Shooting through to Kakadu

[JohnM]

Tomorrow it’s on the bird PER-DRW for a brief trip to Kakadu. Before covid, PJM and her daughter booked an Intrepid trip for 2020. That became history and many things have changed, so the credit is being used with me substituting for PJM’s daughter.

Tomorrow night will be in Darwin before we muster at 0700h Wednesday to peel off to Litchfield NP and on to Mary River, into Kakadu for the next two days, swinging back to Darwin via Katherine Gorge to overnight before getting on the bird back to PER on Sunday.

 

[kookaburra75]

Looks good. MrsK and I did the same trip with Intrepid Tours in 2018 and enjoyed it. At Kakadu, we took the option for the flight over the country side which was worth it. Look forward to your trip report

 

[JohnM]

Back home after a great trip.

This shows in detail the actual path taken:



An initial clockwise loop through Litchfield NP, followed by a clockwise loop through Mary River NP, Kakadu NP, down to Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk NP before returning to Darwin.

First destination, Litchfield NP and first stop the termite mounds.



Then a large concentration of magnetic species’ mounds.

 

[JohnM]

Moving on to Wangi Falls, Buley Rockholes and Florence Falls, with the opportunity to go swimming, all along a pleasant 2km walk.

 

[JohnM]

A bower bird’s nest.

 

[JohnM]

Looping out of Litchfield through Humpty Doo and thence to the nearby Fogg Dam reserve and Lambells Lagoon. This area was the site of the ill-fated Humpty Doo rice-growing venture in the 1950s.



Jabiru and spoonbill amongst whistling ducks.



First night at Corroboree Park campground and tavern.

 

[JohnM]

First up next morning was a boat trip on the Mary River Wetlands in the Mary River NP, a little to the west of Kakadu NP.



Archer fish and a whistling kite.

 

[JohnM]

Houseboat rentals are available.

 

[JohnM]

The surface of lily pads is hydrophobic.



White breasted sea eagle.



Azure kingfisher.



An excellent wetland cruise.

Then on to enter Kakadu at the NW entry, and driving on to our overnight stop at Jabiru.

 

[JohnM]

After lunch, an excursion to the Ubirr rock art site, about 30km NE of Jabiru and right on the E edge of Kakadu/W edge of Arnhem Land.

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

Kapok tree.



Dry season, so many fires. Low intensity mosaic burning.



Grinding holes.

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

Some suggestion that this could be related to radiation poisoning in this uranium-rich area.

 

[JohnM]

Back to Jabiru via the airport for a 1 hour scenic flight, largely over Arnhem Land and the East Alligator River. A must-do.



The closed Ranger uranium mine, now in the long and complex process of being remediated, is not far from the airport. Jabiru township was originally built to house mining staff.

 

[JohnM]

Coming back from the plateau to drop lower over the wetlands (altitude c. 600ft.)

 

[JohnM]

Wild horses and then an orbit over Jabiru and the Crocodile Hotel before hitting the deck.

 

[JohnM]

Next morning, out to Anbangbang Billabong, about 30km S of Jabiru. Scenes in ‘Crocodile Dundee’ were filmed here.

 

[JohnM]

Then on to the nearby Anbangbang rock art gallery.

 

[JohnM]

Emerald dove (aka green-winged pigeon).