After a dip in the Mataranka Hot Springs, we headed further south with a plan to find and investigate Longreach Waters, a huge long waterhole (a couple of kilometres maybe). This place had been separately recommended to us twice previously as a bird watchers paradise. We were keen to check it out. We were told that Longreach Waters was approximately ten kilometres down a sandy track with the turnoff just near Elliot. We eventually made it to Elliot and the turnoff is indeed right on the cattle grid on the northern side of the town. The track is sometimes a bit corrugated but was very sandy in a few places which might be tricky in a big heavy bus. However, we managed to navigate through the sandy patches OK and eventually arrived to a lovely stretch ... read more

We were feeling fairly lazy and by the time we got down to the gorge to collect our canoe it was mid-morning. We hadn't realised that all of the best gear would be allocated to those who came first (pretty obvious really) so we got horrible life jackets and a canoe with broken back supports. Very disappointing. We managed to paddle most of the first two gorges before we decided we had endured enough, and because there was no rush, let the current do most of the work to carry us back home. It was still quite hot although we managed to shade hop up the sides of the river / gorge. The top temperature here today was 29 degrees C or 84 F, the first time it had been below 30 for some months ( ... read more

We so enjoyed our Yellow Water Cruise with Ned that when we heard that we could go again on the sunrise cruise for less than half price and get a "free" breakfast we were decided. So up early (I thought we were on a holiday!) and out to wait with the others at the bus stop at Cooinda. We got to the dock and were directed to another boat but we asked to go with Ned again and we were able to swap on to Ned's boat. There were just as many birds as the previous evening but not so many crocs (but that suited us anyway). The highlight was a pair of white bellied sea eagles together on a branch. At the end of the cruise Ned was kind enough to pose for a photo. ... read more

After an early breakfast, we visited the Bowali Visitor Centre and got our parks pass for Kakadu and discovered that a guided parks ranger talk was happening at Nourlangie (where we intended to visit). We set off for Nourlangie and arrived in time to catch the last of the talks from the ranger, Christian. By this time (the last of four walk / talks), Christian had built up quite a following of people. Christian was very engaging and full of information about the particular site we met him at (which had been the subject of an archeological dig). After we had visited all of the rock art sites at Nourlangie, we drove to Angbangbang billabong and had lunch. There were plenty of waterbirds on the billabong. We had planned to keep on going to Cooinda from ... read more

Crocodiles are a very big drawcard in the NT. None more so than the famous Jumping Crocodiles tour on the Adelaide River (on the way to Kakadu). There are imitations folks, so be aware. Don't bother getting off the highway looking for "the original" or "the best". The original Jumping Crocs tour is right on the highway next to the bridge that crosses the Adelaide River. After a brief stop at "Window on the Wetlands", (an aboriginal themed interpretation centre that provides info on the history, and wildlife of the area), we headed to the Jumping Crocs tour, making sure that we arrived just before 1pm. The 1pm tour uses the larger "Adelaide River Queen", a two storey boat which allows you to photograph the jumping crocs easier. After feeding the crocs, we head up a ... read more