We entered Kakadu National Park via the Adelaide River, stopping in on the way to go on a crocodile-watching cruise.  A great experience, we imagined we’d have to be cruising down the river a while before spotting a croc.  Once again we were in for a pleasant surprise.  Greeting us as soon as we climbed aboard was a 5m long salt water crocodile, known by the locals as, The Dominator.

It seemed as though the resident crocs knew exactly what time it was once the cruise started – snack time!  They were coming out of the woodwork everywhere we looked.  The tour guide would hoax them in with a piece of buffalo meat, throw it around in the air on a stick for a bit, until the croc jumped up & snatched it.  A practice entirely for tourist satisfaction.  From what we understood from the guide apparently the crocs are not dependent on these snacks, & are well & truly capable of hunting for themselves.  The Northern Territory has a very healthy number of crocodiles.  Australia wide populations are estimated somewhere between 100’000 – 200’000!  A very good come-back after they were extensively hunted in the mid 1900’s.

Brutus is probably Adelaide River’s most famous croc.  He’s got his patch of the river on lock down, with every other croc turning away in fear as soon as he notices them in his territory.  He’s roughly 80 years old, has had his front legs ripped off during fights with other crocs & bull-sharks, & has no teeth left but still manages to rule the river!

 

Although it is the dry season, & many of the flowing waterfalls & holes were not in full swing, there was still more than enough to see & do in Kakadu.

You know when you’re watching David Attenborough or which ever other doco about outback Australia, and all you can hear in the background is the lovely sound of sweet chirping birdies..?  We always assumed they were edited in, ya know, for extra effect.  Turns out they’re not!  There are SO many birds up here, always chirping & singing.  They are beautiful!!  Picture below was looking out over some wetlands with hundreds of birds, just before sunset.

The aboriginal rock art throughout Kakadu blew us away.  There’s just something extra in the air when you are out in middle of no where, staring at 2000 year old art trying to contemplate how people lived in those days, how strong their culture was (& still is).  Personally, we love learning about the aboriginal dreamtime & their stories behind creation.

 

It has been around 37-39 degrees everyday & humid.  In other words, sweaty.  Sweaty sweaty sweaty!!  Hiking along fresh water creeks & riverbeds is always made extra rewarding when there’s a cool swimming hole at the end.

 

Pictures below are from Cahill’s Crossing, on the East Alligator River.  One of Australia’s most hazardous waterways, notorious for its saltwater crocodile infested waters.  We had the rods out & were on the barramundi hunt once again, making sure we kept all senses on high alert for any hungry salties.  There was a fresh bunch of flowers on the side of the road leading into this crossing, in memory of a fisherman taken by a croc only a few months earlier.  The threat is real!!  But so is the thrill of catching barra, as long as you play it smart & safe, & do not even think about getting any body part wet, she’ll be right.  (*Disclaimer* we are in no way claiming that we are not in fact idiots, the more likely truth is we most certainly are).

There were a few crocs close by, popping up every 15 minutes or so.  Maybe they were waiting for us to catch a barra, we hear they often snatch them from the fishermen/women’s line as they’re reeling them in!  At least we hope that was the case & that they weren’t waiting to snatch one of us!  Either way, our senseless ass’s survived & will live to fish another day.

Altogether we had a great time exploring Kakadu.  There are so many things to see & do, we could have easily stayed longer.  But The Red Centre is calling & just quietly I am so excited for some cooler nights, this constant humid heat is a bit much for my little Tasmanian soul!

 

On the way south we stopped off at Bitter Springs in Mataranka.  What an enchanted place that is!  Crystal clear, warm spring fed fern pools were so delicious in the early morning, see below.

 

If you’re after a feed on the way down to Tennant Creek (on the road to Alice), don’t miss the Daly Waters Historic Pub.  Give it a miss if you can’t handle exhausted underwear, hats, stickers, shirts & LITERALLY anything else you can think of that can be worn, hanging from every inch of the walls.  But if you love a good barra burger & some true quirky Aussie character, get amongst it!

So now we continue the long, long road south to Alice Springs & her surrounds.

We hope you are enjoying following our journey across this magical country so far.  Thanks for reading & stay tuned!!

Xo