Week 22

Kakadu to Berry Springs

 27^th May

We left Adelaide river and headed for Kakadu. We stayed at the Mary River Roadhouse for the first night. The plan was to travel anti clockwise around the tourist circuit.

First stop was going to be Gunlom, but it was closed due to high water levels. We drove onto the Gagudju Lodge @ Cooinda, our next night stop over where the Yellow Water wetlands are. There is a boardwalk along the wetland and great for photos of the lilies and bird life. But due to high water levels and Croc risk, the area is still closed. We decided not to stay as there was nothing to do. We topped up with fuel and visited the nearby Waradjan aboriginal culture centre. Here they have a great information / history displays, shop and activities.

Rachel and Amity experienced making bracelets with the locals and local food was also on offer for a taste. Turtle, Croc, roo, and Emu to name a few. The boys settled to just eating the damper on offer.

Jabiru 28th  29th  30th  May

Kakadu Lodge and caravan park was next on our list to stay. Online had a lot of good reports about this place. They had the cleanest amenities we have seen for the past 4 weeks. We based ourselves here for three days and explored the local area.

 

 

There was a lot to see. From rock art at Nourlangie Rock to views of the wetlands at Ubirr are must things to do.

 

The kids also did a spot of local painting at Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River.

 A visit to the Bowali visitor centre is also good for more information on the local people and their traditions.

Mary River wilderness Park 31st May

We saw our first Salty Croc as we crossed the South Alligator River.

 We had planned to stay overnight at Aurora Kakadu here on the Arnhem Hwy but it didn’t look very inviting. We moved on to the Mary river Park, 2 km from the Bark Hut Inn. It was nice and peaceful. We went for a walk and also a drive up to Point Stuart to find some more photo opportunities. They offer airboat rides up here if you desire.

Watch out for the thousands of mozzies at night. We had hundreds of them stuck to the moisture on the outside walls of the van in the morning. We also visited the windows of the wetlands visitor centre and the jumping Croc statue. We made it back to civilisation via Humpty Doo, restocked in Coolinga and moved on.

Tumbling Waters (Berry Springs) 1st & 2nd June

Rach wanted to go stay at this place she also heard good reports about so we drove back into Coolinga to resupply and then drove out to the Cox Peninsula, past Berry Springs and stayed 2 nights.

Whilst here, the kids hand feed crocodiles, swam in the pool until they were dehydrated and sunburnt and made friends with a few young at heart Grey Nomads.

 

On Sunday Amity joined in the morning craft market whilst Dad and Curtis played with a visiting snake from the nearby Territory wildlife Park.

 

There was lots of activities and we all enjoyed the stay here.

On leaving the area we popped into the Berry Springs but we didn't go for a swim. it was too cold for us this early in the morning (around 26') We watched fish swim around and there were warning signs to watch out for fresh water crocs. A group of UK tourists were brave (or silly) enough to jump in.