Aus Day 33 - The Arrival

Friday 22nd October Aus Day 33


Having successfully collected Eileen from the airport at 03.00,

Happy Landing at 03.00

we were up again at 08.15, showered, breakfast Al Fresco and then off into Darwin for the tourist look about including freshly squeezed OJ on Smith Street Mall.

OJ on Smith Street Mall

We decided to have a visit to one of the well known city centre attractions, Crocosaurus Cove where we witnessed crocodiles being fed and browsed around many displays of crocodiles, turtles and reptiles. Finishing off with a lunchtime snack of a bowl of fries each, when we realised that one between us would have been ample.

Feeding Time

Crocosaurus Snake

Following this we went to visit another of Darwin’s well known venues, Mindil Beach. This is actually famous for the markets which are held there every Thursday and Sunday evenings. Today being Friday there was no market but we sat under a shady tree for a while watching the antics of the tropical birds before Eileen decided that she would like to dabble her toes in the Timor Sea.

Ooh! It's Warm

The heat was now getting to be a bit oppressive so we headed back to the Tourist Park and spent a hour at the pool side.

For the evening we decided to spoil ourselves and got a taxi into Darwin and then had a drink and meal in Shenanigan’s (“Territorial Mixed Grill” comprising, Alligator sausage, Kangaroo steak and Barramundi fillet with mashed potatoes and mushrooms).

JB and Eileen at Shenanigan's Darwin

We had a wander along Mitchell Street and up through Smith Street Mall viewing the antics of the, mainly, youngsters in the various bars before returning to Shenanigan’s for a final drink before getting a taxi back to our apartment at the Tourist Park.

Aus Day 32 - Return to Darwin

Thursday 21st October   Aus Day 32


Up at 06.45 to a fine morning after last night’s rain. Shower, breakfast and spent some time drafting yesterday’s Blog even though I am not able to post it until later in the day when I get Internet access. Packed up and hit the road by 09.20 to Litchfield National Park, with the first port of call being a visit the Termite Mounds which I had bypassed yesterday.

Entrance to the Park

A Grand Crop of Termite Mounds

Next up was a return visit to Florence Falls in order to get a view of the falls from the pool. However, on the way down the 135 steps, I caught this picture of a Rock Wallaby just sitting there.

Rock Wallaby

I finally made it down to the waterfall pool where there were already a number of people sampling the water:

The Falls Look Smaller From Below

The major problem with descending those 135 steps is, having to ascend them again. Having sweated my way back up, I headed off for the next objective which was Tolmer Falls about another 18 kms up the road.

Tolmer Falls

View From Tolmer Falls

By this time I was beginning to feel a bit like a Japanese tourist and the next stop was the Wangi Falls a further 11 kms up the road. The National Park seems to make quite a big thing about these falls and apparently they are much more spectacular in the wet season;

Wangi Falls and Bathers

Wangi Falls - Both Sides

JB at Wangi Falls

Leaving the Wangi Falls I had decided to head back to Darwin by continuing along the National Park road which was advised as being gravel for the next 45 kms. Well that’s one of the reasons I had a 4WD camper van, so off I set. It turned out to be quite straight forward and actually only about 25 kms unsealed. I’ve had more fun negotiating the snow covered roads of Norway. Anyway I was soon back on the sealed road and after passing through Berry Springs I was back on the Stuart Hwy in another area that was starting to look very familiar.

Just south of Darwin I stopped for a quick look at a WWII site of the Strauss Airstrip where P40 Kittyhawks and Mk VIII and Mk IX Spitfires operated. In fact No 54 RAF Squadron operated from there and 54 Squadron were operating Jaguar aircraft at RAF Coltishall in the early 1980s when I was there with 41(F) Squadron.

Strauss Airstrip Commemorative Sign

Having called into Darwin for a bit of shopping and a quick soaking during a short storm, I finally made it to the Hidden Valley Tourist Park were I have accommodation arranged for Eileen and myself for the next 3 nights. All I have to do now is wait until it is time for me to go to the airport and collect her. Oh! I think I have given that chap Zebedee the slip for the time being.

Aus Day 31 - From Kakadu to Litchfield

Wednesday 20th October    Aus Day 31


Had a lie in this morning and didn’t rise until 07.20. Showered, breakfast, re-erected the awning and put my still damp clothes out to dry. Updated my travel accounts and once all the chores were completed I packed up and hit the road at 09.30 heading towards Darwin on the Arnhem Hwy. At 10.15 I crossed the South Alligator River which was running quite strongly as you can see from the photo below:

The South Alligator River Flowing Strongly Under The Arnhem Hwy

About a ½ hour later I thought that I should show you the Savanna Woodland through which I have been travelling and which so much of the Kakadu Region is comprised. This was still evident as I exited the National Park through the Gateway.

Savanna Woodland of Kakadu

Exiting The Kakadu National Park

Approaching Humpty Doo (Yes that is a genuine place name) I turned off to try and view the wetlands wildlife at the Fogg Dam. As I arrived I managed to get a couple of shots of the snake, see below, about 5 feet long which had obviously been basking in the sunshine.

Can You Tell What It Is Yet?

I then got a wider view of the area and a photo of one of its more endearing inhabitants. However, there is no doubt that if you venture into areas like this you need to be liberally covered with insect repellent. I had forgotten and emerged covered in itchy lumps.

The World Famous Fogg Dam Conservation Area

One of the Many Herons

I was soon back on the Stuart Hwy and heading south towards the Litchfield National Park turning off when I saw the sign for Batchelor. The ‘Batchelor Institute’, situated here, is one of the organisations that my sister Valerie used to work for. However, it was the miniature castle which attracted my attention as I was driving by. See Below. This commemorates the life of one Bernie Havlik (1912 – 1990) who lived in the region and did much to establish Batchelor’s early pine and mango trees and actually constructed this miniature replica of Karlstein Castle.

Model of Karlstein Castle at Batchelor

As it was only about 2.00 pm, I decided to motor a little way into the park and pay a visit to the Florence Falls. (There’s another reference to The Magic Roundabout) and I arrived thee some 45 minutes later. This is a lovely spot, as you can see from the photos and apparently the swimming in the pool at the foot of the falls is very refreshing.

Which Way to the Falls?

The Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park

Just back up the road a touch is another popular bathing spot called Buley Rockhole which is actually a series of pools in a lengthy cascade of the Florence River system.

One of the Bathing Pools at Buley Rockholes

One of the Upper Pools With People Bathing

From there it was back to the Litchfield Park Tourist and Caravan Park and booked in just after 4 pm.

Disaster!!! My little Internet gizmo couldn’t pick up a strong enough signal to establish a connection and the mobile phone signal was non-existent. However, the caravan park had a small Internet kiosk which I rapidly commandeered and frantically emailed Eileen with the bad news. I was not a happy bunny as she is setting off in a few hours time and I wanted to wish her a safe journey. A couple of hours later. I managed to make contact via a land line and was thus able to wish her bon voyage, before she set off. Phewww.

I had the van parked under cover this evening but it still didn’t do a great deal to reduce the noise when the rain came down. A steady downpour for about ½ an hour and then it cleared up again. I was feeling a bi shattered for some reason and couldn’t publish the Blog anyway so, I had a bit of a lazy evening dozing and playing Majong on the laptop. I know how to live!!! However, as ever, Zebedee finally came a-calling and so it was off to bed just after 10.00.

Aus Day 30 - Art Work and Awnings

Tuesday 19th October Aus Day 30


Up at 06.45 with the sun shining and the birds singing; well, they were making a din anyway. Shower and breakfast and then completed Blog update before getting packed up and ready to roll by about 09.30. I refuelled on the way out although I probably didn’t need to but, I always think that it is wise to fill up when you have the opportunity.

Motored at a steady pace towards Ubirr which is north, north east of Jabiru and where there are examples of Aboriginal rock art and a short walk and climb which offer views across the Nadab floodplain. I took the following photo on the road as I was starting to get a view of the outcrops.

View on the Road from Jabiru to Ubirr

I arrived at Ubirr (pronounced ‘Oo-beerr’) at about 10.40. There is nothing in the car park other than a toilet block and a sign to “Ubirr Art Site” pointing out the walking track.

This Way Folks

A short walk brought me (and an army of others) to the first of the art sites and although I took numerous photos, they don’t compress well for publishing on the Blog. I have selected just a couple which may give you an idea of the art concerned. Each of the pictures of course, tells a story, only some of which we are allowed to hear.

Example of Aboriginal Rock Art

The Story of Mabuyu

[Insert Ubirr_07 and Ubirr_13]

The second of these pictures tells the story of Mabuyu who was dragging his catch on a string after a fishing expedition when a greedy person cut the string and stole his fish. That night Mabuyu waited until the thieves had eaten his fish and were camped inside their cave near the East Alligator River. Then he blocked the cave with a huge rock. “Next morning they never came out. Because they pinched it they got punished. Kids, ladies and men, all dead – finished.” Bill Neidjie.

Following the series of galleries in the rocks, there came a bit of a climb to get up to the lookout point which gave the following views of an area which is likely to be inundated in the not too distant future. An event which occurs annually during the wet season.

Climbing the Hill Overlooking the Floodplain

View of the Floodplain From the Top

The Nadab Floodplain



View From The Lookout

After scrambling back down and making the relatively short walk back to the car park, I headed just a bit back down the road to view Cahills Crossing, a ford which connects the National Park to Arnhem Land which has been recognised as Aboriginal land since 1931. The crossing was named after Paddy Cahill who operated a buffalo, cattle and agricultural station at Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) from the 1890s until 1922.

The Ford at Cahills Crossing

Just Because I can't See Crocs, Doesn't Mean They Aren't There!

Despite the name of the river, East Alligator River, I didn’t see a single croc anywhere although there are prominent warning posters and apparently they are around at all times.

I then left Ubirr and the East Alligator River region and headed back towards Jabiru but took a small diversion into the Bowali Visitor Centre. Here there are examples of Aboriginal art, a cultural exhibition and video shows about the region and the wildlife. The photo below is of a mural done by various school children depicting the various regions of Australia and how various activities can benefit the environment.

School Children's Mural at the Bowali Visitor Centre

After an hour or so taking in all the centre had to offer I headed back the short distance to the Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park where once again I availed myself of the swimming pool facility for an hour or so before returning to the van to start drafting the Blog entry and to make myself a spot of tea. After last night’s effort, it was back to salad. Although I still had to boil some eggs.

Just after I had finished tea the rain started, complete with thunder and lightning. Not too bad I thought, I don’t need to go out again and it will soon pass. However, after about 30 minutes there was a sound of rushing water and it appears that my awning collapsed under the weight of water collecting in it. Still, now it’s empty, it will just have to wait until the morning. Mind you the rain has now stopped although I am being serenaded by a frog chorus. It’s lovely out here.

22.40 and I have just finished a Skype session with Eileen and she is almost ready to come and join me. One more sleep to go and finish packing the suitcase then she will be off to the airport on Wednesday. Yeeee Haaaaa!

However, that chap Zebedee is knocking at the door and telling me that it is time I was in bed. OK for him but I don’t know where I will be tomorrow night other than somewhere in Litchfield National Park. Night All!

Aus Day 29 - Kakadu and No Gas

Monday 18th October    Aus Day 29



Rose at 06.45 desperate for the loo. This of course requires a trek to the far side of the swimming pool so showered etc while I was about it. The usual breakfast of orange juice and cereal. I really must start to use the external cooking facilities but, that all seems too much like camping to me when what I really want is more in line with your mobile 5 star hotel service. Ah Well!

Watching the antics of a couple of wallabies through my rear window, almost as if they had turned up specifically for a photo shoot which the couple in the next van were duly providing.

Got yesterdays Blog uploaded and did the rest of the morning chores and was ready for off by 09.30. First stop was back in Katherine with another visit to ‘Woolies’ and to get some fuel and then retracing the now familiar route up to Pine Creek before turning east onto the Kakadu Hwy. There are not many photo opportunities as I travel this highway as it is all Savanna Woodland until I come to the “Bukbukluk” Lookout where I took the following shots:

Entrance to Bukbukluk Lookout

Track up to The Lookout

View From The Lookout

View From The Lookout

View From The Lookout

View From The Lookout

You may recall that while I was travelling along the Barkly Tablelands Hwy I took a photo of termite heaps well here they build them bigger and better as this one illustrates, it must be 10 feet tall and I did see others which where even bigger.

A Bigger And Better Termite Mound - 10 Feet Tall?

I had stopped off at the Visitor Centre to purchase my National Park Permit and despite my very best Sunday Driver technique still managed to arrive at the Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park by 3.00 pm. Having selected a suitable site I set up the van and went for a stroll around. The park is centred on the swimming pool in concentric circles and is all grassed with a multitude of tall trees and bushes in which numerous species of birds make an ever present uproar. Naturally I had to sample the delights of the pool for a while, and I provide a couple of shots below, before logging onto the Internet for my regular contact with Eileen.

Caravan Park Pool

View of the Pool From The Opposite Side

After we had finished, I set to, to use the external cooking facilities only to find that both gas bottles were empty. Luckily there is an emergency, portable cooking stove available as part o the equipment but, somebody is in for a hard time when I take this van back next week. However, having spent 1.5 hours just preparing, eating and clearing away I refer you back to my earlier desire for 5 Star hotel service.

Eventually got around to doing some Blog entry updating but Zebedee got me before I could finish. Hence I am completing this at 08.00 on Tuesday morning.

Aus Day 28 - Up the Katherine

Sunday 17th October     Aus Day 28


Up at 06.45 this morning shower, breakfast and get myself prepped for the Gorge boat trip. I am still undecided about what to do after the boat trip. Move on? If so to where? Or, stay at Katherine Gorge for another night?

Anyway, I arrived at the jetty for the boat trip at 08.40 but, as I suspected, there was no activity until 09.00 when about 30 of us were shepherded onto a smallish river boat and off we set, up the gorge: Click on the link to learn more about Katherine Gorge.

A Motley Crew



First Part of the Gorge



The Skipper and Guide at the Wheel

The Skipper and guide appeared to be very knowledgeable about the area and local flora (as you would expect) reeling off plant names in Australian, Latin and Jawoyn (the language of the local aboriginal people).

The gorge is quite impressive, as I think the photos show, (the originals are even better). Katherine Gorge is actually a series of 13 gorges and the tourist trips from here usually cover just 2 or 3 of them. Because of my delicate skin I didn’t want to be exposed to the sun for too long so opted for the 2 gorge trip of 2 hours. At the end of the first gorge you have to get off one boat and walk for about 600 metres and then get on a second boat to do the next gorge. I assume this process gets repeated for the third gorge as well. As well as the boat trips, canoes are for hire and swimming is allowed.

You Might Just be Able to See the Canoeists



Through the Gorge



Arrival at the Transit Point

Had to get into the picture during the transfer between gorges and also of interest here is the rock painting, reputed to be some 23,000 years old and some of the oldest art work found anywhere in the world. We were then into the second gorge with similar scenes.

JB in the Gorge

Rock Painting

Into The Second Gorge

I Think We Want to go Between Those Rocks

We returned to the start point just after 11.00 and by the time I had walked back to the Nitmiluk Centre I had decided to spend another night at Katherine Gorge. When I got back to the van I sorted out what bit of ‘housework’ there was to do and then set too sorting and labelling all of the photos taken during the morning plus the 25 minutes of video.

Having sorted out most of that and made a start on this Blog entry, I was overcome with a severe case of lethargy so had to go and recuperate by the side of the swimming pool and before I knew it, it was time to establish Internet connection in time for my cherished Skype session with Eileen.

As we were coming to a close, a wallaby took up residence just outside my van and Eileen bet me that it would be off like a shot, the minute I stepped outside to try and take a photograph. Well as you can see below, he actually stayed around to have his photo taken and to see if there was an food on offer. When he found there wasn’t he ambled off on his merry way.

Got Any Food Mate?

Following tea, when I reverted to good habits and made myself a salad, I went back to the poolside where another artist was performing. Mainly Country & Western style music but quite entertaining and all for free. Well, included in the camp site fees.

Tomorrow, I have decided to move on and get into the Kakadu area with a couple of nights at Jabiru where, I am led to believe, there is an even better swimming pool than the one here. So just before Zebedee springs up, I will wish you all a good night.