Part 5 Kakadu to Darwin

Up early for a flight over part of Arnhem Land and Kakadu, before we continue on into Darwin.

The flight was a bit rough as the morning had started to warm up and caused  turbulents but with the amazing views, I put up with the bumps.

The East Alligator River.

The hotel we stayed at, is near the Ranger Uraniumn mine and we go to see it from the plane. It is an open-cut mine and the company has to re-generate the landscape, once they have finished mining. So if we suddenly start to 'glow', you know why.

Another stunning view of our vast country. From the air you can easily see how people go missing and never get found. Where would you start to look?

Once we were 'On The Road, Again.' we made a short stop at Cahill's Crossing, the causeway into Arnhem Land. All manner of vehicles cross, or attempt to cross, from police paddy-wagons, semitrailers, to ordinary cars. As you can see some people don't see the danger and end up in trouble. This accident happened in about June and the guide thought that it had been a fatality. Yes, there are crocs in the river!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PIW5czdpwo   have a look at this YouTube video, of this year, so far.

Our next stop on the road to Darwin was fascinating. An Aboriginal Rock Art site, called Ubirr. The little bit that Paul and I saw was incredible!

I also learnt that there were Thylacine's on mainland Australia and that when the dingos came they whipped them out. This is a drawing of a Thylacine, done 10,000s of years ago.

Into Darwin around 4.30pm, just enough time to grab some groceries and we were off to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. We had a brief walk around some of the stalls but it was so crowded that we bought ice-cream, walked away from the markets and found a quite spot to sit an watch the sunset over the Timor Sea.

Off to Litchfield National Park, for our last day of the tour.

Peter and Phil organised two quick side-trips on our way in. The first was to see the castle at Bachelor and the second to see the Rum Jungle recreational reserve. I wouldn't  want to swim in the 'lake', as it glows, when viewed on the satellite map! It is also reputed to be the place to dump things that you don't want or need to get rid off. The hill is actually the old tailings site. Unique in its own way.

Termite Mounds, huge termite mounds, some taller than the coach! Pretty impressive, very hard, like cement and built by tiny termites. 

This one is called a Cathedral Termite Mound and it is easy to see why. 

These ones are Magnetic Termite Mounds and they are aligned with its main axis running north and south. The genealogist in me, thought that they looked like headstones.

A stop a Florence Falls, then on to Wangi Falls for a spot of lunch and some swam in the pool, at the bottom of the falls. The water is so clear.

Back into Darwin, we had some time before our Farwell Cruise on Darwin Harbour, so Paul and I did a walk along the parklands, near the hotel. The cruise was great and sunset was stunning. We cruised all three bays that make up the harbour, Francis, Fannie and Cullen. A great way to end our trip.

Darwin is very pretty, very modern and very hot.

Tuesday and we were on our own, well not really as some of the group had also chosen to spend another day in Darwin. We did Crocosaurus Cove and met some very large crocs. Took the hop-on-hop-off bus and saw more of the city, getting of the buss at the Waterfront, enjoying a drink and an ice-cream and them meandering back, to the hotel.

Our last Darwin Sunset.

We joined some of the group for drinks in the bar before we had drinks and nibbles in our room.

Good-bye Darwin.