Our Tour of Kakadu, Litchfield and Katherine (Northern Territory)

Got up early doors and started tour at about 7am. There was 13 of us altogether on the tour mostly couples but a couple of single people! We are only with the other 8 for the first 3days in kakdu, then we split up with them and just 4 of us, along with Scott our tour guide carry on to Katherine and Litchfield! First stop was to the beach where we had a Aboriginal Cultural Experience. We met two aborigine's who talked us through their history and ways of life. We moved on to making Jewellery with strips of branches and shells, we were making a necklace but made mine a bit too short so it became an ankle bracelet, Jacks was ok she has kept it anyway, so beware of any pressie you may get ha ha!! We then got a didgeridoo, and had a lesson how to play it, it's was a laugh, couldn't play it to save my life, a couple of lads in the group managed, but we were useless. After this we moved onto spear throwing, where you have a piece of wood with a small spike at the bottom and you put the spear on this then move your arm forward and the spear goes about 100 metres... This technique is used by the aborigine's to hunt for kangaroos, birds etc.. We just had a plastic Kangaroo as a target, which I managed to hit... Jack managed a few goes but they didn't go that far..
We were then shown how to light a fire with two sticks, which i never believed could happen, but to my amazement it was possible, and it didn't seem that hard to do, then the next few nights i had a go trying to start the camp fire but all i got was smoke!!!Gonna master the technique when i get home..!! We left and made our way to a billabong (this is like a river back home) for a crocodile and wildlife cruise. On the cruise we saw several birds and both the Salt water and fresh water crocs, the salt waters ones are aggressive and eat anything including us, the fresh water ones eat fish and will only snap at humans if they are disturbed or provoked. The salt waters can grow up to nine metres!!! Luckily never saw one that big!! Was quite funny really got on the little boat and the guide was like right from this point on do not move do not put your arms over the boat don't stand up blah blah blah otherwise ur risking everyone's life!! Was shitting it by the end of the speech, didn't dare breath let alone move!

Kakadu National Park

We left the cruise made our way into Kakadu National Park, not before stopping for some lunch at a roadhouse, Scott set up stall and we had a little picnic, then we went and stocked up on booze for next 3nights!!
Our first stop in Kakadu was to Ubirr rock, this is where the aborigine's painted on the rock using animal blood, charcoal and other things they could lay there hands on, and some of it is dated back to 50,000 years ago.. The art is basic and usually tells a story or is a picture of what they have seen (Types of animals etc..). We climbed to the top of the rocks and had a beautiful view of the wetlands, the bush area, and the rocky outcrops of Kakadu National Park. After leaving here we made our way to the camp site and built a fire and cooked tea which was very good, we just had to help chop stuff like veg and Scott cooked it all..! We then got the didg out and all attempted to do the Kangaroo bounce..needless to say no-one managed although Bjorn got a good tune going! The camp site was pretty basic there were showers and toilets that had huge spiders (huntsman)..but that's about it, no kitchen facility's..so we had already done a wood stop and stocked up, was just a case of getting the fire going! We then retired to swags..obviosuly after Jack heard about the spider we got the inner bit of the tent out and threw our swags in there and camped still managing to look at the stars!!

The next day we were up at dusk (6am) bit of breckie of course after we got the fire going, then made our way to Twin Falls, the route there was very rugged and you needed a 4x4 to get across in one place we crossed a croc infested billabong where the water was about 1.4metres deep and water came in through the door seals. We stopped at the bottom and took a 3km walk to the top of the gorge where again we had stunning views of the area and found a spot suitable for swimming and took a dip as it was about 30 degrees. We left this and made our way to the bottom and grabbed some lunch after this we went for a boat cruise, bit of a mess up as we hadn't been given tickets, but after about an hour we jumped on board, they took us down another Billabong as this was Croc infested, to a walkway, from here we took a short walk to the bottom of the falls. On the way we saw a freshy (fresh water crocs) sunbathing in the billabong... The bottom of the falls were glorious, there was a golden beach with two falls it was quite surreal.
We left and drove to the bottom of Jim Jim falls where again we took a walk to the bottom of the falls to a plunge pool, it was a bit rocky getting there and a few of the group were moaning and we thought we might have a mutiny on our hands, eventually everyone made it and we took a swim. Our tour guide (Scott) said he saw a small freshy in the pool, and apparently salt waters crocs can make there way in, but the rangers do set traps for them. Another box ticked, swimming with crocs!! Unfortunately Jim Jim falls had dried up as it's been the dry season here for several months.
We made our way back to camp all knackered and cooked some grub had a few mugs of wine, and then retired to our swags (and tent ha ha) and fell asleep looking at the stars...

Same start again for the next day chucked some wood on the fire to make a brew and chucked some cereal down our necks then drove to the Warradjan Cutural Centre and had a walk round the centre soaking in the Aboriginal Culture. The centre is like a museum, it shows how the Aboriginal people lived prior to the European landing in the area, and the changes that came after they arrived. We moved on to Barramudi Gorge, and had another arduous walk to the bottom of the gorge was well worth it when we got there, the scenery was beautiful and it had a big rock pool which was nice to swim and cool down. We then took a walk to the top of the gorge, some of the group stayed at the bottom as they were too tired to get to the top. At the top there was four beautifully clear rock pools, this is where the aborigine's used to go to get water of course couldn't resist a swim. We then found a nice little picnic area and stopped for some lunch before making our way to an old airstrip that was used for WWII, this is where we was leaving the rest of the group and setting up camp with just the 5 of us for the next couple of nights! On Route to the airstrip most of us fell asleep, so Scott decided to stop off at this little waterhole so we could all have a swim and wake up...it was gorgeous, well needed, the water was just at the right temp to wake us all up, there was also a little waterfall which made it was perfect!
Arrived at the airstrip after another booze stop at the roadhouse (gotta keep stocked) was a little shocked, as you can see by the pics there was absolutely nothing there..it was just a runway and land all around..the others got picked up and we got stuck in to the beers. Me and Jack went off to gather some wood for the fire and then i had a do at trying to start the fire using the technique showed to us by the aborigine's..no success again im afraid! Also toilet time took a bit of getting used to..just a case of finding a good spot, well hidden and taking shovel with you..later on the drinking games where in full flow Scott Showed us a few new ones so the toilet issue got easier!! Then got dinner on the go at about 10ish..was all a little blotto..Scott did us proud again with the food fish, rice and stir fried veg! Cards came out later on of course and the dig..oh yeh and Scott had a cooeee..its a little wooden game so we attempted to do that was funny but no-one managed only Bjorn! Same set up with swags and just us in the inner of the tent again..hard work putting it up when ur wasted!

Katherine Gorge

We was up first next morning, bit worse for ware..i got fire on go which soon got everyone else up including Scott who wasn't to bright himself! We had a full day ahead of us canoeing down at Katherine Gorge, there was 13 gorges altogether but we only managed to the end of the 3rd! Was fairly hard work because when u came to the end of one gorges you had to carry the canoe over the rocks and shallow water into the next gorge..at the end of the 1st gorge we got out and went to have a look at some ancient rock art was again very lovely and had a great story to tell!
The hard work was next to follow..we had to get our canoe and try and carry it over the rocks, it was very heavy and unfortunately i dropped one end on my foot, i felt sick and dizzy and was close to passing out..obviously i was in shock..to tell truth at first i thought id broke my foot but shortly realised id broke my toe, after a few minutes i felt much better and cracked on with the day, the funny thing is though that then Jack had to get the canoe across the rocks at the next gorge, luckily Scott and Bjorn gave her a helping hand! We managed to the end of gorge 3 then we stopped on a safe embankment had a little picnic then started to make our way back! Was much easier coming back the wind was behind us so the water was flowing the right way..was quite funny really, Jack was determined to get the canoe across so in the end she was in the water dragging it over the rocks at one point it nearly went over the top of her, all the fears of the crocs went out of the window, she managed though and has cuts and bruises to prove it! Back to camp for well earned drink and one for me to numb the pain!! (stopped off at roadhouse for yet more beers..oh and carrot cake and marshmellows)!!
Scott is really into astrology, so before the moon came up he pointed out a few of the stars and explained a few things to us about it, it was really interesting and we saw things that we just don't get to see at home, well not unless you had a telescope! We even watched the moon come up!

Litchfield National Park

Last but not least, Litchfield! Obviously not as big as Kakadu but still lots of history here and some really great spots!
First stop was the termite mounds, they was huge...two different types. We have the Magnetic mounds which look a lot like a graveyard then we have Cathedral mounds which are massive!
Next came a great little spot, Buley Rockholes..we had a short walk to get there then there was just loads of little rockholes that we could swim in! Was very nice! After this we had a short ride to Florence falls, which again was a waterfall and a rockpool, i know it sounds like it was all of a muchness, but really every one was so different and perfect! With florence falls we also had a short walk through the rainforrest.! Then we moved to a little picnic spot for some lunch..and left over carrot cake! We had a short walk approx 2km to Tolmer Falls, this was a permit only place and it was really nice, we had a little bit of difficulty getting into the rock pool, little bit of rock climbing involved..bit hard work but well worth it when we got in, Scott said not many people know that the little bit of rockpool we was in, which was behind the waterfall existed! Last but not least we made our way to Wangi Falls, again we had a short climb to the top, unfortunately we didn't have a permit so couldn't actually get to the top of the falls. It was also a shame as when we was at the bottom we couldn't swim..although some people was...but there had been spottings of saltys so thought best not!!
Anyway back home to Darwin for another night, we get a flight out tomorrow night to Cairns!