The Cape, Karumba and Katherine

Transport to the Northern Peninsula Airport this morning at 8am. We packed the plane and took off for a fly over “the Tip” before heading south. It’s so different seeing these places from the air. Gives a totally different perspective. After doing a circuit of the Cape we turned and followed the coast past Loyalty Beach and Seisia and then turned our nose towards Karumba.

Seeing this area from the air I am amazed by the huge river systems, mud flats and sandbars. As we near Weipa the Bauxite mining leases come into view and they cover a huge area. There are several barges in the river and boats out to sea. South of Weipa there are huge mud flats with streams that form intricate patterns in the mud as they drain out.

We land at Karumba and walk to our accommodation, store our bags and head to the pub for lunch, then back via the shop to buy some prawns for afternoon snacks. Then back to the park for a swim and a snooze before dinner.

We walked along the beach towards the hotel as the sun starts to set. By the time we have drinks the sun is low in the sky and turning pink. It’s another awesome sunset and dinner was pretty good as well. It’s so nice to be able to sit outside until after dark in just shorts and t shirts and still be warm. We wander back to the cabin and have an early night.

(P- at the Pub we catch up and yarn to people we have met previously on our Wanderings. Always great to swap stories! We get some looks of disbelief when we say we travelled from Cape York to Karumba in a day!)

Monday 30th

Today’s flight is from Karumba to Katherine, via Mataranka Resort for lunch. After a leisurely walk to the plane we stow our gear and it’s my turn for a front seat ride first up.

( P -Evidently I am delegated to the back seat as I criticised the Flight Attendant catering service yesterday! Anyone would think Judith had Peter and I on a diet!!!!)

It’s a different view from here, (actually facing forward). Again the shore line is impressive. Mud flats are massive with great patterns made by the creeks and waterways. Our first stop is Burketown to refuel just a 40 minute flight. After refuelling and a toilet break we are back in the air for the 2 hour hop over to Mataranka Resort, flying over McCarthur Mine Site (zinc) and the Lost Cities at Limmen NP.

Very impressive and a spot to put on our Bucket list to visit. The airstrip at Mataranka is right alongside the cabins and caravan park. Pity the poor campers who had washing out because now it is covered in red dust from our landing and takeoff. We had a great early lunch here before our last short hop to Katherine’s Tindal Airbase.

(P- During our approach to Tindal which is also a RAAF base we were preceded and followed by Airforce planes that were Taking part in an international joint excessive “Pitch Black”. We are dwarfed in both size and speed by the Military aircraft.)

We are supposed to pick up a hire car here but Thrifty were too lazy to bring the car to the airport so we had to cadge a ride from a government employee in a government van back into town to pick up the car. (P- he wasn’t supposed to take unauthorised passengers so it was very kind of him! I call it recouping some of the many Tax Dollars we have paid so didnt feel guilty). Then out to our Accommodation for a rest and swim before dinner.

Tuesday 31st. Today I cruised up the Katherine Gorge, while Philip and Peter had a lazy morning. They have both done the cruise before. They dropped me out at the Gorge ready for the Three Gorge, 9am cruise. I quite enjoyed the trip although it’s not the most spectacular Gorge I’ve seen. The colours in the rocks and the formation of the gorges was interesting. There was a short walk between each Gorge and a change of boat then back for a stop at the second Gorge for a swim and some lunch before returning to the visitors centre. Peter and Philip were actually on time to pick me up and after a stop In town for a drink we drove out to the Katherine Hot Springs for a swim. The water was nice and warm and crystal clear. It’s was lovely floating down the stream under the palm trees. Back to our rooms after another good day.

(P- well the day hasn’t ended yet and will get even better after I have a Rib Eye Steak and Prawns for dinner at the Golf Club, then it will have been a GREAT Day!!!!!)