Canoeing@Kathrine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park

We never did any canoeing in Oz and here comes our chance at the Kathrine Gorge @ Nitmiluk National Park*****. One of the best place to canoe in Oz. It is half an hour drive from the Town of Kathrine and consists of 13 natural gorges! We took the full day canoe for $45 per person on a double canoe (the brochure actually state $62 for full day pp, but the visitor centre wo help us with booking only charge $90 for both of us :)). We had to book early from the Kathrine Visitor Center since it is the peak season in the northern territory (april-sept). There is also an overnight canoe hire where you can canoe and camp at one of the bush camp.

1st gorge, had to change a new canoe at 2nd gorge

We started at 8am, paddled through the first gorge using an hour. Then we park our canoe and walk to the other side of the rapid, where the second canoe awaits. So we continue paddling using through the second gorge which is really beautiful, with very high sandstones. 

Natural shelter!

Not too long before we reach the end of 2nd gorge. So this time, instead of changing a new canoe, we had to carry it through the rapids. How very difficult to drag the canoe against the current with slippery rocks under yr feet. Actually we only realized that we're not supposed to drag the canoe between the rocks (but have to carry it over) until we saw the sign at the counter after the end of our trip. Oops.. Anyhow we manage to get it there and by 11am we reach the third gorge. This is as far as we can go on a full day. So time to relax and swim in the refreshing Kathrine river!

A perfect shelter to have lunch after the swim :)

At 1pm we head back the way we came. Mostly relaxing and gazing at the rocks while the current bring us back.

Crocodile trap! Yes, there are crocodiles in the river, but only freshies (freshwater crocodiles), the not so dangerous type. Any crocodiles sighted at the gorge would be removed immediately. So we are lucky to see one! 

We are lucky ain't we! Look at him, just resting on the sand with it's big mouth open, trying to regulate it's body temperature. Really, not as scary as the saltwater crocodile.

We managed to return the canoe exactly 4.30pm and boy was that tiring!!! The whole day tour is really adventurous to us, because you're not with any guide and you have to carry your canoe over the rapids then finding your own perfect place (away from the noisy cruise boat) to dip in the water while looking out for crocodiles at the same time!

There is camping at the Kathrine Gorge for $36 unpowered site. Very much more expensive compared to town's caravan park so we spent 3 nights at the Riverview motel and van park for $27(unpowered). It is just near the city and walking distance to Kathrine hot springs. The hot spring is really short compared to the Mataranka's Bitter Spring and not warm at all. But it is a good dip after a long drive :)

Kakadu NP, Yellow Water

This Yellow Water is famous for its morning tour cruise. Starting from $68, it is nice place to view the calm waters and relflections on the river, as well as spotting a crocodile or two.

The budget people like us love this place because we can spend time for animals observation, and we saw plenty. We had forgetten about crocodiles that morning and took this picture :

Then a man nearby said to us: hey, don't do this, you don't walk with no legs! Oh shit, there is a chance of crocodiles attacking cause there are salties (saltwater crocs) that inhabit waters in Kakadu. 

After that warning, we continue on the walking track and Peter saw this fella!!! A big size saltie! It was just was resting on the surface with closed eyes, occasionally opening up to see what's the noise about. Wow, the first wild crocodile we've ever seen. Looks so scary but we are safe on the track platform. Phew...

Crocodiles are present around the national park, so no swimming at all! 

Lotus Bird

Kingfisher

Also saw kangaroos and feral pigs & piglets!

After the adventure at yellow water, we head to Warradjan Cultural centre***** in Cooinda which is a must go (free entrance) because it has wealth of information about the rock paintings, aboriginals lives, hunting skills and their care for the land.

There are many places to visit in Kakadu NP that requires a 4wd like Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Maguk and Gunlom. These falls are especially stunning during the wet season because there will be loads of water. But that also means in wet season, the roads to these falls are closed. So the only way to view it is by scenic flight.

From our point of views, Kakadu is really worth the visit. It has the best rock art paintings in Australia and we learned a lot about the daily lives of Aboriginals back in the ancient time. It is really surprising that Aus's aboriginals have so much knowledge about hunting for food and how they have 6 seasons which indicated what food is available in that season. And the fact that they pass all this knowledge orally through stories, songs and rock art paintings, and the fact that the aboriginals today still have these knowledge is just amazing. Unlike like people of today, we would search the Google rather than communicating and asking people questions.

NEXT: Canoeing @ Kathrine Gorge

Kakadu NP: Nourlangie Rock

Yourlangie Rock***** site is another interesting cultural values of the Kakadu NP. It has a 1.5 km loop that explores 3 major rock art site.


The main gallery is bout the Namarrgon, the lighting man, (top right hand) another ancestral spirits in the dreamtime (creation era). Aboriginals believe that it is those ancestral that creates the landscape of their country when these spirits journey across the county. 

The aboriginals would use ochres, which they ground then add resin to form a colour paste. Black colour is from charcoal, white from quartz, red and yellow ochres to paint on these walls.

 

The dancing art

There is another story of a brother and sister who stayed up the hill alone, which is forbidden by aboriginal law. The brother just ignored the law, while his sister realising it was wrong, took off his bro's headress which looks like a feather and throw it over the hill. The feather transformed into the solitary boulder. Brother was then punished by the eldest in the tribe. Heated pandanus seed was thrown on his body. His body got all burned and bruised and so he jumped into the river to cool down. He then transformed into a saltwater crocodile with the bumps on its back. This is how the crocodile has little bumps on their back. So The aboriginals will be reminded of the law and kinship every time they pass by this 'feather' boulder.

The view from Gun-warddehwardde Lookout at Nourlangie Rock. Really beautiful with clear views of the Arhem Land Escarpment. The escarpment is like a raised plateu with very high edges.

The kapok bush.. The aboriginals use this bush plant as an indicator for the crocodiles living cycle. When it flowers and has green seed pods means the freshwater crocodile eggs are being laid and can soon be collected.

Nearby Yourlangie Rock is a beatiful place to enjoy sunset, the Anbangbang Billabong*****. The billabong is covered with ducks, magpie geese, and pelicans. All busy searching for their dinner :) the billabong has a good view of the Nourlangie Rock and sunset rays reflect the beautiful sky in the billabong. A perfect place to sit down, observe the birds and watch sunset. 

We just spend our time taking photos of the birds and sunset that we forgot crocs may exist in these waters! Gosh... It seemed quite peaceful with the birds having fun in the water, so we didn't take much caution and stand by the billabong.

We set up our camp at Burdulba campground which costs $5 per person with only bush toilet facility. This campground is only suited for tents while the nearby Malabanjbanjdju Campground is for both caravans and tents. So we end up having the whole campground to ourselves.

NEXT: Kakadu Yellow Water

Kakadu NP: Morning visit to Ubirr & Bardedjilidji Walk

In the morning, we went to Ubirr to get another good last look. The cave paintings are easier to capture on camera in the morning compared to afternoon. 

This is the main gallery of the site and also is the kitchen back in time. Showing many layers of rock art whereby the aboriginals would paint theirs on the old painting. Mostly are art paintings about their food hunt, which they are fairly proud of due to the big size. 

Look at that Barramundi! Must be yummy!

Tasmanian tiger (the center), believed to have become extinct on Australian mainland about 2000-3000 years ago.

This is Mimi, another ancestral spirits with long legs and hands. That photo was a bit way of yellowish because of the direct sunlight on it. This painting is actually very high up, which is impossible to reach and paint it. The aboriginal's explanation to why there is a painting of Mimi up there is that Mimi would use his long hands and pull down the rocks then draw on it. Scientifically, it is because the ground level was much higher back maybe few thousand years ago, where it was then reachable from ground to paint it. 

Long necked turtle, a delicacy to the Aboriginals. 

The mullet fish

Lion King??

Jumping at Ubirr.. What pattern also got.. 

Then we took the nearby Bardedjilidji Walk****. It was a good and fairly easy 2.5 hrs walk, exploring the sand stone formations, cave and walking beside the creek. Definitely no swimming in the whole of Kakadu National Parks cause there are crocodiles in the waters! 

 

 

Next: Kakadu, Nourlangie Rock