I’ve been on holiday – up to the Top End of Australia with my mother. The map shows our route – the flight from Sydney to Darwin (4 to 5 hours), then driving in a 4WD coach to the Mary River, through Kakadu, a few days in Arnhem Land, up to the Cobourg Peninsula, then a flight back to Darwin and home.
I’m finding it hard to package the experience into a neat blog post. Crocodile stories seemed a good place to start, but only a few days later a man was taken by a croc while swimming just a few kilometres from where we saw our first (see news story at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-26/police-find-body-of-darwin-man-taken-by-croc/4911268). There are warning signs all over the place, but a dreadful price for one poor decision.
There were freshwater crocs
Imitating rocks
Hiding in the water lilies
Can you see the “log” drifting towards the fisherman?
Moments after this there was a thrashing on the left, and a croc surfaced grasping a barramundi.
A track on the beach – we were walking with experienced guides.
You can see the scale marks
There was plenty of other wildlife, although most of the larger (buffalo, wallabies, banteng…) escaped my camera.
Comb Crested Jacana (known as the Jesus Bird)
Magpie geese
White-bellied sea eagle
Turtle
Stingray
The country itself.
View from Ubirr Rock, Arnhemland
Pandanus, near Mount Borradaile
Coopers Creek, Mount Borradaile
Sunset at Wildman Wilderness Lodge
Near Davidson’s Safari Lodge, Arnhemland
Creek, near Davidson’s Safari Lodge Arnhemland
Travelling with Davidson’s Safari Lodge, Arnhemland
View from Black Point, Port Essington
And the art.
Artist with work in progress, Injalak Arts & Crafts Centre, Oenpelli
Mabuyu, Ubirr Rock Kakadu
Near Buffalo Cave, Mount Borradaile area
Jabiru Rock, near Mount Borradaile
Rock art, Mount Borradaile
Near Mount Borradaile
Near Mount Borradaile
Rainbow Serpent, near Mount Borradaile
Thylacine rock art, Ubirr Rock Kakadu
Contact wall, Mount Borradaile
Click on any of the photos above to go to slide shows and larger versions. I’m not often lost for words, but this country is breathtaking.
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