Thank you Kakadu!

I am writing this from very sunny Camooweal, just inside the Queensland border with NT, we got here 2 days ago and have had an unexpectedly extended stay due to some issues with the Patrol - will get to that later...

I will use this opportunity to post some pictures of our 5 days in the remarkable Kakadu National Park, in no particular order.

Nawurlandja lookout

After a days walking I was ready for a swim - probably should wash my legs before getting in the pool. Kakadu was hot, dry and dusty.

The lagoon style pool at Jabiru caravan park in Kakadu (that I washed my legs for) where we spent most afternoons lounging, swimming and generally just having a really nice time. Restaurant and bar opened at the very reasonable time of 4:30pm. Very cold beer, we won some stubby holders, and had a great meal there.

"More than 1000 species of flies" - 'nuff said really. To be honest the flies weren't as bad as I recalled; most likely down to the very dry conditions, and the dry wet season they had had.

Top of Ubirr

Crocodile - Yellow Water sunrise boat trip. Amazing the first time, blew us away again!

Sun rising over Yellow Water

Like mother, like daughter - looking for the birdies at Mamukala wetlands

Hiking up an enormous conglomerate slab to watch  the sunset from  Nawurlandja lookout - hazy purple range in the distance is the Arnhem Land escarpment

Jem at Nourlangie, resting in the shade during a walk

Bowali visitors centre - the kids with part of the display, an enormous python

Heading out on the croc-safe boardwalk on the Kungarre walk near the South Alligator region in Kakadu.

What is bird is that? James has become an avid bird spotter and watcher. The bird in question here  was the Spangled Drongo -fabulous name!

Another hot day, another walk - this time to Mirray lookout with 360 degree views over the northern part of Kakadu. It was 1km straight up.

High fashion in Jabiru township - Jemma was delighted to see that the 'The Friendly Grocer" sold bread, ham, cheese and dresses! 

Snacks at the top of Nawurlandja

Yellow Water sunrise cruise - this boy was captivated for every single one of the 120 minutes of the cruise, spinning his head this way and that to see all the wildlife including brolgas, black necked storks, white bellied sea eagles fishing, crocodiles, sacred kingfishers, hilarious Nankeen night-herons, cormorants and snake-necked darters, egrets, ibis, lots of different kinds of ducks, feral pigs, water buffalo - the whole box and dice!

Cooinda (Yellow Water) pontoon in predawn light before we boarded the cruise. It was unseasonably cold which made for extremely dramatic mist and a very red sun peeking over the horizon.

Not sure what this flower is but Jem thought it very pretty and asked that I take a photo -  'leave only footprints, take only photos' being the golden rule in National Parks

Yellow Water sunrise

Sea eagle with fish it had just plucked from the river - James (typically) was looking in the opposite direction to the rest of the boat who were watching the sunrise to the East. Luckily Andy was trigger ready!

Yellow Water waterlilies

Walking around Ubirr

More signs along the lines of 'spiky, venomous or trying to eat you', just assume it wants to hurt you!

Jumping a crack at the top of Ubirr

Glorious sunrise Yellow Water

About to walk into Monsoon Rainforest on another walk

Kiddos on Nourlangie walk resting in the shade

James and the bird book

When you're on the way to the pool and there's a sprinkler you probably should play in it for a bit!

Rancho Relaxo at Jabiru - look at Andy's feet!

Pretty water lilies - bound to be crocodiles under there

Reading. 

How to beat the heat!

Yellow Water sunrise cruise

More birdwatching

Yay for swims 

Happy

We made it back to Kakadu- Cheers to us!

Mirray lookout platform -  all a bit hot after a steep 1km hike to the top

Pandanus Yellow Water

Mamakala wetlands bird hide viewing platform

Car park brekky after Yellow Water cruise. The cruise started at 6:45am, we needed to be there 6:25am for a bus transport, and we were staying in Jabiru 60km away. Needless to say it was an early start with no time for breakfast, just up and into the car in the dark. It was completely worth it!

Nourlangie Rock glowing red and Arnhem Land escarpment hazy purple from Nawurlandja lookout at sunset. Kakadu is so vast, it is very difficult to grasp its size and this photo does not do it justice. 

Nawurlandja lookout

Nawurlandja lookout

 I leant a lot about crocodiles on the 2  boat trips we did. A few fun facts - crocodiles can stop blood flowing to parts of their bodies so if say, a leg is ripped off in a croc battle they just turn off the blood supply and do not bleed to death. They have way more antibodies in their blood than us and can fight infections that would kill other animals. They can break down all parts of animals except keratin - so they can digest bone but not hair, horns or nails. And just an observation ; unless they have parts of their bodies  above the surface of the water you cannot see them. At all.

Hot kids

Nawurlandja lookout

The beautiful views from Ubirr 

James Payne - Ubirr 

Walking and clambering to view rock art thousands of years old

Maguk swimming - the water was delightful!

Magical Maguk swimming hole - the road into Maguk was terrible but only 10km each way.

Thank you Kakadu, we had a marvellous 5 days exploring, walking and relaxing. If anyone tries to tell you to Kakadon't just ignore them and go anyway. Despite driving all over the park and trying to do it all I cannot help but feel like we barely scratched the surface of this complex, stunning and ancient place.