16 August - Yellow Waters Sunrise Cruise, Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Mirral Lookout, Anbangbang Billabong and Nanguluwur Rock Art; Kakadu National Park

16 August 2016 – 182 785

Yellow Waters Sunrise Cruise, Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Mirral Lookout, Anbangbang Billabong and Nanguluwur Rock Art; Kakadu National Park

This morning we woke early and headed to Yellow Waters for a Sunrise Cruise. https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/tours/yellow-water-cruises/ This was beautiful, both for scenery and wildlife.  This was a two-hour cruise and in addition to many many saltwater crocodiles (many females and one large male) we saw many different types of birds, a feral pig and an Indonesian water buffalo, as well as the various habitats that make up the South Alligator River and its floodplains.  This is difficult to adequately describe, like most spots in Kakadu there is just something grand and peaceful, timeless and special and humbling about it. We also were fortunate enough to see “Jesus bird” chicks that were about one week old – very cute! 

 

We discovered on the cruise that a buffet breakfast at Cooinda Lodge was included – so we had an unusually large and delicious morning tea, as by this time it was 9:30am and we had been up since 5:00.  http://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation/cooinda-lodge/  

Next, we headed to Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre to explore the displays there. http://www.kakadutourism.com/tours-activities/warradjan-cultural-centre/

Mirral Lookout was a solid walk uphill for 1km to reach a sheltered lookout that allowed us to look around through 360 degrees. https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/mirrai-lookout-walk/ We then continued onto Anbangbang Billabong where we walked the 2.5km loop and again saw crocodiles.https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/walks/anbangbang-billabong-walk/  Last walk for the day was Nanguluwur Rock Art walk.  This was 1.7km walk each way along an old road and then a 200m climb up to the art area – the art was great!  This was an extremely hot walk.  To finish the day, we went into Jabiru and had a swim to cool ourselves down.  I think we were all exhausted, it had been a long and hot day – it was still 38 degrees at 5:45pm.

5 July - Kata Tjuta!!

5 July 2016 – 177 854

Kata Tjuta!!

Again, up at 5:30am and away. 
https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/do/walks/ 
Straight through the gates this morning, before opening time and off to Kata Tjuta dune sunrise viewing area.  Once again we were foiled by the clouds, but still beautiful to see the detail appear out of the darkness, with the cloud coming and going from the tops of the highest domes. From the Kata Tjuta sunrise viewing point you can also see Uluru, which was in cloud and being rained upon.  I wore hiking socks and boots, thermal long pants, jeans, tank top, black thermal long sleeved top, blue thermal long sleeved top, long sleeved blouse, windproof jacket zipped all the way up the neck, scarf, beanie and gloves – and was still freezing!!  

Picnic breakfast was held inside the car this morning due to the cold. Valley of the Winds full circuit was the plan for today (12.5km) – it was very obvious how it got its name as the wind pours through this gap in the rocks.  The view from Karu lookout was good, but the one from Karingana lookout was amazing.  To walk through the domes gave me a much greater idea of the scale and grandeur of these rocks. 

Again we were fortunate enough to see water in places that only infrequently have water – there were lots of wildflowers, plenty of tadpoles in the streams – the area responds to rain here more than temperature in deciding when life should proceed.

We headed to the sunset viewing area to have a picnic meal and investigate the sunset options. Walpa Gorge walk was our next stop (4.4km), this goes deep between two rocks and is partially in shade and partially in full sun – not surprisingly this involved taking layers on and off as the temperature varies enormously. Once again, the size and height of these domes was on a grand scale.  The rock itself is very very different to the sandstone of Uluru – Kata Tjuta reminded me of rocky road, with all the various size, shape and coloured chunks held together by a silty mudstone; even where rocks have broken, you have the pieces sticking out or holes remaining from where the chunks stay whole and the mudstone cracking keeps some and loses some.

Sunset was very cold again, despite all the clothes we were wearing and the heavy cloud cover.  At times we thought we might get some amazing cloud colour, but the cloud was too thick.  And just when everyone was ready to give up and go home, the sun broke below the clouds and lit the domes a brilliant orange that glowed.  Truly beautiful – definitely worth the wait. Back to camp for hot food and sleep.  What an amazing last two days!!!

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