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.

15 August - Nourlangie Region, Kakadu National Park

15 August 2016 – 182 666

Nourlangie Region, Kakadu National Park

We all settled in for a good night’s sleep, as there were very few bugs.  Unfortunately, another caravan pulled up extremely close to us just before dark – they came in so fast and close to our van, I thought Drew and I might lose our bed end. This female couple decided to have a screaming match (one screamed and the other whined and cried) at 2:30am in the morning, that escalated into domestic violence.  Drew phoned the police about 4:30am when things became physical and they hadn’t settled in response to his bellows, however they continued until they left at 7am.  After a very tiring and stressful night (with Hayden sharing our bed for our mutual reassurance), we headed for the Bowali Visitor Centre to find out about booking a Yellow Waters sunrise cruise. They do not do bookings, however the lady gave me the phone number and we were able to make a booking for tomorrow. 

Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) Rock Art Sight was our next stop for a Ranger- guided rock art talk.  These activities are included in the Kakadu Park Pass – this particular activity was scheduled for two hours but took closer to three and was amazing!!  Our Ranger guide was “Rachel” and she did the talk in three sections, one section on the escarpment and how this related to the dreaming creation stories, one section on the skin system (which has guaranteed no more than 1/64^th common blood between couples, and maintained the genetic variance in small groups), and one section on the archaeology done at a shelter site, showing continuous occupation in that particular shelter for 20 000 years (including three major climatic changes and one ice age).  This talk was great and worth the cost of the park pass on its own. 

We had planned after this to go to a session on traditional weaving, however we were all exhausted from our very early start.  After lunch, we all had a sleep and I had a great deal of difficulty waking up.  We spent some of the afternoon chatting to a Danish family camped near us, and the boys played Lego – the universal language of boys, that needs no translation.  I cooked up some dinner to have as a picnic and we headed to Namurlandja for another Ranger guided walk with Rachel – this time talking about Anbangbang Billabaong and its connection with the escarpment country. At the billabong, we saw Jabiru, magpie geese and a crocodile. The magpie geese are very noisy. We then climbed up onto a sandstone outlier to watch the sunset change the colours of the escarpment while we ate our picnic dinner.  The view was beautiful! 

14 August - Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve and Window on the Wetlands

14 August 2016 – 182 384

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve and Window on the Wetlands

After packing up this morning, we headed out of Darwin and along the Arnhem Highway.  Fogg Dam was quite amazing in the complete lack of water, they had even had a bushfire which was still smouldering, in the dam itself.  This showed me just how poor the recent wet seasons have been, as we have been to the same spot at the very end of the dry season and seen much more water there.  There were however still a large number of birds, ranging from tiny birds to brolgas. We did a short walk through the fringe areas of the forest on boardwalks over dry land, that in the wet season is anything but dry. 

Our next stop was Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre – again much less water than when we have been here previously, but still plenty of water birds congregating.  From here we continued into Kakadu, stopping to purchase our park pass on the way.  This is $100 for a family for a week and includes an assortment of ranger activities each day, but not the camping (this varies in price depending on what facilities the campsite has).  We have set up for the night at Malabanjbanjdju, there are a few bugs, so we have paid for one night and will see how we go.

13 August - RAAF Open Day – Exercise Pitch Black 2016

13 August 2016 – 182 336

RAAF Open Day – Exercise Pitch Black 2016

Today started with Darwin parkrun, beautiful course along the esplanade, but 30 degrees at 7:30am – and they call this winter!  After showers, washing and car cleaning we headed to RAAF Open Day – there were so many people.  Military personnel and aircraft from Australia, New Zealand, France, Singapore, Thailand, USA and Canada were represented.  I went inside a USA Marines transport plane and was able to go into the cockpit.  Hayden was given posters of all different types of Australian Air Force aircraft, two different plane hatpins, stickers, ruler etc.  The exhibit I found most interesting was the remote controlled robotic bomb disposal units – it was cool!  This afternoon we had a late lunch, then did grocery shopping and general sorting out prior to leaving tomorrow.  We will be heading for Kakadu, hopefully it is not as dry as Litchfield.  It will be interesting to see Kakadu at a different time of year to what I previously have.  I finished the day with a lovely swim to cool down.

12 August - Botanic Gardens, Chinese Temple and Palmerston Water Park

12 August 2016 – 182 275

Botanic Gardens, Chinese Temple and Palmerston Water Park

Today we started at the George Brown Botanic Gardens – unfortunately I would have to say these were a disappointment; rubbish everywhere, signs for trees that had been cut down, and generally lacking in maintenance.  The high point, literally, was the children’s playground which was a three storey treehouse around a tree that had fallen over but continued growing.  We then headed to our faithful free parking spot in the city.  First stop was the tourist information to find out when the Palmerston Water Park was open – slides open at 2pm – yeah!  An aboriginal print tie for Mr King was next, followed by a visit to the book exchange.  We then visited the Chinese Temple – it is very colourful in red and yellow, with many offerings and candles burning.  We then headed to the cool of the library to update our journals and then home for lunch.  After a bit of down time we visited the Palmerston Recreation Park – another of Darwin’s free water facilities.  This one did not have a large pool, and the toddler’s area was much less extensive than that at Leanyer; but it had the cool bumpy racer slides!  Lots of fun for all of us!

Week 8 from Hayden

Week 8 from Hayden (10 yo boy)

06/08/16
Today we ran Parkrun.  Then we went to the markets and I had a blackcurrant, passionfruit, blackberry and cranberry juice.  Then we went to the old Darwin gaol.  Then we went to the Museum!  It had the real body of Sweetheart the croc!  Then we went to the Leanyer water park, GO BANANAS slide was the fastest, then it was the power ramp, a raft needed, and water wild!

07/08/16
Today we went to war memorials relating to the bombing of Darwin.  Then we went and walked around town.  After that we went to the Mall and I got a 'How to train your dragon' book (1) and a booked called 'Dragon Slayers Academy'.  Then we went to the WWII oil tunnels.

08/08/16
Today we went to Crocodylus Park and saw the teenage crocs get fed then we went to the breeding pens.  The males were MASSIVE / 5-6m long.  Then we visited the various other exhibits, including monkeys, lions, baboons, wolves (big!!), meerkats (cute!!) and the ostriches.

09/08/16
Today we went to the East Point Military Museum and I skyped the class (good guess Fletcher).  Then we went inside and looked around.  There were heaps of guns and we saw a replica of one of the anti-aircraft guns.  Then we went to the airport and saw F16s, FA18s, F14s, F15s, C130s and other planes landing (if you have no idea what they are look it up).

10/08/16
Today we went to Parliament House and got a tour of it, it was amazing architecture. Then we went to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and Bombing of Darwin Museum.  There were virtual reality goggles, it was creepy because when you look down you don't have a body.

11/08/16
Today we went to Indopacific Marine, it was boring! After that we visited the Aviation Museum and the B-52 bomber was huge.  Then we went to Mindil Beach Markets and saw the big army planes!  They were awesome!

12/08/16
Today we visited the Botanic Gardens and I played on the playground.  Then we visited the Mall for the internet.  After that we visited the Chinese Temple, then we returned to Parliament House and used the internet there.  Then we visited the Palmerston Water Park, its slide was a wavy, bumpy, down hill.  It was fun.

11 August - Indopacific Marine, Australian Aviation Heritage Centre and Mindil Beach Market Flyover

11 August 2016 – 182 230

Indopacific Marine, Australian Aviation Heritage Centre and Mindil Beach Market Flyover

Indopacific Marine is a closed marine environment, the water in the tanks is not changed or filtered, no food is added – it is a completely closed environment.  Above the tanks are skylights to allow natural sun and moon light to reach the tanks.  The water in the main tank was put in 24 years ago and looks crystal clear.  We saw a variety of corals, sponges, fish, lobster, sea cucumbers etc characteristic of tropical reef.  We again had a picnic lunch.  The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre was our plan for the afternoon.  This has one of only two B52 bombers outside of the USA – it is huge!!  They had a great variety of aircraft here, probably the biggest collection I have personally seen.  As the Aviation Centre is located at the airport it gave a great view of the military aircraft taking off and landing as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2016.  It was quite funny to see boys and grown men alike running for the hangar doors to watch each time they heard the jets. 

After a swim at the caravan park we once again headed to Mindil Beach Markets for dinner.  We took our dinner down onto the beach so we would be able to watch the Super Hornet manoeuvre display – it looked like most people present in Darwin, tourist and locals alike, were on the beach.

  The Super Hornet display was pretty cool; wing waggling, steep climb and pirouettes, etc.  There were then many other aircraft types, either singly or in formations flying low over the beach.  The noise was extreme!  When we got back to the caravan park we were again treated to various military aircraft taking off and landing.