Darwin to Jabiru (Kakadu) 29 - 30 August 2013

To be honest I think we spent a day too long in Darwin. This was more to do with where we were staying than the town itself which is lovely and would be a great place to live if it wasn't for all those jellyfish and swimming dinosaurs. While I'm thinking about it, never ever ever ever stay at the Discovery Holiday Park in Winellie Darwin, unless of course you like the sound of jet aircraft taking off and landing all night long, or the dulcet strains of a scrap metal recycler which seems to be able to bang, clang and crash bits of steel together very loudly from 08:00 to 17:00 six days a week. It really is all about location, location, location. And they have the gall to charge over $40 a night just like everywhere else in Perth! The only thing that saved our mental states (other than the wine of course) were the next door neighbors Ruth and Max who we bumped into at Florence Falls the other day only to have them pull up on the site next to ours in Darwin. A terrific retired couple who have been meandering around the country in their motor home for the last five months. They are heading back home to QLD now so we probably won't see them again but they were good company and having a ball. I'm also blaming the sinus infection I have had for the last three days on the pool there as well - no proof, but but bugger it, they are the nearest available scapegoats ;-)

The trip out to Kakadu was not especially notable - we only really stopped on the way at the Window on the Wetlands which is about 50ks out of Darwin, but it wasn't worth the bother. Set up more for school groups I think. Did find out that the government tried to set up commercial rice growing in the area in the 1950's though. Only to have it all go tits up (oops, should have said pear shaped) when the native geese eat all the seed - who would have thunk it?

Arrived in Jabiru just in time for lunch, yep 2:30PM, which seems to be when we find time to eat most days, set up camp and hit the pool. Got to say the digs, while still expensive, are a huge step up from Darwin. Kakadu Lodge is a true oasis of civilisation in the middle of the wilderness. Lots of shade, no aeroplanes, no scrap yards, a fantastic pool surrounded by palm trees, a bar (got to hurry this up as happy hour is fast approaching!) etc, etc.

Ranger Bob (Christian actually, but they all look like Bob's to me.... even the girls) put on a slide show on Friday night, on some of the rock art to be seen in the park which was very informative and made the trip out to Nourlangie Rock a lot more rewarding today. There are over 500 rock art sites within the National Park dating from over 20,000 years ago right up to present day and they document changes in climate, habitat, and customs in a truly amazing way. The artwork is never touched up help it survive as that would interfere with the original artist's intentions. It is perfectly acceptable however to simply paint something new over the top of existing work and you can see this in many places. Just weird....

It is a Roo, not a Moose

 


We also clambered up to Nawulandja lookout and the views were spectacular as we are coming to expect up here.





Anbangbang billabong was fantastic too. We bravely crept past the crocodile warning signs and got quite close to some of the bird life, including two Jabirus which was great.



 

 

 

Saved the Jabiru for last.

We have booked a sunrise cruise at Yellow Waters tomorrow, so it will be an early start - have to leave Jabiru at 06:00 to get to the boat on time. It's gunna be ugly!
Also booked a day tour into Arnhem Land for Monday, so it looks like Jim Jim and Twin Falls tomorrow after the boat ride and breakfast, and then Ubir for some more rock art and the East Alligator River on Sunday. Life is tough :)

Here's a tip for all you prospective travelers - always put the spare battery for the camera in the day pack. It can be a long trek back to the truck to get it when the little red light of no confidence starts blinking............ DOH!!!!

Oh, and after a brief suspension of hostilities, the Prado Spotto stands at Len 142, Hazel 139 and closing fast.