sun too long that day.

Reach Cooinda Yellow Waters resort about 5.30 and settle in. The camp kitchen has seen better days but not a cleaner. Fortunately it has fly screens as for the first time the mossies are out. Chat to a retired couple from WA who are staying in one of the cells next to the camp kitchen. Tiny rooms with just a bunk bed and air con for $95. The camp spot was $36 and nice units $300!

Red hot the next morning and the shower block is like a sauna. Walk 1km to the aboriginal culture centre. Very good. Drive short way to Yellow Waters and walk along the board walk. Looks like England with lots of grass, water and trees. The croc warnings remind Dave it is not England.