You'll Never Never Know If You Never Never Go- N.T. sightseeing

We are just so lucky! Ben and Bianca arranged a hire car so we could visit them in Arnhem Land for a wonderful week,staying at Barunga,an aboriginal community 100km SE of Katherine,where Bianca is a remote area nurse.

Barunga Health Clinic

 Special visitor permits had to be obtained,and we were very impressed with the tidy,well kept community,its friendly people and gorgeous kids.

On the road trip south, made a break at historic Adelaide River,with its old tavern and railway station,showing many reminders of the important role this area played during WWII.

The trip seemed quite quick as the speed limit is 130kph,the road mostly straight,and there is interesting country along the way.Bodi loved his airconditioned backseat lounge and was quite reluctant to get out,even for comfort stops.
     As B. and B. have now lived in the Never Never area for over 12 months they knew all the best places to take us.Ben took us 4wheel bush driving showing us the beautiful country and wildlife-we saw brumbies,buffaloes,

donkeys,kangaroos and vivid parrots.We visited one of the old mining sites near Maranboy,

once very populated but now consisting of only a police station,lockup

Old lockup at Maranboy Police Station

 and derelict hospital.

Having obtained permission from the traditional owners,and being a coordinator for the local Emergency Service,Ben took the ES boat,after a quick motor service by Bill,for a test run along the Roper River.

Boat launching Territory style

It was amazing to see the river surrounded by tall dense tropical growth,huge palms and ferns,just a fertile channel in the dry,arid landscape.

Roper River

    We swam and snorkelled at Bitter Springs,

Bitter Springs

 visited bat-infested hot springs at nearby Mataranka and wondered at the spartan homestead conditions endured by the Gunn family of "We of the Never Never " fame.

Then it was a great lunch at The Stockman's Gallery' opposite the huge old banyan tree.
    Wugularr(Beswick)Falls was a highlight,with cool streams,a large sandy pool,with obvious croc tracks all over the shore, and the sheer dark red cliffs surrounding the waterfall.

Wugularr. Crocs lurk here !

In Beswick, another aboriginal community we visited the Cultural Gallery,full of vibrant local works.
     We even managed a trip to Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge)

No swimming here at Katherine Gorge

and in the heat climbed the steep track to the top of the escarpment,for a spectacular overview of the gorge and miles of surrounding country,then enjoyed a lunch of Barra burgers and iced coffee,both local favorites at the cafe.Ju

Katherine Gorge

st outside Katherine we visited the original 1879 Springvale Homestead,surrounded by huge rain trees,where a pioneering family unsuccessfully attempted to farm in the extremely harsh conditions.
    Almost reluctantly we returned to Darwin.Bill has started work and is finding his job full of variety; from helping the sailmaker to set up sails at various marinas,to restocking liferafts for the Navy,as well as serving in the chandlery-no mechanical work at all!
    We now have a car,a necessity here,so we can go sightseeing as well as attend the great local weekend markets,and conveniently do our shopping.We have joined the nearby Dinah Beach(there is no beach!)Yacht Club and use their floating jetty(tide permitting)as well as socialise in the open air club breezeway,with live music several nights a week,and great reasonably priced meals.

Our neighbour, Rainbow Zucchini 

     We're enjoying living in Darwin and getting used to N.T. time-not Today,not Tomorrow,not Tuesday,not Thursday, Not This week...just take your time! The Wet has not arrived yet-we've heard lots of stories-so we'll let you know !
    PS. It has just now started to rain!!