Monday afternoon in Katherine was a trip to Edith Falls in the Nitmulik National Park.  Edith Falls is on the northern side of Nitmulik National Park and you travel 40 kms towards Darwin on the Stuart Highway, and then 20 kms in on a bitumen road to the falls.  Edith Falls is on the west side of the Nitmulik National Park.

The 292,008 hectare National Park is owned by the Jawoyn Aboriginal people and jointly managed with the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory.  All the information refers to the falls as the 'Leliyn' (Edith Falls) and 'Leliyn' is the aboriginal word for Edith Falls.

Edith Falls is a series of cascading waterfalls and pools on the Edith River.  The falls descend from an elevation of 176 metres (577 ft) above sea level and range in height between 8.7–12 metres (29–39 ft). Edith Falls is connected to Katherine Gorge via  a 66-kilometre Jatbula walk. 

Peter had a tyre going down and when he investigated on Monday morning, found that he had picked up a screw somewhere.  So he had to get the tyre plugged before we went anywhere.  It was 1.30pm before we decided and left on our excursion for Day 1.  We all wore our bathers with the intention of having a swim.  Six people who hardly ever get their bathers out of the drawer!  I had suggested we could do the 2.8 km loop which would take us to the top of the escarpment and the 'Upper Falls' and no one said "No" to the suggestion.  Possibly all thinking like me....a good walk would do the body good!  I'd rung the Visitor Centre in the morning to make sure there was water going over the falls.

We were surprised at just how pretty the area was.  Lovely green grass everywhere, a carpark that was nearly full and a cafe/restaurant/retail outlet that was a bit 'quirky cute' I thought.  We set off walking the concrete pathway to the 'Lower Falls' and pool.  The waterfall was a long way away and I think all of us were thinking like me "I'm not swimming out to that fall without a noodle or something"!  The orange flowering grevilleas growing on the edge of the pool and on the Edith River were just beautiful.  We watched little birds in the trees and I would think the area would be a bird watcher and photographers paradise in the early morning, before it became busy with tourists.

Off we set on the dirt track to do the 2.8km loop to the 'Upper Falls'.  At times we actually felt like mountain goats, climbing over all those rocks.  The first couple we met on their way back down (about the same age as us) said "They had only gone as far as the seat and we needed to do that!  The view was worth it".  So up a bit higher we went.  Time for a snap and drink of water.  Shame everyone had a bag and not a backpack!  We were very prepared for this hike!  One even had his things on!  Decision time!  Obviously no one was game to call it quits and suggest we go back down.  We didn't appear to be too far from the top of the escarpment, so on we went.   

Another rest and drink.  Still no one said "Let's go back down"!  We met another person on their way back down.  A young woman from France and in her broken English she told us "It was worth it.  We were about halfway"!'  Then some more people going back down, that told us "We had done the worst of the climb"!  'Thank Goodness' it was worth it all when we did get there.  And there was that sense of achievement that we had done it!  The one kilometre walk back down was far easier than the walk up, so that was a relief.  And it did only take us about 20 minutes.  The guys decided it was stubby time, so they sat on the tailgates of the vehicle and had a beer, while the women went to check out the shop for a cuppa.  The cuppa became a milkshake and two smoothies, which were very nice.

All commented that they had enjoyed the afternoon and the challenge.  The views at the end, and the swim, had been well and truly worth it.  The photos tell it all.  Yes.  We did have a swim!  Three got themselves wetter than two others and one was the photographer.  The water was very cold.....certainly very refreshing, especially after that climb!  And....if you've climbed that far like a mountain goat......you just had to have a swim at the Upper Edith Falls on a beautiful July day in the Northern Territory.