14th July, 2014

Today we got up and went for walk down to the Billabong and the Saltwater Creek which are near the Caravan Park to check out fishing spots. We found a good spot but didn't have the necessary gear so Trent and I purchased some Prawns and tried our luck in the billabong while the girls went grocery shopping. I didn't catch a fish but did catch a turtle and a decent size one at that.

Then we went looking for a fridge slide and got an Engel one at 10% off! hopefully it goes the distance. The last home made one lasted 3 years. 

From there it was on to the Darwin Waterfront wave pool. The kids had a ball riding tubes and body boards. After a few hours we headed around to Stokes Hill Wharf for Fish and Chips before doing some grocery shopping and getting back to the van park pretty late.

13th July, 2014

This morning we awoke to mossies trying to get into the tent through the fly screen. We put our full length clothes on, had breakfast, packed up and hit the road.

We drove out to Anbangbang Billabong with the intention of walking the full circuit around it. When we got out of the car a woman approached us and warned us that part of the walk was closed because someone had encountered a salty on the track last week. With a little apprehension we headed off carefully inspecting the path ahead for big lizards. We didn't find any but were told by some photographers that there was one sunning itself 10 metres off the track in the closed section. The Billabong was teaming with birds of all descriptions and there was a fair bit more water in it than when we visited in 2003. It's a beautiful spot with Nourlangie Rock as a backdrop.

That's not Nourlangie.

From Anbangbang we headed over to Nourlangie Rock and walked around inspecting the different rock art galleries which are said to be up to 20000 years old. Trent really liked the picture of the Lightning God who is said to have struck woman dead with a Yam, to show how powerful he was. (Trent's Description)

That brings us to an end of our exploration of Kakadu. We all really enjoyed this place and could easily have spent another week exploring the park a bit more. We will spend that extra time here on our next visit, we are sure to be back, with or without the kids.

After a quick lunch and re fuel in Jabiru we drove west to Darwin, found a car wash, got rid of the accumulated red dust and drove to our caravan park for the week, which is in Berry Springs at a little place called Tumbling Waters. The is fishing right outside the park in a billabong and a creek, Trent can't wait to get out there. The park is costing us $192 for the week which is a saving of about $300 for the week had we stayed in the heart of Darwin. There is a small Freshwater Croc enclosure where they do feelings on Saturday nights, one of them was out tonight.

Total distance so far is approximately 4419 kilometres.

Fuel spend is approximately $1523 to date, we are using 95 or 98 because it gets improved economy and performance.

Our average economy is 19.71 litres/100 k's.

Accomodation for the first 21 days is $505 (We ate paid up till next Sunday)

12th July, 2014

We awoke to another great sunrise over a beautifully coloured escarpment in Kakadu today at Garnamarr Camground. While we were having breakfast a backpacker come over and asked if we were heading to Twin Falls today. She had seen us in at Jim Jim the day before and spoken to Clare. She asked if we had room for one of her friends as their car couldn't complete the water crossing and so we ended up with young Chris from Switzerland sharing the back seat with the kids. He was a lovely young. An and he regaled us with stories of his travels and volunteer work all over the world and we drove towards Twin Falls. The track in covered the same road as that to Jim Jim Falls fro the first 9 kilometres and then it turned right and headed down to the South Alligator River. 

The crossing looked pretty daunting with the early morning light reflecting off the water. The depth markers read .8 metres but we had been told it was at .65, which was closer to the mark. I mounted the GoPro to the bullbar hoping to get some dunking action but it wasn't to be.

After the crossing the road become easier and before we knew it we were at the car park. We went down to the boat shuttle and then the four of us caught the boat up to the walking track and made our way over some racks and boulders to the sandy beach of Twin Falls with its large croc trap and No Swimming signs. What a beautiful place it would have been great when you could actually float/swim up here through this gorge. We took all the photos we could and then made our back to camp and packed up. The walk in was a lot easier than the one to Jim Jim the day before.

Once back in the car we headed for Merl Campground so we could be up on Ubirr for the sunset. We had heard about the mossies here but thought we would risk it to be here for sunset. While we set up it was fine, the odd mossie but nothing the Bushmans 40% Deet couldn't manage to turn away. 

Then we drive out at Cahills Crossing looking for some croc action and weren't dissappointed, there was a big one sunning itself on the bank across from us and then others floating in the water, one with what appeared to be a tracker on it.

From there we headed out to Ubirr and looked at some of the rock art before heading up the hill for sunset with hundreds of other travellers. We weren't dissappointed it was another glorious sunset and then just as the sun went down you turned around and were greeted by a full moon rising right behind us. 

Now as we were all snapping away with our cameras and phones, this buzzing started to be heard around my ears and then on my head. The bloody mosquitoes were everywhere, as if someone had flicked a switch and they fell from the sky. We hurried back to the car and locked ourselves inside and made our way. Back to camp aware that we had to cook tea outside when we got back, what a thought. 

We had 4 mossie heavy duty mossie coils going, 3 citronella candles and Bushmans coated on, along with long clothes in the 28 degree heat and still they were coming at us, it was frightening but we mangled to survive the night. Even in the shower trying to wash the Bushmans off they were still trying to attack. I am typing this on Sunday morning looking out the fly screen window as they sit on the other side waiting for me to go out there so they can resume their ungodly attack.

11th July, 2014

This morning we got the kids up very early to be ready for the 6:45 sunrise cruise on Yellow Water Billabong. It was a great 2 hour cruise through the Billabong followed by a buffet breakfast back at the caravan park. We saw Saltwater Crocodiles, Spoonbills, Kingfishers, Whistling Ducks, Brolgas, Egrets, wild Pigs, Whistling Kites, Sea Eagles and other wildlife. 

After breakfast we packed up and set sail for Jim Jim Falls Campground or Garnamarr. We arrived and set up with the back drop of a beautiful escarpment.

Then we ate lunch we headed into to Jim Jim Falls, it was a great little 10 k drive,  lots of twists and turns, red dirt, sand, rocks and small creek crossings. We arrived at the car park and started our walk. It starts out fairly easily and then gets pretty slippery under foot as you skip over the tops of the river boulders. The walk, 20 odd minutes is well worth it. 

We all had a swim in the beach pool and then Alyssa, Trent and I headed over to the plunge pool for a swim. It was a fair bit colder than the beach pool.

10th July, 2014

Nothing very exciting today, we packed up camp at Maguk and headed for Cooinda to try and book a sunrise tour on Yellow Water Billabong. They had plenty of room for tomorrow morning and we decided that after 11 days on the road the campers batteries and us needed a little power surge, so we booked in at the van park. 

Charged every appliance we have up including the two camper batteries and went for a swim in one of the beautiful man made pools. In the arvo we walked down to the Cultural Cebtre and got an insight into Aboriginal life, it was very interesting.

My fridge slide is working for the time being but for how long I don't know. It looks like I will be getting a new one of some description in Darwin so we don't have that worry again. 

We are sure. To have some better photos for you in the morning.

  

9th July, 2014

This morning we got up and went on a walk to Murill Billabong and the South Alligator River. To be honest there wasn't a lot to see unless you were willing to risk life and limb by getting close to the water. Here is a pic of Alyssa and Clare walking back in the increasing heat.

When we got back to camp we packed up and were ready to hitch up the camper when the first glitch of the trip arose. The fridge slide wouldn't close, I tried magic spray but it didn't work  and in the end had to keep slamming it shut to get the thing shut. I did find two ball bearings that had come out of the right side. I did have an issue when I was cleaning it before we came away but didn't want top spend the cash upgrading to the monster slides; guess that didn't work.

Anyway we got going again and drove out back to the bitumen where I aired up and started heading for Cooinda to get our parks pass and book in for the sunrise boat tour. Clare was reading one of our many guide books and mentioned Maguk, which sounded like it had a great swimming area, so we turned right and headed down the 11 k dirt road with plenty of corrugations.

We got to the campground and had lunch before deciding to stay the night, we set up in the heat of the day and everyone ws stuffed. The. I decided to take apart the fridge slide and see if au could repair it. Not a lot of luck but at least we can open and close it for the time being.

We drive down to the day visitor car park, about 1.5 km in and then walked in to the rock escarpment above the main swimming hole. We were not dissappointed it was a magic spot. There was a very deep stream/river to swim through and rock ledges to jump from. There was a very dark circular pool to jump in with about a 2 metre radius of rock face, once in the water you had to open your eyes and about 1.5 meters down there was a hole in the rock to swim through out into the open pool. It was a bit daunting but Clare and I both tried it. We swam for an hour or so and felt very clean before starting the trek back to the car. All these beautiful rock pools make up for the lack of showers where we are staying.

Lower pool which we didn't swim in. 

Rock pools that we did  swim in, the pressure test on the right.

On the way out we found some rock art.

Tonight we have been surrounded by frogs, insects and bugs.

This place is unbelievable if you have the time to explore it properly, we are only going to touch the surface.

8th July, 2014

We awoke to yet another lovely day in Katherine and slowly packed up in the company of 18 month old Beno and his German mother. Called in at the visitor centre to collect a sticker (poor choice provided) and then made our way to Kakadu, stopping at Mary River Roadhouse to try and purchase our Kakadu Parks Pass. For some reason they have stopped selling them, so we utilised the toilets as non paying customers at .50 cents a pee.

About 60 k's from the turn off at Pine Gap we turned off onto a red dirt road and aired down ready for the corrugations. About 34 k's later we arrived at Gunlom Falls Campground. We were all a little hot and flustered when we arrived at camp and after a few minor incidents settled down to lunch. 

After lunch we went for a walk and inspected the 'Plunge Pool' or 'Echo Pool' if you have watched Crocodile Dundee. It's where Hoges and Linda cool off in a magnificient plunge pool. 

We decided to make the trek up to Gunlom Lookout and Falls at about 4:00 pm. It took just over 20 minutes to clamber up there, including photos at the lookout. We then swam in and inspected a number of the pools and the upper waterfalls. Trent couldn't get enough and didn't want to come back down to camp.

We were last to leave and the view was sensational. Pork chops, Cous Cous and Chips for dinner with a nice Sauvignon Blanc.