Kakadu

A great day cruising around Kakadu. It was a bit hard to get into some of the places we would have liked, but we couldn't see ourselves towing the van down kms of dirt tracks, so we stuck to the bitumen, still there was heaps to see. A lot of the 4wd tracks were closed anyway due to recent heavy rain, and after a heavy wet season

Six Seasons of Kakadu
Wurrgeng - Cold Weather Season - June/July
Gurrung - Hot Dry Weather Season - August/September
Gunumeleng - Pre-Monsoon Season - October/November/Decenber
Gudjeug - Monsoon Season - January/February/March
Banggerreng - Knock'em Down Storm Season - March/April
Yegge - Cooler but Still Humid Season - May/june


Rock art depicting the six seasons of Kakadu

Throughout the year, Kakadu's landscapes undergo spectacular changes. Bininj/Mungguy people recognise six different seasons, as well as subtle variations that signpost the transition from one season to another.

This knowledge of nature is fundamental to the culture of Kakadu and it's people. Bininj/Mungguy have lived with the changing landscape for tens of thousands of years, adapting and using the land for food, shelter and general well being.

Places we stopped -

Mirrai Lookout - was a very steep well over 1km climb over loose rocks and gravel, to the lookout, but
was well worth it.  We challenged ourselves to tackle the steep climb to the top of Mount Cahill and
we replaced the memories of the steep climb with wonder at the panoramic views over the
escarpments and floodplains of central Kakadu.

The start of the walk

Jeff and Laurie at the top

Jeff and Helen at the top



View of the Stone Country

Bowali Visitor Centre -
Bowali is a Gun-djeihmi name for the local area and creek on land owned by the Mirrar clan. The building's design was inspired by an Aboriginal rock shelter. It is an amazing architectural showpiece.


Fishing in the visitor centre


This was a wonderful centre to learn about different regions/seasons of the park as well as about all the animals, birds and insects who inhabit the park.

The centre contains interpretative displays of Kakadu country and ecology, providing insights into the land and it's traditional people.

Jabiru - is the major township in this World Heritage Listed National Park. The township was initially established to service The Ranger Uranium Mine in 1979. Since then however, Jabiru has become a haven for Australia's rich Indigenous History and is now home to a number of tourist operators offering many tours including animal tracks and bush tucker tours.

The Jabiru Golf Club

Mamukala Wetlands - known by some as 'The Jewel in Kakadu's Crown'
Another fantastic find just off the Kakadu Highway. An easy walk down to the observation platform which allows you to view the birdlife,  and there is a mural which illustrates the seasonal changes that occur throughout the year. It would be amazing to be here late in the dry season when thousands of magpie geese congregate to here to feed.

 the Wetlands



View of the Wetlands



On the day we were here we were able to take shelter in the bird hide and watch and listen to the birdlife, undisturbed,  across the vast expanse of wetlands. It was so quiet and peaceful, we spent some time here.

Aurora Kakadu Hotel
After a full hot day 'exploring' Kakadu, when we saw the 'Hotel' sign we got quite excited and were looking forward to a nice 'cold one' - we pulled in and discovered another palm tree oasis out here just hidden from the highway -

you must think by now that I am hallucinating seeing all of these palm tree oasis's - but they are really here, you just have to find them, and I can track down a cold G&T almost anywhere

but alas when we arrived the bar wasn't open and it wasn't going to open for a few hours yet, so we had to make our own arrangements.

Free Camp Site - we found ourselves a great little free camp site, again just off the highway, and we set up for the night.  We had lots of big trees for shade and thick bush for protection from the road.

Our free camp site

Laurie relaxing after an exhausting day

Here we set up our own little Happy Hour with sparkling wine, cheese and bikkies. And enjoyed a lovely night under the stars.

At dusk we had inquisitive little kangaroos hopping through our camp, bats/flying foxes overhead, birds flying about and then settling for the night, chirping and feeding their young, and during the night we heard the dingo's song several times.

There is nothing like free camping in our fabulous Australian bush.