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Im Kakadu National Park

E hatisitsoe: 25.10.2018

Early in the morning we set off from Cairns to Kakadu National Park. My Toyota 4WD is a beast, but very comfortable...

My 4WD... ;-))
My 4WD... ;-))

On the way there, I plan to take a little boat tour in Corrobore Billabong. For that, I have to go to a tavern that has no address but is supposed to be on a highway (yes, that's how it's spelled ;-)). That could be interesting... ;-)

However, the tavern is actually quite easy to find... Since I expected more problems, I arrived almost an hour early - well, at least I can have scrambled eggs on toast...

The tavern itself is worth seeing, a bit like in Crocodile Dundee - only the quirky Wally is missing... ;-)

The
The 'Crocodile Dundee' tavern in the middle of nowhere...

...a bit more touristy than in the movie...
...a bit more touristy than in the movie...


At the tavern, I will be picked up by a bus and after a 20-minute drive, we have already arrived in the wetlands.

The nearly 2-hour boat tour is really beautiful - the crocodiles are rather hiding and our group only sees a small crocodile and one from a distance (only the back is visible above the water surface). But there are a lot of birds to see and not so many mosquitoes... ;-)))

The wetlands
The wetlands

My first crocodile - albeit far away...
My first crocodile - albeit far away...

Truly a
Truly a 'big Boy'


What colors when it opens its wings...
What colors when it opens its wings...


Individual flowers protruding from the water...
Individual flowers protruding from the water...


...and small but very cheeky birds...
...and small but very cheeky birds...


...two at once - with huge feet
...two at once - with huge feet


Aren
Aren't I a beauty?


A proud bird and its nest...
A proud bird and its nest...

The next beauty...
The next beauty...


...and then - finally...
...and then - finally...


my first crocodile on dry land...
my first crocodile on dry land...

...although small, still impressive
...although small, still impressive


Our two lovebirds
Our two lovebirds..

The landscape is lined with wild trees and grasses, and there are lots of beautiful water lilies...

Enchanted trees...
Enchanted trees...

Beautiful water lilies...
Beautiful water lilies...

...and more...
...and more...


....and even more...
....and even more...


...and ferns..
...and ferns..


I like these trees...
I like these trees...

...and how everything is reflected in the water
...and how everything is reflected in the water

And again, lilies...
And again, lilies...

...truly extravagant...
...truly extravagant...

and even the leaves - you can let all kinds of liquids flow in them - are waterproof... ;-)
and even the leaves - you can let all kinds of liquids flow in them - are waterproof... ;-)

I also learn what you can use such a lily for - drinking vessel, water storage, headgear, etc.

They also make a great headgear... :-))
They also make a great headgear... :-))


These wetlands are very diverse - there are wide open spaces and then very narrow sections...

Sometimes it got pretty narrow...
Sometimes it got pretty narrow...

...almost like canals...
...almost like canals...

...and I always had the feeling that a crocodile would attack any moment... ;-)
...and I always had the feeling that a crocodile would attack any moment... ;-)


After that, we continue, deeper into Kakadu Park...

The Kakadu National Park overview
The Kakadu National Park overview

There are termite mounds everywhere in all sizes, shapes, and colors
There are termite mounds everywhere in all sizes, shapes, and colors


...and also beautiful rock formations...
...and also beautiful rock formations along the way...

Some taverns are simply
Some taverns are simply 'out of order' even though they are marked as supply points...


And endless roads...
And endless roads one after another...

I also come across forest/savannah fires, which are intentionally set to protect the hinterland. A very strange sight for me...

Fires intentionally set...
Fires intentionally set...


...a very strange sight and a strange feeling to pass through...
...a very strange sight and a strange feeling to pass through...


At the 'hotel', I almost drove past it - I was prepared for something simple, but it is very simple in the middle of nowhere, but oh well - keep smiling.... Unfortunately, the reception has another surprise for me. My hotel reservation for the next night has been canceled - there is a replacement hotel, but it is 60km in the wrong direction, and I wanted to go on a crocodile safari the next morning, which would have started at 6:30 am. Impossible from the other hotel...

Too bad, that would have been the highlight for me in Kakadu - this morning tour with the crocodiles up to 4 meters long...

Since I don't feel like spending another night in the middle of nowhere without any special plans for the next morning, I cancel the whole thing and will drive back to Darwin tomorrow. Let's see what I can do on Saturday - my last day here Down Under...

Araba