We travelled to Ubirr to see amazing rock art thought to be up to 5000 years old. The panels showed (what are believed to be) the local aboriginies first sighting of white man. They also showed images of what are believed to be the Thylacine (now extinct), although I just thought they looked like skinny dingoes. It is very humbling to see these drawings drawn by senior elders, which are basically the aboriginal version of the classroom blackboard with pictures depicting survival techniques to the young aboriginal men.
Ubirr was not only a chance to see aboriginal artwork but also to walk up the rocky escarpments to view the plateau of Kakadu. It was so peaceful and majestic. We are travelling at the end of the dry season and so water levels are quite low.
Our two nights in Kakadu were spent at Cooinda. This was a very civilised stay, as the camping ground is part of the Gagudju resort and so we got to swim in the enormous pool and head for the bar at the end of the day. We booked on a morning and evening boat cruise on part of the Alligator River called Yellow Waters. These cruises were certainly a defining Kakadu experience. You also become a bird appreciator, whether you like it or not, because birdlife and river life just overwhelm you. I am now in love with the Jabiru….what a magnificent bird, often called the black stork. They stand between 1.4m and 1.8.metres and have red legs and green-feathered heads.
We would like to come back to Kakadu again but a little earlier in the season next time. We wanted to do a lot of walks, but the heat was stifling. We did a short 2.5km walk at Nourlangie among the paperbark trees and the one I mentioned at Ubirr.