Kakadu - Jabiru, Ubirr and Merl 22nd - 26th

I have no body to blame but myself for not doing more research about our next destination but I really did not think I would come across a mining town in the middle of Kakadu and with a name like Jabiru…..it sounded lovely.  And I guess, if you like caravan parks it was lovely enough.  The only thing that endeared me to this place was the maintenance man (Oh and this butterfly we tried to rescue) – known as B2 – who dug up a replacement water cap for the one that went missing off Big Betty Breeza on the way.  It just didn’t have the vibe we were all looking for.  But again, we made the most of it.  We spent the morning in the Bowali Visitors centre and found out some very interesting local facts.  The kids went fishing in the interactive part and we were treated to some amazing footage of Jim Jim, Twin Falls and Gunlorn falls – something you need a 4WD for.

So it was the pool and catching up on stuff after Bowali at Jabiru -  after we exhausted what was easily accessible around us.

Lovely Merl....Although we had been warned off Merl due to the mozzie problem I had promised Toli we would swing by and have a look anyway….boy am I glad we did.  We fell in love with this camp ground and the bewitching blue eyes of Mara, the little German camping grounds manager who greeted us endeared us to the place instantly.

Check out the surroundings of our secluded camp site....this is what we were looking for.  The tent is where I slept with one or the other of the kids.  Not much sleep to be had though as there is soooo much activity during the nights!  Curlews, bats, dingoes, scrub fowl, donkeys or horses or some other loud and big creature....I loved every minute of it.

The next day it was a quick step to the magical Ubirr......the home to a plethera of rock art and incredible views of the surrounding wetlands and escarpments.

The Rainbow Serpent

Chatting with the ranger about the $5,000 fine or the $55,000 civil penalty......damage to artworks

The shy little Rock Wallaby....I'm taking a pun that this little one is a bloke?

If you look closely you will see a tiny little abandoned egg in the bottom of the nest....I wonder what the mum bird looks like?

A Thai feed at the Border Store - named as it rests on the border to Arnhem Land.  Rather amusing that such wickedly delicious Thai food is deep in the heart of Kakadu :)

Along the walk to the Border Store...just photo ops everywhere I look!

My morning view :)

A stroll around the mini rainforest along the border of Arnhem Land.....mozzies were shocking but it was worth it.  Once amongst these lush green plants everything felt and smelt different.  The air was so very thick!

Little Flying Foxes....noisy little things

The Rainbow Pitta....moves so fast this is the best shot I could get.  Didn't manage to get it's red bum as well - but it is almost the full Rainbow in colours.

The realisation his us here that in a week we will be back at home.  It is a very mixed feeling.  We are all very homesick now - Tom, friends, beds...space!  But also loving the hot weather, amazing sights and incredible moments we are having together.  Can I love my children and dear old Ma anymore then I already do?  Seems like it just keeps expanding!

 

Toli is in heaven here....no shoes (lost the second pair already), a scrub down of visibly dirty areas when necessary and free to make a fire to cook toast.  He is our man after all!

Bells busy drawing little Aussie animals.

This should be at the start of our Kakadu entry...but it seems we may have done Kakadu the opposite way that most people do so we passed the gateway to Kakadu on the way out .....seems to happen to us a bit, doing things backwards or in a different way :)

Oh, I love this pic.  Found it and can't be bothered putting it in order.  It's from Katherine.  Check out the size of this Didj Toli is playing!!! He got a cracker of a sound from it too!

So...Kakadu is finished for us.  Now we head to Argus Apartments in Darwin and drop off Big Betty Breezer...again, mixed emotions.  She's been our home for three months but gese we will be glad to have some more room!