It is that time of year again when Katherine's roads are slowed down by moving homes, the car parks are packed and the lines at Woolworths snake from the register.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The great migration of grey nomads has well and truly begun and depending on who you talk to, the tourism season is either doing well, or it is not nearly as busy as previous years.
Some long-term residents have voiced their concerns that the stop-over town is suffering from less visitors year on year, but caravan park manager Wendy Batten says visitor numbers for the month of May are up compared to last year.
Riverview Tourist Park sits about 350m from the unfinished Hot Springs, where work has been at a stand still for over two years.
While the close proximity to the popular tourist attraction is a draw card for many, repeat visitors have been surprised to see the work uncompleted, Mrs Batten said.
For the past week or so, mornings have been busy at the park with up to 40 caravans leaving for their next destination, and new arrivals quickly taking their place.
"We are sitting at about 85 per cent capacity right now, and we have 125 sites," Mrs Batten said.
"Our figures for April are spot on the same as last year and we are up this month compared to last year.
"Last year the season really did run longer, we had 494 extra caravans come through in September compared to 2017, and we are hoping we will see the same trends this year too."
Mrs Batten attributes the busy-ness to a number of things from the poor wet season, meaning more attractions were open on time, the recent exposure of the Top End through the NT Government's campaigning, and the unique attractions in and around town.
"Pricing around Katherine can be expensive but at the end of the day we only have a small window of opportunity, and I think with so much to do and see here, people think it is worth it," Mrs Batten said.
She said visitors are extending their trips to fit in all the sights before heading west and potentially skipping Darwin.
Joining the mass movement of mostly retired travellers, Garry and Lyn Walker waited to vote before journeying along some of Australia's best roads.
They said they left their home in Brisbane when it was convenient for them, but beating the rush was an advantage.
"We understood we would struggle to find accommodation in July, and we are enjoying being able to stop where we want and be able to get a spot in a camp site.
"We would have left a month earlier but the vote was announced and our daughter decided to visit us from England."
Planning their trip for about six months, the couple were drawn to the natural wonders surrounding Katherine, like Kakadu and Nitmiluk.
At the Shady Lane Tourist Park, tourist numbers are a bit slow, according to the owner of 21 years, Marianne Bates.
But she said as the humidity has slipped away to be replaced by cool crisp mornings, numbers are beginning to pick up.
She said the election could be a contributing factor to the slow start, with people opting to stay at home to cast their votes.
For the new owners at the Boab Caravan Park, who moved from Western Australia at the end of last year, visitor numbers are slightly down compared to last year, as well.
Taking over the business in October, Belinda and Glenn Amato said they have been hearing mixed reviews from repeat visitors - some say it was packed last year, while others say the opposite.
"We have been averaging half full for the last three weeks," Mrs Amato said.
"Most people are stopping in Katherine to re-stock before heading elsewhere."
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.