Kakadu, NT.

 Next we kept driving East towards Kakadu. We have heard mixed things about Kakadu, such as Kaka-don't...but we all agreed that it was a firm Kaka-do!! It was a completely different world to anything else we had been too. So many different and gorgeous landscapes, and important culture from the people that lived in the area for thousands of years. Yes you have to work a bit harder to get to these places, in comparison to places like Litchfield where it's all sealed roads, but it is worth the effort.

With just 2 nights here, we really had to pick wisely. The only down side of the fact you have to work harder to get certain places, is that it makes it less kid-friendly. So this is another place we would love to visit when the kids are older, and can walk the long rocky tracks.

On our first day, we wanted to drive to Cahill's crossing in the evening, so went for a swim in the caravan park pool. One of the prettiest pools we have been to so far. A walk in sloping entrance, a waterfall and a spa, all under giant shade sails. 

We eventually dragged ourselves away from the pool, and drove to Cahill's crossing, which is the crossing that takes you in to Arnham Land. Another place we would love to explore in the future, but today we just drove across and turning straight around again. The tide wasn't very big today, so not much water was crossing the bridge, so there were not many fish jumping the bridge, therefore not many crocs about to eat the fish, which is what the crossing is famous for. However, we went for a drive to the boat ramp just up the road, and in the one spot we counted 11 crocodiles!! We are talking large salt water crocodiles. No need for a high tide for croc spotting here. We also met an aboriginal man here who was making fishing sticks out of the local trees and painting them. He told us not to worry about waiting for the high tide because it's not big enough for the crocs to come, and instead suggested we climb the Ubirr rocks and look at the rock paintings.

We took his advice, and we are so glad that we did. It led us to the most amazing place. We walked around some rocks with old and new paintings on them, and some that were up so high that only the spirits could have painted them.

Then we started to climb, and not knowing where we were climbing too - but when we reached the top, it was breath taking. It looked and felt like standing on top of Pride Rock in the Lion King movie. Green flats, and rocky mountains as far as the eye can see. The pictures do not capture half of the beauty.

Our next day, we went for a long drive down to Maguk waterfall. We had a challenging rocky walk in along the creek, where we were questioning if it was worth the effort, but once we arrived, we all agreed it was!! Thankfully we saw some people walking an alternative track on the way out so getting out was a little bit easier.

Because we arrived after the end of the official tourist season (by about a week) we didn't get to do any of the range activities. So again, lots left to do here for another time, including visiting the sites out of the Crocodile Dundee movie. But the kids are finding enjoyment in the every day things, such as cooking and setting up the van.