Darwin, Litchfield & Kakadu Part 2

Well after viewing all of the rock art, which is quite impressive when you think about how long ago it was done, and by the level of difficulty in some of the locations as well as the tools that would have been used! Luke explained that in some cases a form of scaffolding would have been constructed so that the paintings could be done in certain areas, Wow really interesting and impressive!

So up and up we climb to the spot most people know about through that classic movie "Crocodile Dundee" you know the scene where Dundee is explaining to his American reporter that 'see that line of trees down there, thats where the croc almost got me'

 It is quite a way up to the very top but man what a view! This place should be on everyones bucket list, yep you need to climb a bit but anyone with an average level of fitness, you shouldn't have a problem, just take it slow and steady and wear decent shoes! 

From Ubirr we moved onto the absolutely beautiful Majuk falls. You would need to step up your fitness a little or at least your rock scambling ability! It is a fair way up and keep your eyes open and down, Ive found if you concentrate on looking up you never get there!

 These two pools are joined by an underwater tunnel (allbeit a short one) but creates another dimension of fun! Goggles are probably a good idea.

Another top swimming hole, and we were the only ones here.

 Here is the truck/bus/coach whatever you would like to call it, that we spent our time in. For the next part of the trip 4WD is definitely required. Up to this point we had done river crossings, and some pretty hairy driving, but did not need to put it in 4WD, until today.
Not to worry, but if you want to see one of the most celebrated and advertised spots in NT up close and personal, you need 4WD or a helicopter, oh and decent walking shoes! 

One of the highlights for me Jim Jim Falls, from where you park your 4WD it is 900meters to the falls. This 900 meters takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. Along the way you have many opportunities for photos, but you need to step up a bit and bring your rock hoppers with you. This is a serious workout over boulders as large as an average loungeroom. Follow the reflecting arrows, and the pink tape and go carefully and you will get there and my god it is soooo worth it!

 Possibly the most special part about this spot at least for us, was that we were fortunate enough to be the first visitors in for the season and we had the place to ourselves until we were ready to leave. So the first car in the carpark, Greg was the first one in the water hole at the base of the falls and the 8 of us were completely alone. We were able to get in and out of our swimmers in relative privacy, by the time we left however, there was people streaming in.
My advice, make it the first stop for the day and start early.

From here we had lunch at the entrance to the 4WD track, there is a very nice camping ground here with great amenities and its run by the lovely Greg and Gina, caretakers of the area. This is how we know we were the first in for the season. The road to Twin Falls was yet to open for the season.

We then started the trip back to Darwin with a stop at the Bark Hut, a very nice drinking hole with a handy map that detailed everywhere we had been. The photo above is the wonderful Luke our guide, thanks for making this such a wonderful experience.

So on leaving the tour we were delivered back into Darwin to the Mantra Pandanas on Knuckey St, a 4 star hotel and very nicely appointed. This is the view from our balcony, enjoyed with a bottle of wine while the washing machine worked its magic on our dusty sweaty clothes. Greg and I went to dinner at Char restaurant, a very popular and classy restaurant and then dragged out tired bodies back to the hotel for a good nights sleep with the attraction of a sleepin the next day.

The hotel was kind enough to keep our bags for us, while we explored the city. As this is peak season no late check out was avialable and our flight was not unil 1am.

So off on our city walk after a nice breakfast at The Ducks Nuts! 

The following photos are mainly views from Bicentennial Park along the foreshores of Darwin Harbour.

 Memorials to the fallen in the Bombing of Darwin by the Japanese on February 19, 1942, This attack was 10 weeks after Pearl Harbour and more than twice as many japanese planes were used in this attack.

This plaque is the route that Leichhardt took on his expedition.

Don;t know whether this is classed as the Arafura sea or the Timor Sea, either way thats about as far in as I was willing to go, we had seen a small shark earlier and Crocodiles and stingers are also a threat.

 We jumped a cab and went down to Cullen Bay, for Sydneysiders think Darling Harbour equivalent on a smaller scale. A beautiful marina with lots of expensive boats and houses, some nice restaurants and bars of which we tried one or two for a well deserved beer!

Then we jumped on a ferry and took a ride out to Mandorah. Its not an island but to drive there would take approximately 2-3 hours or a 15 minute ferry ride. Not much out there but a very nice pub and a lovely beach, although you cant swim in it without danger of stingers!

Now the Marina is accessible for boats only through a lock.

The tide has a variance of up to 9 meters

 Check out the different levels for the ferry passengers, depending on the height of the tide!
We had been told to head down to Mindil Beach for the markets on a Sunday afternoon and to witness the sunset, so glad we did, the markets are great for a look but the sunset OMG!

 The gathering crowds

Greg

A very appreciative crowd, at the end of the sunset there was much applause and cheering to Mother Nature for her spectacle.

and so the end of another of our short excursions, one thing for sure, we will be back, thats a promise, from Darwin with love xox

ps stay tuned for Bali!