Leaving Western Australia....and entering Northern Territory (finally)

Well, I guess the day had to finally come...

A mad mixture of feelings, sadness to leave the most beautiful untouched state of remarkable places, and having missed so many of them, and I guess a little excitment to see what NT would offer us.

We did pop into the Zebra Rock Cafe on the way and saw some remarkable rock (yes, there is more!!)  and freakishly large fish after a night on the Dunham River (before Kununurra)

where we were entertained with fireworks from other travellers who had come from the great NT where it seems that the rules are a little different....

One of the saddest things was that somehow we missed our very good friends Bubi and Line and Samuel from Denmark, as they made their way back from Darwin on the very same stretch of road on the very same days. 

We stopped at a couple of places on the way to Katherine, Saddle Creek (loads of loud backpackers) and

then Sullivans Campground at Gregories National Park.  It is hotter here, and there are less boabs, and more presence of crocs.  Signs everywhere warning about them.  EEEP!!

We had a look at one of our last boab trees being where Gregories camp was (great old explorer up here).

Then on towards Katherine straight into Katherine Gorge...

The Beautiful Bungles...what I had been waiting for since home

we love looking at the faces on the rocks! can you see it?

the spectacular view coming into the cathedral end

The beautiful Bungles...WOW!!! What an experience they were. 

the dome near the toilet

walking in towards the cathedral walk

the overwhelming feel of the domes

the dry creek beds

frank, john and pete where the water would normally fall

Frank

wow!

Walking back from the cathedral

3 muskateers

looking up picanniny gorge

LOOKOUT!! from the lookout

Cracks in Rocks

Pete in a hollow

afternoon tea time looking back at the domes

The other side of Purnululu National Park looked quite different.  There were less of the domes, and more conglomorated rock.  We walked through Echidna Chasma.

They certainly exceeded our expectations for their awesomeness, their ancient feel, artistic inspiration, and the fact that we were luck enough to be there during a cooler spell making all of the walk very easy. 

We even had a touch of rain to freshen the pallette and there was a vast array of wildflowers, rocks and birdlife to distract myself and the boys.

Great to have been to this World Heritage place and been 5 of the 44,000 annual visitors. 

We would have stayed for longer but we are really aware of the heat rising in the further north east where we are still to go....

Come again....you bet!!!