Day 2 Biddlecombe Cascade to Crystal Falls - Jatbula Trip

 

Day 2 – Sunday 18 August

Biddlecombe Cascades to Crystal Falls

https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/200594/jatbula-trail-information-sheet.pdf

https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/200590/jatbula-trail-maps-booklet.pdf

https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/biddlecombe-cascades

This morning, we woke to a 5:30am alarm as we were not sure how long it would take us to pack down and we wanted to be away as soon as I had enough light to manage. We were ready by 6:30am but waited until 6:40am before setting off – after first light, but before sunrise. 

Near the beginning of the walk, we needed to cross the creek – using our poles we each only got one foot slightly wet.  Love my hiking poles!  Today’s hike was through varying country – some up and down, some sections of large, exposed rocks, some soft sections and some sections with 10-20mm rocks that moved underfoot. 

At morning teatime, we came to a large rocky outcrop that provided some shade. The indigenous inhabitants must also have enjoyed this shady patch as we admired the rock painting amidst the variously coloured rock formation.

We saw some small birds and saw a small lizard that seemed to move its tail more than we are accustomed to seeing. The walk from here was hot and exposed with an intermittent light breeze that was very welcome when it appeared.  We traversed country where the time since the last patch burning varied greatly, from very new to several years old. It was fascinating to see the various regrowth.  The last 2km into camp was very hot with heat radiating up off the rocks.

We arrived in camp at 11:30am and again had a swim to cool off before setting up and having lunch.  

https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/crystal-falls

The afternoon was spent swimming and exploring up, and then down, stream.  We also enjoyed the natural spa pool and waterfall massage.  One of the waterfalls created a whirlpool type effect and by throwing a stick in just the right place it would be pushed away and then swing in an arc to return.

Distance                  11.12km

Time                          4h

Ascent                      154m

Descent                   141m

Day 1 Nitmiluk Centre to Biddlecombe Cascades - Jatbula Trip

 Day 1 – Saturday 17 August

Jatbula Hike – Nitmiluk Centre to Biddlecombe Cascades

We were up early, 5am, to be packed down by 6am, with everything loaded in our packs and ready to start our walk.  The reason we got up this early, even though we were taking the 9am ferry is that we are Parkrun tragics.  We had worked out that if we did the 3pm safety briefing the day before we could squeeze in a parkrun and still make it to the 9am ferry.

Katherine Hot Springs Parkrun had a younger demographic than we are accustomed to, air force personnel and not surprisingly, in the dry season, plenty of fellow tourists. It was a relatively flat course along the river and then crossing over the Katherine River on a pedestrian bridge – very pretty. It also passed two WW2 buildings – O’Keefe Residence and Hunter House, both of which have been restored.  We then returned to the caravan park and got changed, unfortunately not enough time for a shower, and drove to Nitmiluk Visitor Centre.

https://www.parkrun.com.au/katherinehotsprings/

We parked our hire car in the main visitor centre carpark and walked to the ferry.  We had been advised we must be at the ferry by 8:45am, however we did not get to cross the Katherine River for quite some time.  We were joined by the remainder of the hikers, who had all done the 8am briefing.  There was a female couple, and a group of three young men, probably early 30’s. (Later in the trip we found out that the next closest of our fellow campers in age to us was 15 years younger).  Prior to boarding the ferry we were required to show our signed permits indicating we had attended our safety briefing. The ferry trip was directly across the river – very expensive per metre travelled, but given the river is inhabited by saltwater crocodiles, excellent value!

https://www.nitmiluktours.com.au/about/visitor-centre/

https://www.nitmiluktours.com.au/gorge-experiences/gorge-tours/jatbula-trail-transfer/

Today’s walk was relatively short, from Nitmiluk Centre to Biddlecombe Cascades, stopping in at the Northern Rockhole. Not surprisingly, the walk began with a moderately steep climb from the river level up onto stone country.  There were some small areas of shade on this section of the walk.

https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/200590/jatbula-trail-maps-booklet.pdf

https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/200594/jatbula-trail-information-sheet.pdf

The Northern Rockhole was a cool spot for a rest. By this late in the dry season the water level has dropped, and no new water is flowing in so it is relatively stagnant.  We opted not to swim, with the hope that this evening’s campsite would have a nicer swimming area. We enjoyed our morning tea in the shade while admiring the spot.

https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/northern-rockhole

From Northern Rockhole to Biddlecombe Cascades campground the walk was hot and exposed for a period, followed by a solid uphill section on a 4WD track with good views.  As you get closer to the campground there was some shade. We arrived in camp by midday.

This campground has moderate shade and adequate room.  The toilets are quite close by. It is a medium walk to the beautiful cool cascades for a swim.  There are lots of tall Fern-leaved Grevilleas which have large bright orange flowers that attracted the lorikeets.

After putting down our packs and taking off our boots, we headed off for a swim fully clothed to cool down.  After this we had lunch and set up our tent.

The first pool had a waterfall that provided a great shoulder and back massage. The power of the water was such that I had to hold on to avoid being pushed out into the pool away from the waterfall. It even managed to undo the back zip of my swimmers.  When we were done swimming for now, we filled all our water and rinsed our clothes thoroughly.  Then off to explore the cascades.  In the safety briefing we had been advised not to go downstream and not to go past the third pool upstream.  While I endeavoured to abide by this, I would have found it helpful to have been able to take a picture of a map of exactly which pool was meant to be pool one, two, three etc.

https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/biddlecombe-cascades

Mid-afternoon we returned to camp to read and relax.  I also took a walk to the helicopter pad; the country was remarkably different away from the watercourse.  

After dinner we had another swim and refilled our water again for the morning. All our fellow hikers watched the sunset near each other. We then read for a while before going to sleep.  We did not put the fly on the tent and could see the full moon above.  I chose to sleep with my buff over my eyes to make it darker.

What a beautiful day!

Distance      8.20km        

Time              2h15m

Ascent          214m

Descent       107m

Darwin to Katherine - Jatbula Trip

 

Pre Day 1 – Friday 16 August

Darwin to Katherine

We woke about 6:30am and had showers and breakfast.  Once reception opened, we checked out and headed to BCF Yarrawonga (to be there when the opened at 8:30am) to purchase our gas and insect repellent for the hike.

https://www.bcf.com.au/stores/details/bcf-palmerston

South down the Stuart Highway to Katherine.  There is something special about the bush in the Top End.  The Kapok trees were in bloom with very few leaves left on the trees.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Highway

https://www.visitkatherine.com.au/

https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds

Things we saw on the road that remind us we are in the Top End: 

• 130km/h speed signs
• Road trains with 4 trailers. We saw one road train that was transporting three demountable houses at once
• Metal power poles – the termites are too active for anything else to last

We arrived in Katherine in time for lunch, which we enjoyed at the local Coffee Club. We then headed to Riverview Tourist Park and set up our tent in an unpowered site.  We filled the water bladders in our packs and organised the food needed to the first day of our walk to be accessible. 

We filled the car with petrol, which proved a little tricky as the instructions provided on how to open the cap for the petrol tank turned out to be for a different vehicle.   

Then off to Nitmiluk Visitor Centre for our 3pm Safety Briefing and to have our permits signed to be able to board the ferry in the morning.  We met some of our fellow hikers, who would all be going on the 7am ferry the next morning.  Two young men in their early 20’s, and three brothers in their mid to late 20’s.  After the briefing we walked over to where the ferry would go the next morning to be sure we knew exactly where we would be going as we knew we would be pushed for time in the morning.

https://www.nitmiluktours.com.au/about/visitor-centre/

https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/nitmiluk-national-park/nitmiluk-national-park-jatbula-trail#:~:text=Safety%20briefings%20take%20place%20at,you%20can%20attend%20either%20session.

We then drove back to Katherine and had a relax in the crystal-clear Katherine Hot Springs before dinner and an early night.  The Katherine Hot Springs are a short walk via a gate at the back of the caravan park.

https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/katherine-hot-springs

Sunshine Coast to Darwin - Jatbula Trip

 Pre Day 2 – Thursday 15 August

Sunshine Coast to Darwin

When I booked the ConXion airport bus is was for a pick up between 4:55 and 5:15pm – perfect for a 4:30pm work finish.  Thankfully we both had some time owing and had arranged to finish work a little early as during the day I was advised our pickup would now be between 4:18 and 4:38pm.  In the end the bus arrived at 4:40pm with only one other family onboard.  

https://www.con-x-ion.com/point-to-point/brisbane-to-sunshine-coast-shuttle-bus

An uneventful trip to the airport and we arrived at the domestic terminal just before 6pm.  As we were unable to check our luggage in until 6:50pm we sat and ate our dinner and relaxed. Our bags caused some puzzlement as to their contents when we were checking in – the hostess thought it might contain a baby’s car seat. Once checked in we made our way through the usual airport security – I had to surrender the insect repellent due to the lack of a cap. It was an uneventful flight and we managed to nap a little on the plane.  Over Darwin we had to fly a holding pattern while waiting to land. We landed about 1:15am, about 40 minutes late. 

We collected our luggage, collected our prebooked hire car and drove to our prebooked accommodation and made it to bed by 2:15am. We stayed the night in a basic motel style room at Hidden Valley Holiday Park Darwin.

https://www.dollarcarrental.com.au/

https://www.lifestyleparks.com.au/hidden-valley/