The Tropics- Mataranka, Katherine Gorge

It's hot,it's humid, the Mozzies are a bitin', it's the tropics...After some freezing nights in the desert, the girls were keen to 'fastrack' it to warmer parts. After 2 big days of driving we were promised some serious swimming time in the thermal pools Mataranka is famous for. We'd been given a few travellers tips by some grey nomads eager to impart knowledge to us 'youngsters', that the less commercial thermal springs, 'Bitter Springs' was a much nicer natural alternative to the main Mataranka spring pool. They were sure right, we spent hours drifting down a warm creek (water temp 33degs) with a gentle current floating us past tropical palms and pandanus. The girls came equipped with floating mats to drift down the creek on, joining the gaggle of grey nomads (having done it all before) on their pool 'noodles'. Just delightful ( apologies for such boastful descriptions to those back in the Melbourne winter) and exactly what we needed to soak away the travel miles.We are now in the town of Katherine, having spent the morning on a cruise on the Katherine Gorge. The sheer cliffs were impressive and we saw our first crocs (small freshwater) on the riverbeds. The Nitmiluk National Park ( of which the Katherine Gorge is a part) is jointly owned with the local indigenous people after a land claim hearing of over a decade. It would great to hear some of the indigenous people speak about their country but of course our cruise guide was a wise-cracking Kiwi....In the next blogspot the Macca-Myers go chasing the 'big salties' in Kakadu National Park ( drum roll please) ...