Kakadu Fun!!!

Bright and early (though ... not as bright and early as initially planned!) the merry crew headed out of Darwin towards the very well known Kakadu National Park.  However, first stop was for another iconic NT experience of the Jumping Crocodiles.  Without really realising it we managed to book ourselves into the 'Original Tour' - not realising just how many groups were actually running - and the people there seemed to enjoy mentioning that it was indeed the original tour quite a few times!  Made me laugh but was all good fun.

We piled into a small-ish boat and, after a very reassuring safety briefing (or rather not after being told that there was pretty much no way you would make it to shore before one of the big brutes had you), headed out to see what fine specimens we could find.  It really didn't take too long at all before the first friendly local was spotted.  There is something incredibly eerie about watching the water and realising that the small stick that you think you saw is actually a pair of eyes and some snout .. and then they disappear under the water.  The next thing you know there is a stirring in the water and then you see them reappear.  And some are absolutely gigantic!  I think that the tour guide person said that one of them was over 1 tonne.  After one of the beautiful specimens was definitely right by us - the tour guide used some big pieces of steak (rump I think he said it was) to get their attention and try to get them to do some tricks for us.  Watching them leap up from the water to snag their prizes, or try to half the time, was quite amazing. Definitely developed a certain level of fear when you realised just how big and how close they were!  Was one thing to watch them through your camera and get a snap vs watching them in real life and seeing the size of the suckers and getting a good look at their teeth etc.  However, after an hour of traipsing up the river I am glad to say that we made it back safe n sound and with all our 'bits' still attached :)

Tasty Tasty Steaky

Gotta jump higher than that ... thrashing doesn't count!

After visiting with the crocs and their mad keeper (after a fashion). It was time to pile back into the car and head towards the actual national park - hello Kakadu.  After another half an hour or so of driving we made it to the park ..... and I have to say it felt a little anti-climatic but still - was nice to make it to where we had been heading :) . After finding somewhere where we could stop and pick up our park passes (me being paranoid about doing the right thing and not being caught without one .... not sure who would have caught us exactly though .. could have been anyone!) and then headed to the first accessible spot - these wetlands.  Was quite lovely ...... when a breeze came through.  Otherwise it was just plain hot and sticky.  Regardless though ... we were hungry and so it seemed like a good idea to have some lunch.

Pretty wetlands ... though you don't appreciate the size of it in a single pic!

Lunchtime!  We are all such classy folk :)

From the wetlands we visited the main tourist information centre and had a wander around the bits n pieces they had on display and got some tips from the lady behind the counter as to where to go and what to see.  All incredibly helpful.  We decided to head straight to our camping spot and set up the tents to save us time later on, and save us trying to set them up in the dark.  Then we headed back to see a few more of the sights.  First stop was these fantastic rocks (Nourlangie Rocks) which had local aboriginal art from who knows how long ago over them.  Some pretty amazing things to look at - and such a fascinating place to walk around as well!  Beautiful sights to be seen and atmosphere to take in :)

Time to Explore

Rocks from the Top of the Walk

More of the Rocks from the Top looking into the valley

Rock Paintings .. though feel this could have a great story behind it! Busy busy human kangaroo

Proof I was definitely there

More rock paintings .. apparently they would just paint over what was already there as the years went by .. no finding your own rock space to make pretty drawings on.

Don't fancy meeting this person! Hahahaha

From the Nourlangie Rocks it was time to go and watch the sunset.  We had been recommended to watch it from this place not far from where the Nourlangie Rocks were.  So over we went.  Was a steep walk up this rock face.  We never made it to the top ... and to be honest I wasn't in the group trying.  It was very deceptive as it would seem as though the top was just a touch further up the slope .. and then you would find that it was just a touch further .. and a touch further and then ......... nope - still not there.  However, it was nice to look out back over the valley from.  We were the second group to get up there.  The first lot a mixed bag of backpackers from various European Countries.  They were lovely to have a chat with .... and also show us how to open our beer bottles without proper bottle openers! Hah!  Then the sun setting brought out all these amazing colours across the sky!  Was fantastic to watch them change from minute to minute.  And just as exciting was the part where I discovered that my mobile phone takes a panoramic shot!

Just chillin' out on me rock

The big rock we had not long left :)

I wish I had a camera did the colour justice

Spectacular skies!

 After witnessing such spectacular skies it was time to head back to our camp site and get organised for the rest of the night.  On paper the campsite looked pretty awesome and had all of the essentials .. ie. Toilets and showers and tables n chairs .. what more could you ask for right???  Well, there was zero electricity! (not a huge loss though).  But more importantly there were millions of mosquitos and other small insects and no breeze.  To make matters worse it was still over 30deg and incredibly humid!  After cooking dinner in the dark I wandered over to the shower block for a nice cold shower with some limited light, coated myself in aeroguard and then made my way back to our tents in the dark, more or less.  There was no moon so the starry sky was amazing, but off in the distance there was a distant rumble of thunder with some lightning which caused a little concern.  I lazed back in one of the camp chairs and enjoyed a small glass or two of wine and took in the sight.  Another group of campers popped up over next to us.  They were a little more organised and had also brought wood, paper and matches so lit up a lovely fire.  I enjoyed their fire vicariously as I then alternated between watching them and watching the sky.  Not a bad way to spend some time.  Eventually as the lightning seemed to get a little closer I thought I should probably hop in the tent just in case.  And far out! It was a sauna .. while it may have dropped a few degrees below 30 outside ... it sure hadn't inside!  and only a small window for fresh air.  Needless to say it was a long night .. luckily didn't get rained on!  I think I actually dropped off for a few hours sleep somewhere after 2am when there was a slight change in the air and it cooled a teensy tiny bit. Not something I look forward to doing ever again.

The next morning it was up very early and packing up to get out of the sweaty sauna pit.  We drove a way down to a lookout area and had some breaky.  From there we were initially going to go down a track to where you could walk to some more water falls, however, the moment we pulled into the road it became a dirt track ... reasonably well serviced dirt track, but still not what we wanted to take a brand new hire car down.  So instead we found that we had a whole heap of time on our hands - seeings as it was only Sunday morning.  After some group discussion we decided to head further south and check out a place called Edith Falls.  And such a good idea it turned into.

We got there a little while later and then went for a bit of a hike up to the top falls.  So beautiful and fantastic swimming to boot.  We were pretty hot by this stage and so were super keen to get in (or at least I was).  Swum around for a while and enjoyed the various currents before heading back down to the bottom for some lunch.  After another quick swim it was then time to head back towards Darwin.

Falls View from a Distance

Fun swimming times ahead in the upper pools

The upper fall from where we were about to go swimming - definitely wasn't able to make it under that one! Such strong currents

The bottom of the falls.  More lovely swimming water.

Was very sad to be saying goodbye to the hire car.  Was amazing how much of a difference it made just being able to hop in and go and not wait for buses or co-ordinate ourselves with buses! But all good things come to an end.  We drove the car back into the city just in time for a huge storm and downpour!  Made for a great light show while we ate dinner at a restaurant in the city.  Quickly deciding that we didn't want to stuff around waiting for buses it was time to taxi it back and prepare for yet another week of prac.

PS. I just feel the need to add a note about how flippin' difficult this post was to write as internet over here in PNG is pretty primitive.  Took me back to early 2000's .. definitely better than dial up .. but far out! Nothing like what we have now.  Many hours and tears in putting it together.  And if it doesn't actually publish now I think I will cry.  Love to everyone though :) and the next post will finish