31.05.2026

In the morning, at 7 AM, it's always fresh - it was 11°C today, but the temperatures rose very quickly again. Change of location, our penultimate station here in Australia. First, we headed to the gas station. Finally, a gasoline station again, giving one the feeling of saving. We wanted to head back to the Outback, as gas stations are rare and you never know how much you will drive in the wilderness. Initially, we traveled within the 'Nitmiluk National Park' to the 'Edith Falls', which were 60 km away. The road - as always - was sparsely traveled. Thus, it was astonishing that we counted nine dead wallabies on the first 13 km. No wonder we see so few living ones! The waterfall flowed into a lake where swimming is currently prohibited due to crocodiles. The area was very idyllic, and there was also a snack bar and campsite. A powerful noise came from two large trees, where hundreds of flying foxes were probably sharing experiences from the previous night. From there, we returned to the highway, towards our destination today - the 'Kakadu National Park'. The name is misleading, as there are not masses of cacti here, but it comes from one of the tribal languages of the local Aborigines. We used our turn signal in Pine Creek once more - time to fill up the tank again! There we passed the railway and mining museum and explored the area! Later we read that it is even a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, around 1880, gold and copper discoveries were made. Over 1000 Chinese sought their fortune here, and a 'Chinatown' emerged as well. The railway was built in 1889 to transport the rock. But business soon came to a halt, and thus the railway was no longer needed. With a lot of money, they surely established this open-air museum, which now 'slumbers' in the sun. We visited and read everything with interest. Further stops along the main road were not possible, as side roads were blocked. The last rainy season, which ended a month ago, probably left many damages. One kilometer before our destination today, there was indeed a highlight: the 'Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Center', which presents the life and development of the local Aborigines in a very successful exhibition. For the first time on our long journey, we saw something like this. It was well-attended and presented modernly. A recommendation! In the afternoon, after about 350 km, we arrived at the 'Cooinda Lodge Kakadu'. A beautiful facility, everything very clean and spacious! A room in this yellow bungalow was reserved for us, with a quiet air conditioner and, as always, a large refrigerator!