The rest of NT 14.09.2012 to 15.09.2012

After Kakadu we headed back to Katherine but stopped along the way to go to Gunlom Falls (still within Kakadu) and though it was a steep climb up, the swim and scenery made it worth it.

 

even the goanna was enjoying this spot

,After stocking up at Katherine we stopped in a free camp just north of Mataranka. There was an interesting site at this camp, a bowerbirds nest. I have never seen one in the wild and it was absolutely amazing what this little male bowerbird had arranged in his bower (nest), preparing to attract a mate. He had built an avenue type of bower made of two walls of vertically placed sticks. In and around the bower he had placed many objects including stones, bits of foil and it appears that green was his colour of choice with green glass from bottles scattered around, towards and in the nest. Crowey thought he would try and help the little fellow get a "root". So he found a sprite can (green in colour) and cut the can into little bits and spread them from his bower and also some next to the caravan where we were sitting. It wasn't that long before he appeared in a tree next to us, casting his eyes downward towards the bits of cut up can. Next thing we know he jumps down and chooses a piece of the can and flys off to add it to his nest. I took a photo at the time when he picked up the piece of can and I had to have a laugh when I actually saw the piece he had selected, it was the barcode from the can.

The bower

The bowerbird and his barcode

Moving on the next day we thought we would check out the Mataranka hot springs (bitter springs) which were lovely and warm. We continued on our way though and towards The Three Ways turnoff but dropped into the infamous Daly Waters Pub
This pub was originally a store to service travellers, settlers and drovers. It was give a jug licence in 1938. In the World War 2 it played a significant part in the protection of the Northern Australian coastline where Australian and American air forces were based. Today though the pub is just a welcome destination for travellers, offering cold beer and food, though the it is well known for its memorabilia adorning the walls from Irish football jerseys to bras, jocks, hats, wherever you look there is something interesting to read or ponder its origin (or not).

From here we went into Tennant Creek, mainly to get fuel which was about 9 cents a litre cheaper than Three Ways turnoff. We had a bite to eat just to check out Tennant Creek and it appears the local AFL club team where in the finals as nearly every car was painted red and blue, their local team colours. Not much to see here so off we headed for another free camp spot for the night, just before the NT/QLD border.