Update on hiking

So, hiking update! I’ve temporarily relocated to Katherine, NT Australia because why not move somewhere where the weather is basically a sauna with bonus wildlife! Since I’m here for a bit, I’m adding some local hikes to the list before I head back to NZ to finish the great walks off.
The upside? This area is ridiculously beautiful. Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is practically around the corner, waving at me like, “Come get sweaty in nature!”
What’s Katherine like, you ask? Well… imagine standing under a hairdryer set to tropical storm. This time of year, it’s hot, humid, and somewhere between 30–38 degrees on a polite day. I even went out to Timber Creek 2.5 hours toward the WA border, where it casually hit 45 degrees. Forty. Five. That’s not weather; that’s a slow roast setting. A tad warm, indeed.

Katherine, like any good rural town, comes with its highlights and its
“character-building” moments.

The good stuff. Top tier sporting options everywhere you look, golf club, tennis courts, swimming pool, gym, footy fields, and most importantly, a cricket oval so glorious it practically winks at you. Plus, the locals are friendly and genuinely helpful, which is always a win.
The not so sparkly bits. Cars cost approximately the same as a small moon, and crime rates can feel a bit… enthusiastic. High fences and guard dogs are pretty standard décor. You’ll also hear people talk about “the mob,” which is simply how local First Nation family groups refer to themselves, like iwi in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Many mob members travel in from remote communities, so you’ll often see groups around town
at all hours. It’s just part of Katherine’s daily rhythm. Buying alcohol here is an Olympic event: you show your ID, they scan your ID, the
police check your ID, and then if you’re lucky, you’re deemed worthy of
purchasing your beverage. So far, I’ve managed to avoid landing on the banned drinkers list. A personal achievement, really.

My work out here means travelling to remote First Nation communities, some so far away they make a road trip feel like an epic quest. We’re talking up to 600 km into landscapes so beautiful they almost distract me from my ongoing fear of being bitten, eaten, stung, or otherwise added to the local food chain. Progress!
The communities I’ve visited so far aren’t picture perfect tourist stops, there have rundown buildings, a few too many wrecked cars, and more dogs than I could possibly pat in one lifetime. It’s tough to see, and it says a lot about the challenges people are living with.
A big part of why I’m here is to help develop a Strong Men program aimed at reducing domestic violence. A huge issue faced by many families. These communities also have some of the highest dementia rates in the world, which adds another layer of hardship for the mob out bush. So, the work matters, and I’m proud to be part of something that supports people doing their best in tough circumstances.

Until next time! I’ll be back with more hiking adventures, and with any luck, not starring in a news headline about becoming a crocodile entrée.

cheers 

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