Team Turtle Has Made It To Darwin

After an adventurous few days in the wilds of Kakadu National Park, Team Turtle has made it to the capital of the Top End!  We have only been here since yesterday (Wednesday) but, so far we have sent up camp for a few weeks, found the nearest boat ramp and a very large shopping centre - most of the essentials in life.

And what have we been up to?  Absolutely amazing stuff!  After talking to fellow nomads over the last few weeks we were a little bit reticent about visiting Kakadu as some of them had been calling it "Kakadon't" and others did not enjoy their experiences in there and/or that Litchfield Park was so much better.  Team Turtle was, however, determined to make up its own mind.


After we left Katherine, we headed north then turned right at Pine Creek along the Kakadu Highway.  The scenery was the same - sparse trees, savannah grasslands and the occasional creek or waterhole.  We stayed at Mary River Roadhouse to collect some more info and plan for the next few days.  Nice little spot at the southern entrance to the park but our plans were once again thwarted by the either the late/extended Wet Season (some roads and camping grounds were still closed) or the Rangers had not yet completed their crocodile surveys of the waterholes at these camping grounds.  Oh well, a collective shrug of the shoulders and off we went.

Southern Entrance to Kakadu

Kakadu National Park MapIf you use this link, also check out the individual regions!

First stop was 'Gungural' - a lookout over the South Alligator River - and a morning tea break afterwards.  Nice walk and a pretty good view except for the trees that had grown over the last couple of years.  Despite the warning signs, someone decided that he would go for a bit of a cool down after the walk - hhmmm!!

Crocodile Warning Sign

Crocodile or Crocodile Lunch?

Next stop was just up the road at Mardugal - a little campground on the edge of Jim Jim Creek.  It was only going to be a lunch break but we ended up staying two days!  e discovered a great little concrete boat ramp and after talking to the Ranger decided that we could put Tuf Cat in for a swim and not Li'l Pussy as were our original intentions.  Another great day sightseeing on the water (and a little bit of fishing) and The Deckie was even able to navigate her way back thru the trees to the boat ramp.

Upstream of Mardugal Billabong

The Boat Ramp (between the trees)

After our two nights at Mardugal we once more headed north and stopped of at Nawurlandja and Nourlangie.  Nawurlandja was a bit of a hike up the side of the mountain but it was well worth the effort - great views of the surrounding escarpments and wetlands and just mind blowing when you see what remains in the mountainside itself.

The Captain having a rest near the top of Nawurlandja

Looking out of the Wetlands and Escarpment

Onto Nourlangie - an Art Site.  Very interesting (even though a lot of the art has been 'touched up' for the tourists) but I do like the stories behind them.  The rock formations around there were also mind blowing and you could understand why the ancient cultures looked upon some of these sites with awe and trepidation.

Nourlangie from Nawurlandja

The Captain amongst the rocks

The note on the pic below says - This is Nabulwinjbulwinj (Nar-bull-win-bull-win) - he is a dangerous spirit who eats females after striking them with his yam.

Some Yam!!!

After all of these mountain treks we headed into Jabiru for some supplies and then to the East Alligator River and Merl Campground for what ended up to be a four night stay.  The East Alligator River is basically divided into two sections (Upper and Lower East Alligator) at a large rockbar called Cahill's Crossing and the eastern
side of the river is Arnhem Land.  Our first day there and we headed upstream - great escarpments and beautiful river.  During the course of the day The Captain managed to catch his first ever Barramundi - a little on the small side - but still.....

First Barramundi

The escarpment in Arnhem Land

More Rocks and Riverbank

Rock Reflections

The next day we walked up to Ubirr, a rock formation with lots of art work and right in the middle of some fantastic Wetlands.  It was from the top of Ubirr that parts of Crocodile Dundee were filmed and that the makers of the Lion King gained some inspiration for the movie.

Pride Rock

Wetlands Looking South

Wetlands looking south-east

Just to fill in the afternoon, we took Tuf Cat for another swim but this time we went downstream.  Totally different landscape - not as many rocks or escarpments but mainly wetlands.  And very nice wetlands indeed!

Cahill's Crossing Looking Upstream

A Local

From the edge of the River

The following day (Monday) we went back upstream on the river where The Captain caught several more Barramundi all of them were just a little bit small but they were fun to catch.  The Deckie even learnt how to cast lures and nearly even caught her own fish!!

Getting Bigger

 

 

 

Final decision - we thoroughly enjoyed Kakadu National Park and Litchfield must be awesome!!

Tuesday and we headed west along the Arnhem Highway and towards Darwin.  To avoid travelling in peak hour in a new city, we decided to free camp at a spot called Beatrice Hill about 100klms east of Darwin.  Beautiful spot overlooking some significant wetlands and close by there was the Wetlands Visitor Centre with even better views over the surrounding plains.

Breakfast View

Wetlands Centre

Appropriate place for Turtle Trekkers!

And that brings us into Darwin - maybe some relaxing but probably not - too much to see and do but I am sure we will cope.