Day 7, May 1st, Elsey National Park

We set off at 6:45 in the morning for sunrise, embarking on an 11km hike with views of the gorge and through the bush. We quickly reached the first lookout point, where we had been last evening, then hiked about 3km through the bush to a second, significantly better lookout point, and from there another 500m down a side arm of the gorge to a rock pool with a waterfall.

The views were magnificent: the river, the gorge, flying yellow-tailed black cockatoos over the gorge. We also spotted our first euro, a kangaroo measuring between a wallaby and a giant kangaroo, known in English as a walleroo. It was peacefully sitting on the path. However, the heat and humidity were unbearable. In the rock pool, we cooled off and observed curious fish nibbling at our feet. After that, we had to climb back up the gorge, and I was immediately sweating again, which didn't improve on the way back. After three and three-quarters of an hour, we were back, cooled off in the pool, admired the birdlife once more, had breakfast, and then set off.

Next, we headed to Elsey National Park, just 125km away, famous for its hot springs and especially for the colony of another species of flying fox, the Little Red Flying Fox, which is half the size of the Black Flying Fox. In the evening, there was supposed to be a special spectacle when the flying foxes come down to the river to drink, and freshwater crocodiles snap at the flyers from the water.

Unfortunately, the breeding season for the flying foxes was long over, and the animals had already migrated. We also shouldn't see any freshwater crocodiles. Instead, it was hotter today than ever before. So, we took a nap in the air-conditioned camper, then made a short walk along the river to relax at sunset in the rock pool in the tropical palm forest. Luckily, the water from the hot spring that originates here was not too hot, but pleasant. And we returned to the camper just in time as a tropical rain started pouring down.