It’s funny how when you plan a holiday, it’s always swimming tantalisingly in the future. When you finally take it, it’s over in the blink of an eye.
So it is with this one. This is our last full day.
We stopped for morning tea at a roadhouse, where we saw some interesting number plates.
We also saw some pig hunters stocking up.
I loved the dogs! Zoom in on the cage on the truck. They were so excited to be off.
Quite. few of the roadhouses have pet crocodiles. Apparently, it’s a Territorian’s right to own a crocodile. You need a permit, so for $90 you can buy a crocodile and keep it as a pet. If you live in a city, you can only keep it until it reaches 1 metre in length, but out in the countryside you can keep it forever.
When we were back on the bus, I thought I’d check that app I was experimenting with. Polarsteps. It tracks everywhere you go.
Look at this trip! I’ve certainly covered some ground.
Look! Another fire.
And as we drove past, I just managed to catch the Whistling Kites hunting for mice.
We passed by a lot of mango farms. Each mango is picked by hand. The people who do it are a mix of backpackers looking to extend their visas by doing farm work, and men from the Pacific Islands.
We drove into Litchfield National Park. The waterfalls never stop flowing here. They’re all spring-fed, unlike the ones at Kakadu.
After lunch, we headed for Wangi Falls, where we could swim if we wanted to. When someone asked about crocodiles, Pascal said that the rangers come out after the Wet season and only open the waterfalls after 21 straight days of ‘no crocodile’ sightings. Then they check them weekly.
Ah, it should be alright! What’s the worst that could happen, right?
So beautiful.
It was absolutely lovely. There were lots of people there but it didn’t sound like it at all. Everyone was so relaxed and happy. People were swimming or walking on the boardwalk.
The last time I wore my bathers was when I did the Polar Plunge in Antarctica. I read the itinerary before I left so I knew there was a possible swim on offer. I packed my bathers, so this was the time to use them.
Dammit. When am I ever going to be here again? I was going to do it!
It was MAGNIFICENT. The water was 29C. It was a natural hot spring.
I stayed in there for ages. At first, I thought I couldn’t touch the bottom, but halfway along towards the cliffs there was a sandbank. Normal-sized people could stand there comfortably. By balancing on my toes like a ballerina, I was able to stay there and have a lovely chat with a couple who are travelling around Australia in a caravan for a year.
This is an experience I’ll remember. The surroundings were so beautiful, the water was the perfect temperature and I revelled in it.
We watched a guy climb high up the cliffs, then when he looked down he seemed to have cold feet. He stayed looking at the water below for ages.
“The thing is,” said my new friend the caravanner, “I was talking to a paramedic here. People get injured at these sites and they don’t stop to consider how long they’re going to have to lie there and wait for pain relief.”
“Oh my god!” I said. “I’ve never thought of that.”
“Yeah, it’s not like there’s a doctor’s surgery and a chemist just up the road, is it?” he said. “They sometimes have to wait for hours for an ambulance or helicopter to make it in.”
As we were talking, the guy gathered his courage and jumped. No paramedics were needed.
One thing we were warned about was the monitor lizard that lives in the park.
“Don’t leave food in your bag or he’ll rip it apart looking for it,” Pascal said.
When I finished my swim, people from the bus had moved my bag away from him, but I got back in time to see his head in one of my boots.
Our next stop was Florence Falls, which was very pretty.
Our next stop was the termite mounds.
These are called magnetic termites, as they angle their mounds to true north.
The other type is the Cathedral termites. One-third of the mound is above ground.
Termites carry their eggs on their heads, like cockroaches. Soldiers defend the mound from predators like birds, goannas and even other termites.
Queens live for around 50 – 70 years. As long as she’s alive, the mound lives. When the queen dies, the other termites die off and then the mound is up for grabs.
And suddenly we were driving into Darwin and the Kakadu tour was over. Sadly, I left my broad-brimmed hat on the bus, which annoyed me no end when I realised. Dinner wasn’t included, so after 2 weeks of gourmet meals, I wandered down to Coles and bought a salad and some wine.
Back to reality!
Tomorrow I have a free day in Darwin before our sunset Darwin Harbour cruise.
Dad Joke of the Day:
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