One of the side trips offered from The Ghan was a helicopter tour over the Katharine Gorge.
Normally you’d expect a helicopter tour to operate from an air-conditioned office, no matter where it was. Not here. The Australian way is to run your business from a rough shed with a tin roof.
The surrounding bush was so dry – it was the classic outback scene, complete with giant termite mounds.
The flight followed a fair portion of the Katharine River, from the shallows to the gorge. The surrounding scenery covered the gamut of colours, from yellow, to red and green. Trees were sparse in each instance.
After our trip, I took a photo of the next group landing – nice wing effect!
Others from the train took the river cruise on the Katharine River, and told stories of crocodiles. Apparently the river only has the smaller freshwater crocodiles, not the larger ones.
Despite not having our cossies, it was so scorchingly hot we took the risk and stripped down to undies for a quick dip in the river. No crocs were seen. Thank goodness.
