Mataranka to Kakadu 17th July

Decided to go into the mataranka hot springs for a dip. These are Natural hot bores that flow all the way from kakadu to WA. Set in natural bushland the hot creek flows into several pools that are used for swimming and relaxing in. They also have a camping ground and the usual shop and Restaurant etc. Water temp was around 35c so quite relaxing. After an hour or so we left and went Looking for a camp site.
We stopped at king river rest area next to the highway and had a restless sleep due to the heavy vehicles all night.
18th July
Next Morning headed the 30 ks into Katherine to stock up on supplies and visit the information centre. Refueled at woolies with diesel at $1.54 then headed north again into pinecreek to top up with water before we turned off the Darwin highway right into Kakadu. Found a camp at Harriet creek where we stayed for the night. No noise only the birds singing in the morning. Today we head further east into the rangers station to get a permit to camp which costs $25 per person for 14 days in Kakadu. Nothing is for nothing these
Days! Mary River Roadhouse,Cooinda.$5:00pp.waiting for the rancher to turn up.found a camp spot at Gungural,went for a walk to the river South Alligator which was devided into two rivers,first one dry,second one running and we found a few fish. The boys will go back later to try their luck. hot and sticky 41 and that's at 3:30pm.
Warren went for a walk up to the look out which was posted at 1 hour return. The boys went back down the river to try for a fish and caught one which they released as only 350mm in length. Uneasy feeling Warren standing in the water up to his ankles fishing with croc signs all Around him.