The sun is setting as we head backup the Victoria River towards Timber Creek sipping a glass of Vasse Felix wine. Timber Creek, a small roadside town near the banks of the Victoria River, was our first introduction to the Northern Territory (NT). The town is located 193km east of the Western Australia/Northern Territory border, 285km west of Katherine and 600km south of Darwin. If you are curious about life in the Australian outback this is the place to be.
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Sunset,Victoria River, NT © Spaswinefood
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Journey to Victoria River on Timber Creek
Just 37 km after leaving Kununurra we crossed into the Northern Territory. When we passed the border crossing between Western Australia and the Northern Territory, of course we took time for a photo opt, as this was our first time crossing into the Northern Territory.
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Western Australia and Northern Territory Border © Spaswinefood
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From the state border our Victoria Highway travels took us first to Timber Creek. We were ready to explore Australia's Northern Territory, a large federal territory that covers the central northern (Top End) and central Australia (Center). It is the third largest area and the least populous federal area within Australia. The population of the Northern Territory lives mainly along the Stuart Highway and in the main towns of Darwin (capital), Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Palmerton and Tennant Creek. The main industries in the Northern Territory are tourism and mining. Tourism is primarily centered around Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Katu Tjuta (Ayers Rock) National Park.
Before arriving in Timber Creek we passed by the Judbarra/Gregory National Park. The Northern Territory is home to many parks, with Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Katu Tjuta (Ayers Rock) National Park being the best known. We looked forward to visiting as many parks as possible during our stay.
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| Judbarra/Gregory National Park © Spaswinefood |
As we traveled down the highway we soon discovered that the area around Timber Creek is known for its baobab trees and scenic escarpments.
Exploring Timber Creek and Victoria River
It was not long before we arrived in Timber Creek.
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| Timber Creek, NT © Spaswinefood |
We took time to explore a little before checking into the caravan park.
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| Victoria River, Timber Creek © Spaswinefood |
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Timber Creek Lookout © Spaswinefood
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| Overlooking Timber Creek © Spaswinefood |
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| Escarpment near Timber Creek © Spaswinefood |
Given we arrived in Timber Creek around mid-day this gave us plenty of time to checkout the town. When we saw the advertisements at The Croc stock Shop for Devonshire Teas we decided to have scones and tea for lunch. When traveling in the outback it is hard to pass up such tempting offers.
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| Croc stock Shop © Spaswinefood |
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Devonshire Teas, The Croc stock Shop © Spaswinefood
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| Time for Devonshire Tea, The Croc stock Shop © Spaswinefood |
It was also hard to miss the advertisement for the Victoria River Cruise.
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| Victoria River Cruise Ad, The Croc stock Shop © Spaswinefood |
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| Victoria River Cruise: No Walking, No Mozzies, No Sandflies © Spaswinefood |
The advertisement for a Victoria River Cruise with "No Walking, No Mozzies, No Sandflies" was equally quite tempting. After doing a cruise earlier in Geike Gorge we opted for the Victoria River Cruise. Besides we thought that it would be a great cool down at the end of the day. Yes, a nice way to thermo regulate at the end of the day. Little did we know that we were being launched into a whole new world of cruising rivers and gorges in the Northern Territory.
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Signing Up for a Victoria River Cruise, The Croc stock Shop © Spaswinefood
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Victoria River Cruise
It is late evening when we began to head down the Victoria River. The Victoria River is the longest singularly named river in the Northern Territory. It is however, 130 km (81 miles) shorter than the Northern Territory's longest river, Katherine/Daly River, a single river with two European names. Along the 560 km of Victoria River you will find wetlands and cattle stations.
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Journey down the Victoria River, NT © Spaswinefood
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| Victoria River © Spaswinefood |
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On the cruise we saw many crocodiles (Salties).
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| Crocodile, Victoria River Cruise © Spaswinefood |
The captain brought the boat close so that we could take a photo.
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Tourist Viewing Crocodile, Victoria River Cruise © Spaswinefood
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| Crocodile (aka Saltie), Victoria River © Spaswinefood |
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As we traveled down river we saw numerous crocodiles resting on the river bank. Many crocodiles had their mouth open for thermo regulation.
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| Crocodile with Mouth Open, Victoria River, NT © Spaswinefood |
When we reached our final destination down river we enjoyed some tasty hor d'oeuvres. We also had a bottle of Margaret River wine that we brought along with us. On the way back we enjoyed a glass of Margaret River Vasse Felix, Classic Dry Red (Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon) 2013.
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Vasse Felix, Classic Dry Red 2013 © Spaswinefood
Sunset, Victoria River Cruise © Spaswinefood |
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| Wine Time, Victoria River Cruise © Spaswinefood |
We enjoyed viewing the beautiful sunset over the Victoria River as we traveled back to Timber Creek.
Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park
While in Timber Creek we stayed at the Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park.
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| Caravan Site, Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park © Spaswinefood |
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| Camp Kitchen, Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park © Spaswinefood |
The Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park was just ideal for an overnight stop.
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Baob Tree, Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park © Spaswinefood
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While at the caravan park we enjoyed seeing and hearing the bats, and of course meeting the resident crocodile.
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| Fruit Bats, Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park © Spaswinefood |
Will maybe, it was not a resident crocodile, but it was visiting the park during our visit. We felt somewhat safe knowing there was chain link fence along the river's edge outside the caravan park. Besides it was a Freshie and they are not supposed to be aggressive like the Salties. I guess this helps when you walk by it to take pictures of the bats hanging in the trees. The crocodile proved not to be a problem. The bats however were noisy all night.
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| Crocodile (aka Freshie) Timber Creek Circle F Caravan Park © Spaswinefood |
Next morning, when we pulled out of Timber Creek on the Victoria Highway, we followed the Victoria River for some distance. We left Timber Creek with pleasant memories of Victoria River, bats, crocodiles, Devonshire tea and wine.
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| Victoria River Escarpment © Spaswinefood |
Onwards to Katherine
10 km east of Timber Creek, just after Dingo Creek, we saw our first dingo in the wild. I guess when a place is called Dingo Creek then you naturally should expect to see dingos in the wild.
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| Dingo, Alice Springs Park, NT © Spaswinefood |
Later we made a quick stop at Victoria River Roadhouse. This time I bought a large cookie to eat as we continued the drive onto Katherine.
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| Victoria River Roadhouse © Spaswinefood |
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| Sign, Victoria River Roadhouse © Spaswinefood |
When we arrived in Katherine we stayed over night at the Shady Lane Caravan Park. Next morning we began our journey north to Darwin. Our arrival in the Northern Territory marked the two month point of Spaswinefood's travels in Australia. Most of that time we spent in Western Australia. Now we had less than a month left to explore the Northern Territory before heading back down towards Adelaide, then onto Melbourne. Australia's Northern Territory was an area that we were excited to explore.
Timber Creek was where we began to discover some of the uniqueness of Australia's Northern Territory. We knew there would be more exciting adventures during our travels through Australia's Northern Territory. I invite you to join me in my travels in Australia and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
June 2015
Timber Creek
Northern Territory, Australia
© Spaswinefood
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