Blogs from Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, Oceania - page 16

Advertisement


We finally made it to Kakadu. In the morning we went to Bowali Visitors Centre to get an area map and find out which River Cruise to do. Bought a Didgeridoo then headed to Jabiru. Booked a 3pm East Alligator Cruise, checked emails at the Tourist Bureau. Bakery sold out at 12.30pm, except for Kangaroo Pies. Had sandwiches at Lake. Crocodile warning signs everywhere. On way to River Cruise - went across Cahill River Crossing in car to Arnhem Land, whoops missed the sign that says you need a permit. Turned around and came straight back. Saw lots of crocodiles on Cruise. Had a spear throwing demo/Culture Talk in Arnhem Land. Went to Ubirr Rock Art Site and saw the sunset and another ranger talk about the flood plains and Kakadu. Late back so had tea ... read more
Arnhem Land sign
Sunset at Ubirr Rock
Croc Sign


Stopped at Wycliffe Well (UFO capital) for a photo. Got to Devils Marbles in the afternoon. Next morning we got to look around and climb the rocks before we left. Arrived at Mataranka Springs and there were fireworks that night for Territory day. We had a swim in the Springs next morning. There were crocodiles further down the stream from were we had a swim. The water was very clear. We left and went to Kakadu. Passed through Katherine & Pine Creek on the way. Didn’t do the river cruise at Katherine Gorge. Stopped at Jim Jim Billabong for 2 nights. We couldn’t swim there as there were crocs in the water. Next day went to Bowali Visitors Centre & I bought a furry crocodile that is very cuddly and called it Kath. Saw lots of ... read more
Devils Marbles
Jim Jim Billabong
East Alligator River


Saw the things in Alice that we didn’t saw before we went to the East Macdonell Ranges. Monday left and stayed at Devils Marbles. Looked around and had fun. Headed towards Kakadu and stayed at Mataranka Springs. Quick swim in the morning then off we went. Arrived in Kakadu and first night stayed at Jim Jim Billabong. Went to Jabiru to book our East Alligator River Cruise, looked around and had lunch by the lake. At 3pm we went on our cruise. We saw about 6 crocs in and at the side of the river. Got off at Arnhem Land and had a spear throwing demo. Our Aboriginal Guide told us what each of the spears is used for. Got back on the boat and finished our cruise. Went to Ubirr Rock to see the Aboriginal ... read more
East Alligator River
East Alligator River
Ubirr Rock at Sunset


@ 11:06pm on July 1, 2008 I’m safe and sound (no crocodile attacks!) back in my bed listening to fireworks being shot off for Northern Territory Day (and typing this on my computer to copy and paste into my travel journal tomorrow) and I have to say that it feels great to be back in a bed. We got back from Kakadu National Park around 6:30pm after three stops and a really long (about 5 hour) bus ride home. Kakadu was a great experience… we got up around 6:00am in order to catch the bus out of the Alatai at around 7:00am. The bus was a nice one… it was a Greyhound Australia coach bus… so a lot of people slept on the way to our destination. Our first stop on Sunday morning was at a ... read more
Window on the Wetlands 2
Water Buffalo
Greyhound Australia


Well, today is our penultimate in Aus - booooooooo! Today, as we sit writing a final few lines on the blog, it is 33 degrees outside and sunny. On Saturday, as we arrive at London Heathrow, we just know that it will be rain and storms (we have had a tip off!). Another quick update for you as we dash around .... Since our last update we've had a busy time, packing in as much as possible. The weather in Port Douglas improved (slightly) and certainly enough for us to pack in everything that we wanted to see there (although Stu didn't get his 'around the pool' afternoon). Whilst there we were lucky enough to coincide with the start of the 'Reef & Rainforest Carnival', so a good few hours was had watching the swirl of ... read more
World War 3
"Colin" or "Cassie"
Is it a nightmare?!


We had a few days in the YHA in Darwin until we left for Kakadu. Mainly we lazed around the pool, wandered into town and went on a few nights out. On May 5th we left for Kakadu National Park. When I was originally told about it, I was under the impression Crocodile Dundee was filmed around this area, but it wasn't mentioned on the trip so now I'm not sure! We started off that morning with a jumping crocodile cruise. There are hundreds of crocodiles just lurking in the river, and they came right up to our boat (as in, they were a meter away from our open window!). The guy at the top of the boat dangles buffalo meat on a rope down to the crocs and they jump for it whilst everyone takes ... read more


Vivre le Top End Nous sommes donc, le lendemain, en route vers le Parc National de Litchfield. Malheureusement, etant donne que le temps presse, nous decouvrons seulement la premiere partie du parc qui inclue Florence Falls. Le reste des trois jours est dedie a l’exploration de Kakadu, un autre parc national, mais cette fois-ci, un des plus gros au monde! Entre les baignades dans les bassins formes par des chutes, nous apprecions chacune des vues qui sont a couper le souffle. La vegetation, tout comme la faune qui s’y trouve, offre tant de diversite. Finalement, après dix jours en tours organises, a dormir “camping style” ou a la belle etoile, a manger des guimauves sur un feu de camp et a toujours decouvrir plus… nous relaxons un peu! Mais pas pour tres longtemps puisque, le lendemain, ... read more
Jumping Croc Cruise
Ubirr
Kakadu


I had booked a 9 day trip to take me form Darwin to Alice Springs, first leg was to Kakadu to the national park. A 6am start brings us first to Litchfield to two waterfalls where we trek to and them relax for a while and cool down. We visit termite mounds on the way which are everywhere and can grow up to 10metre high and grow 1 metre per year. In the afternoon we head for the "Spectacular" jumping crocodile where first I hold a huge python snake and then head out by boat along the crocodile infested river. This is really a cowboy outfit, all it entails is a fella dandling a lump of steak over the edge of the boat, slapping it in the water to attract hungry croc, the crocodile wade up ... read more
Florence Fall's
Florence falls swim
Python snake


After our Ayers Rock tour we flew to Darwin in the north of Australia. The first thing we noticed was how hot it felt as it was still around 34C but the humidity was much higher. We decided to do another 3 day tour, this time to Kakadu National Park. We were picked up by our guide, a half aboriginal, half scottish man (how random!) called Genda. Apparently his scottish dad lives on a small island off the north coast of australia in an aboriginal community with 3 wives! First stop on route to the national park was the "spectacular jumping crocodile cruise"! We got on a boat on the Adelaide River and cruised up and down dangling a large piece of meat on a stick over the river. There were some huge crocs swimming around ... read more
Rich gracefully entering the lagoon
Having a well earned break in the heat
They were rather large


I booked my 3 day 4WD Wilderness Tour via a very nice agent called Ben, who assured me that this was the best tour of its type and persuaded me to part with my $460 dollars (i got a slight discount by squirming about the price!). I was slightly nrevous, based on the brochure, that at 22 i would already be a bit over-the-hill and past-it as all the photos were of body-beautiful 18 year olds! But i was pleasantly surprised to find myself the youngest in the group by 9 years! There was Nicolla and Peter, from Brisbane, Duncan from all-over-the-world but most recently Canada, John from Ireland and Herwig from Germany, and our guide Sean (an Aussie). The tour can take up to 14 people so i was very lucky to have a group ... read more
un oh!
Agro
Agromoving too fast for the camera




Tot: 0.192s; Tpl: 0.008s; cc: 7; qc: 92; dbt: 0.1329s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb