Mataranka to Darwin
FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
Finally left Mataranka at 9:20 after another dip in the pool – couldn’t resist it. Stopped in Katherine for fuel, money and shopping and then headed along the Kakadu Highway to Cooinda in the Kakadu National Park. Big termite mounds, lotsa rocks – fascinating drive but very hot, not so much roadkill (thank goodness) although we did see what appeared to be a rather large bullock or buffalo by the side of the road with it’s feet in the air – very ded. On arrival at Cooinda parked in our little space, set things up and got straight into the pool to cool down, the mozzies were having a field day – the buggers don’t seem to be interested in Jeff, just moi and I got really cranky because I was soooo hot and itchy. The resort here is a biot of a rip-off – $40 a night for a powered site, but I guess it’s to be expected in such a touristy area.
SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
Left Cooinda and carried on to Jabiru and then out again – not much to see there. Saw a sign for Ubirr which I had read something about so we turned off the highway. Some 46km later we arrived at a carpark with signs pointing to the Rock Paintings. Oh, were they worth the drive – dozens of figures on flat rock faces, pictures that are believed to be thousands of years old. Jeff then walked up to a viewing place overlooking the Arnhem Tableland – I only went halfway, the heat was getting to me again!! While I was waiting for Jeff to come back down, a lady stopped briefly saying that there were some crocs at a nearby crossing and they were heading off to see them. Whe Jeff finally returned I told him this and when we got back to Betty we followed the signs for the Cahill Crossing. We walked down the boatramp and there basking on a sandbank across the river was a dirty great crocodiddle, and several others cruising up and down. A bit further upstream we could see the actual crossing (and vehicles going backwards and forwards across it) so we thought we’d have a look there too. We found a lookout with a good view of the crossing and more of the river and more crocs, including a real big ‘un – must’ve been at least 4 metres long!
Overnight at the Aurora Kakdu Resort – not a bad site, grassy, a lot of foreigners, nice pool – lots of mozzies going after Jeff this time – he counted over 20 bites on one leg the following morning<BG>
SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
Left at 7:45 and stopped at the Adelaide River and went on a 1 hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise. Got some fantastic shots of the crocs jumping for pieces meat suspended from a pole. Very enjoyable and reasonably priced at $25 each.
We then headed on up to Darwin, but as it was Sunday, not much was going on so we just had a lovely Barramundi Fish and Chips meal at the Fisherman’s Wharf and carried on back down the Stuart Highway and stopped at Coolalinga Campsite – nice site, great pool – did lotsa washing!!