Litchfield and Kakadu
Day 1
I was up bright and early to start my next trip. The trip was in a 4x4 vehicle with plenty of space.
In Litchfield our first stop was at the Magnetic Termite mounds - these mounds are all built in the same direction and they make the landscape look like a graveyard.
We then headed on for some swimming at Florence Falls and Buley Hole - it was a hot day and it was nice to get in the water. At one point next to where we were swimming there was a massive Mertons Water Monitor (lizard) - these things are supposed to be good swimmers - thankfuly he stayed on the bank.
After hotdogs for lunch we joined a Wildlife Cruise and spotted some crocs (fresh and saltwater) and lots of native birds including the Sea Eagle.
Next we drove on to our camp at Point Stewart Wilderness Lodge - I managed to grab a cabin to myself.
Day 2
We were up early for a trip to Shady Camp where we saw a lot more crocs. It was good of the guide to take us there as it wasn't on the agenda but we hadn't seen that many crocs on the cruise the previous day.
We hiked into "Makuk" or Baramundi Gorge and went swimming - there was loads of waterfalls and sections to climb. I managed to slip on one section and smacked my toe on the rocks. There was also a couple of areas where you could jump in. We saw a few little frogs swimming around too. In one section there was even one bit where you jumped in a pool and had to swim down through a cave to get out - I was the only one in the group to try it apart from the guide. Unfortunately I jumped into the pool and realised that there was no way out except through the cave - I was quite pleased when I swam through and resurfaced back in the main gorge!
We checked into our camp early and had the opportunity for a swim. We then headed on to the Bowali Visitors Centre and watched a DVD about the park - again it was nice to get out of the heat! We saw that the park becomes a completely different place during the wet season. A lot of places we visited were closing soon as they would be inaccessible in the wet season. It is supposed to be fantastic to do a scenic flight around the park in the wet season.
Our next stop was Ubirr an Aboriginal Rock Art site on the border of Arnhem land. Arnhem Land is Aboriginal owned land which you need a special permit to visit. There was tonnes of art in different styles and from different time periods. The art was in caves under overhangs and the guide did a good job of explaining about it all.
We climbed up to a viewing point and watched the sun set - the view was used in the film Crocodile Dundee.
Day 3
We left camp early again and spotted a Frilled Lizard sitting by the road.
Our first destination today was Twin Falls. To get there we had to go along 70 km four wheel drive track that can only be reached in the Dry Seaon. The road was very bumpy and we had to drive through a river - you could really see today why we needed the big 4 wheel drive truck. Here we joined a National Park operated boat which took us to the base of the falls.
We got back in the 4x4 and went on to Jim Jim falls. We had to walk down a track to get to the falls but they were pretty unspectacular as there was no water flowing - my foot was hurting the previous day too.
Things got a bit more lively when someone spotted a Cane Toad - these toads were introduced to eat the Cane Beetle - they didn't though and now they just kill all the native animals they come into contact with as they have toxic glands which kill crocodiles and water monitors - all the Australians try to kill them because they are spreading so quickly around the country. The guide did not want to kill it infront of the group so I gave him a hand - I earned the nickname Killer Phil for the rest of the trip.
We headed back to Darwin for a night out. The night itself was pretty good as we had a good group and most people got along really well.
There was a pub quiz with some random bonus rounds thrown in one of which was to play a hoover like a didgeridoo - I'll be giving it a go when I get back home!! One of the teams from our group won and they shared out the beer they won as a prize. From there we headed to an English bar where some people did some Karaoke before we all went back to the first bar. It was a heavy night!
I was up bright and early to start my next trip. The trip was in a 4x4 vehicle with plenty of space.
In Litchfield our first stop was at the Magnetic Termite mounds - these mounds are all built in the same direction and they make the landscape look like a graveyard.
We then headed on for some swimming at Florence Falls and Buley Hole - it was a hot day and it was nice to get in the water. At one point next to where we were swimming there was a massive Mertons Water Monitor (lizard) - these things are supposed to be good swimmers - thankfuly he stayed on the bank.
After hotdogs for lunch we joined a Wildlife Cruise and spotted some crocs (fresh and saltwater) and lots of native birds including the Sea Eagle.
Next we drove on to our camp at Point Stewart Wilderness Lodge - I managed to grab a cabin to myself.
Day 2
We were up early for a trip to Shady Camp where we saw a lot more crocs. It was good of the guide to take us there as it wasn't on the agenda but we hadn't seen that many crocs on the cruise the previous day.
We hiked into "Makuk" or Baramundi Gorge and went swimming - there was loads of waterfalls and sections to climb. I managed to slip on one section and smacked my toe on the rocks. There was also a couple of areas where you could jump in. We saw a few little frogs swimming around too. In one section there was even one bit where you jumped in a pool and had to swim down through a cave to get out - I was the only one in the group to try it apart from the guide. Unfortunately I jumped into the pool and realised that there was no way out except through the cave - I was quite pleased when I swam through and resurfaced back in the main gorge!
We checked into our camp early and had the opportunity for a swim. We then headed on to the Bowali Visitors Centre and watched a DVD about the park - again it was nice to get out of the heat! We saw that the park becomes a completely different place during the wet season. A lot of places we visited were closing soon as they would be inaccessible in the wet season. It is supposed to be fantastic to do a scenic flight around the park in the wet season.
Our next stop was Ubirr an Aboriginal Rock Art site on the border of Arnhem land. Arnhem Land is Aboriginal owned land which you need a special permit to visit. There was tonnes of art in different styles and from different time periods. The art was in caves under overhangs and the guide did a good job of explaining about it all.
We climbed up to a viewing point and watched the sun set - the view was used in the film Crocodile Dundee.
Day 3
We left camp early again and spotted a Frilled Lizard sitting by the road.
Our first destination today was Twin Falls. To get there we had to go along 70 km four wheel drive track that can only be reached in the Dry Seaon. The road was very bumpy and we had to drive through a river - you could really see today why we needed the big 4 wheel drive truck. Here we joined a National Park operated boat which took us to the base of the falls.
We got back in the 4x4 and went on to Jim Jim falls. We had to walk down a track to get to the falls but they were pretty unspectacular as there was no water flowing - my foot was hurting the previous day too.
Things got a bit more lively when someone spotted a Cane Toad - these toads were introduced to eat the Cane Beetle - they didn't though and now they just kill all the native animals they come into contact with as they have toxic glands which kill crocodiles and water monitors - all the Australians try to kill them because they are spreading so quickly around the country. The guide did not want to kill it infront of the group so I gave him a hand - I earned the nickname Killer Phil for the rest of the trip.
We headed back to Darwin for a night out. The night itself was pretty good as we had a good group and most people got along really well.
There was a pub quiz with some random bonus rounds thrown in one of which was to play a hoover like a didgeridoo - I'll be giving it a go when I get back home!! One of the teams from our group won and they shared out the beer they won as a prize. From there we headed to an English bar where some people did some Karaoke before we all went back to the first bar. It was a heavy night!
posted by Phil at 7:42 AM
1 Comments:
Killer Phil - were is the pic of the toe? Check out that crocodile-scary!
Love Jen xxxxxx
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