Lake Argyle and Katherine (4th and 5th July)

We'd arrived at dusk for our penultimate night camping near Lake Argyle and the next morning were able to see the largest man-made lake in the southern hemisphere! (there is always something in Oz which is the biggest something). It’s 18 times the size of Sydney harbour. For anyone who’s not seen Sydney harbour that's quite big. Curiously this lake/ reservoir was made only by building a relatively short dam across the river Ord, the rest is done by the natural landscape of the mountains.

We had an early morning cruise which probably isn't quite the right word for the small boat that was cold in the wind and at times rather wet too! But it was worth it to see the rock wallabies, catfish, cormorants and basking fresh water crocs and it was beautiful.

From here it was a long drive along the Victoria highway via Timber Creek (a "town" that's not much more than a roadhouse) to Katherine but first it was a state border crossing and an obligatory photo! Bye bye WA, hello Northern Territory.

By now I was pretty tired and I don't think we stopped at Katherine- another 1 street town. I do remember the story though that in 1998 when the river flooded the town, when the flood water subsided 2 large crocodile were found inside the Woolworths' supermarket (reputedly in the meat isle!) That would be the NT for you then! We camped outside of Katherine, arriving at dusk with a large orange moon rising and we had fixed tents with a sort of bed so no more nights on the ground.

With time moved forwards one and a half hours our last day seemed to start very early. We visited Nitmulik Gorge, just for a look really. Our last stop and last swim (after a few dry days!) at the pretty Edith falls, then steadily North to Pine Creek another tiny town, and on to the state capital, Darwin.