Katherine Gorge 20/4

Whilst staying in Katherine we took a cultural river cruise on the Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. It took us through 2 of the 13 gorges sculpted out of the sandstone rock. The aboriginal guide showed us how to make paint dyes out of local stones, weave bags out of local plants and he played the didgeridoo.



There is usually the option to canoe or swim through the gorges, but this was not offered to us today as there were still a few saltwater crocodiles in the waters from the wet season. There were traps along the banks of the gorge to catch the aggressive 'salties' of which they are currently catching about 1 each week.



At the end of the 1st gorge we had to get out of the boat and walk across the rugged terrain to enter the 2nd gorge, where our next boat awaited.

The 2nd gorge is said to be the most spectacular of all 13 of the Katherine gorges.



The views were quite magnificent.



The rock colours varied throughout the trip.



The Katherine gorge is always home to freshwater crocodiles which everyone keeps telling us are docile and unlikely to attack unless provoked. This was one we spotted on the sandbank and was thought to be about 3 years old. He was quite small in comparison to his saltwater cousins.



The locals swim without any fear in the waters where the freshwater crocs live, but as you can see here we were happy to keep our distance from the waters edge.