2012 Around Australia: Day 169 - 171 31st July

Day 169 Tuesday 31^st July 2012.

It felt like leaving “home” when we packed up from our campsite at “Tumbling Waters Caravan Park” this morning. We had been camped here for 8 nights and it really was a little “oasis”, especially in our “tucked” away spot..

It felt unusual packing up. I believe Vania was feeling a bit “sad” in packing up and moving on.

Vania and I hadn’t really sat down together and discussed where and what we may do. All we knew was that we were headed towards Kakadu. Vania had selected a “campsite” which she thought was a good spot for “fishin” and provided some shade. However, it was 54K’s off the highway on a dirt road. I wasn’t too keen to travel 108K’s on a dirt road to a place simply to “possibly” do some “fishin”. Cape York will offer plenty of “dirt road” driving latter in our journey. Obviously Vania was disappointed in not going to this campsite. She will have to do these types of “side trips” in her next big trip were she will have her own vehicle and be a lot more prepared than my vehicle is at the moment.

It was a very “quiet” drive up the freeway. We noticed a “rest area” about 44K’s out from Jabiru and decided to make camp for the night. When we pulled in there were about 6-7 other caravans. All of these had only pulled up for lunch and to see the Alligator River. At the moment we are the only ones camped here. Vania is concerned that there must be something wrong with the place as there are no campers here.

It was a very quiet afternoon. Another day of solitude and quiet reflection.

We shall see what tomorrow may bring. Till then take care and cheers from Vania and Oscar.

Mud Skipper in Wetlands Visitor Centre. We were to see 1000's of these on the South Alligator River.

Hello! Are you lookin at me?

Inside the "wetlands Visitor Centre" off the Arnhem highway (hope I have got that right)

View from the Wetlands Visitor Centre.

View from inside the Bark Hut Roadhouse on the Kakadu Highway.

Young water buffalo.

The muddy waters of the South Alligator River. When the tide was coming in it was extremely quick. Tide goes up approx. 35k's from the mouth of the river.

Our "campsite" for the night, at the South Alligator "rest area". This is were the police arrived at 6.30AM and scared the "sh*t" out of Vania.

They used to round up watyer buffalo in vehichles like this. They simply used to ram the Buffalo.

Day 170 Wednesday 1^st August 2012.

Vania woke up with a HUGE fright. About 6.30AM 2 uniformed police officers arrived at the rest area were we camped overnight. We were the only ones in this rest area. Vania honestly thought we were going to get some sort of a fine or at least a decent “talking” too. Minutes went past and they still hadn’t approached our caravan. Between 7.00AM and 8.00am 3 BOATS FROM Kakadu Parks arrived. There was a total of 5 4 wheel drives and at least 9-10 “officers”. After the boats were launched and there was only one “officer” left I was brave enough to go outside and find out what was going on.

Well, the Kakadu “officers” were headed to an island at the head of the South Alligator river where they were going to camp for 3 weeks counting turtles whilst they were hatching. As for the Police officers they were on a secret “mission”. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were trying to catch illegal boating / fishing. All very tense / stressful stuff first thing in the morning.

The rest of the day was “boring” after our morning episode. Headed into Jabiru. Nothing really to write home about and then headed to Cooinda off the Kakadu Highway. Cooinda is very “touristy” and they wanted $36.00 per night. The aboriginal lass in reception was very good and told us about another camping spot 8-10K’s up the road were it was $20.00 a night. This is more Vania’s and my price bracket so off we went.

Whilst we were in Cooinda I booked an evening cruise on the “Yellow Water”. This was a 2 hour cruise up a billabong and then out into the South Alligator River. We had a fantastic young “skipper” and the wildlife was performing exceptionally well. Lots and lots of “salty” crocodiles and many other animals as well. The bird life was prolific. The cruise was very peaceful and relaxing.

Sunset on the wetlands was fantastic and to throw in in for good measure we had a full moon as well. What more could you ask for?

When the cruise finished we headed into the Cooinda “tavern” and had tea plus the compulsory drink. After this it was back to the campsite where the friendly “manager” was very keen to get his payment.

"Arty Farty" sunset at South Alligator rest area.

and another..........

One of the many, many varieties of bird life on the "yellow waters" cruise.

Vania's panaroma shots.

This "salty" was 4.6 metres. He was NOT the biggest that we saw on the cruise. Check out the teeth!

Another bird. This "guy" hardly flinched. Matbe he was "stuffed".

Reflections (of how life used to be). Hmm, good song title!

Brolga. Adult, juveniles don't have the colour.

Sunset, with flock of birds flying across.

Reflections (again). Full moon to boot!

Panorama shot,

On the South Alligator River. Looks peacefull enough. Would not like to have a swim here.

Vania was taking sunset photos on one side of the boat and I was taking "crocodile" shots on thje othet. This one has both. Crocodile and sunset as well.

Elusive "tiny" kingfisher. Fantastic colours. Sorry it is a bit out of focus.

Water Lily and "Jesus birds". Jesus birds as they walk on water (or lily leaves any way).

Sea Eagle. Majestic bird!

Yawn!. Actually he is "cooling" of his tiny brain. It's brain is the size of a thum. That's what we were told!

Day 171 Thursday 2^nd August 2012.

I had suggested to Vania that we backtrack today and drive into Jim Jim Falls. Access was via a dirt road. Yep, corrugated dirt road 110k’s. I decided before I left that I would have a “positive” attitude towards corrugations and I also let the tyre pressure down in the car. The first 8-12K’s was very, very ordinary and then the road improved. Maybe I was just getting used to the corrugations. At one stage I think Vania had enough.

10K’s out from Jim Jim Falls the “road” turned into a 4 wheel drive “track”. To the “Bocskay family” you mat remember travelling down this road in late 80’s early 90’s. Not much has changed.

Having slowly manouvered our way down the “track” we arrived at the car park (ha, ha, ha). From here it was another 20-30 minute climb over rocks to get to the falls. Having scrambled over the rocks we managed to reach our destination. I thought it was a beautiful spot and it bought back a lot of very fond memories for me. Vania said that she had seen better.

Had my compulsory swim (despite the fact there were “no swimming” signs). Once again it bought back memories were the Bocskay boys and I were swimming and Sue (my first wife was taking a movie when she spotted a small fresh water crocodile”. TRUE. Not this time

Spent about 30-45 minutes here before adventuring back. Once back on the Kakadu highway we drove to some local aboriginal rock art. I thought this was very interesting. Vania decided that she already had too much excitement and stayed in the car.

Tomorrow we pack up our little “snail shell” again and head towards Mataranka where we are meeting Brian and Bev (Vania’s friends). So till then take care. Cheers from Vania and Oscar.

Jim Jim Falls.

(Bocskay's do you recognise this?)

Panorama from Jim Jim Falls.

Looking up to Jim Jim Falls.

View back from Jim Jim Falls.

View from Jim Jimk Falls.

Barramundi swimming in the waterhole at Jim Jim Falls. These guys must have been stranded from the last "wet" season. Largest I saw would have been 12 inches.