I was so excited to cross the border into the Northern Territory and make our way up the highway to Katherine. The N.T's third largest town, was a tad surprising (as in rather small) but don't let the lack of shops fool you - this town has something for everyone!
And something extra special for me, as two of my cousins call Katherine home. My cousin Lauren (20) and her little bro Adrian (18) decided to stay put in their home town, when my aunt and uncle and their youngest boy Hamish, made the big move to the NSW mid-north coast late last year. This, after being flooded twice - both times losing everything. We really are glad Lauren and Adrian decided to stay, so we could see a few familiar faces after so many weeks travelling as a twosome.
Odette with Lauren and David
Oh and another cool part of staying with my relos, was getting to see the enormous (and terrifying!) snake collection that belongs to Lauren's boyfriend David. David just happens to be the resident snake man in Katherine, and is contracted by National Parks and Wildlife to catch any unwanted reptiles that make their way into the houses or backyards of local residents. Despite my reservations, David took us to visit his 'shed' where he breeds snakes to sell. What a sight! From huge Olive Pythons to King Browns and Death Adas - this guy has them all. And hundreds of baby ones too. Ew!!! But this job doesn't come without it's downside - David has been bitten tons of times by his snakes - and twice by a Death Ada. Scary stuff...
Once in Katherine, you have to head out to Nitmiluk National Park and see the beautiful Katherine Gorge. There are a bunch of Aboriginal artworks in the caves nearby and the view from the top escarpment, is magic.
The hot thermal springs, about 5 minutes from the town centre in Katherine, are a must-see as well. A constant 30 degrees, this natural spring is complete with waterfalls and the best bit? No crocs in sight. Phew!
No trip to Katherine is complete without a visit to the local Katherine Museum, where you can read all about the colourful history of this town and watch a film and see the pictures of the incredible destruction that the floods of 1974 and 1998 caused.
The 1998 Australia Day flood bought the already full Katherine River up another 21.3 metres and the town was declared a natural disaster. Check the picture of the bridge below and where the water rose to. Yikes!
Odette
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