The night camp at Katherine (This is the name of the city) was cold, it might be the month of July, but it’s winter in Australia. When the guide told us that we would begin the day with a swim in a hot spring, everyone was immediately happy. So the first stop of the day was a hot spring in the middle of nowhere. The water was pleasantly warm, the source which is actually part of a river with some current, so that you would actually float quietly without really swimming surrounded by a few turtles. The little swim was very nice, but the exit is quite violent (as i would call it) with the dropping water temperature and your towel is not very helpful when it is far away at the beginning where you left for the swim (I tried to swim against the current but was too difficult).
The hot spring
A few kilometers further on the road is Larrimah with the Pink Panther to welcome us to the Larrimah Wayside Inn. There is also a small free zoo with local animals, mainly kangaroos, birds, crocodiles and snakes.
Larrimah Wayside Inn
Little Joey
We continued on and ate at the Daily Waters Pub, the oldest pub in the Northern Territory. The tradition is that everyone who goes there leaves a little something. The pub is full of all kinds of tickets, notes and other more or less personal stuffs. Daily Waters is also the place where the famous “Stuart Tree” is located. The Legend says that John McDouall Stuart (the famous explorer who first joined Darwin from Adelaide) has engraved a “S” in it.
The shoe tree at Daily Waters Pub
Outdoor decorations at the Daily Waters Pub
The interior of the Daily Waters Pub
Shop in front of the Daily Waters Pub
Just before reaching our campsite for the night – Banka Banka station, the guide continued to Attack Creek, the point which marks the furthest northerly point reached by Stuart during his fourth expedition.
Memorial at Attack Creek
Better to refuel before
Pingback: Melbourne | Skisoo