Kakadu National Park

One day. 14 long hours, but still not long enough to discover the whole Kakadu, or even one third of it. But one day is better than nothing and as that’s all we’ve got, we’re going to take the max out of it. The APT (Australian Pacific Touring) day tour starts with a hotel pick-up at 6:25 in the morning, that’s before sunrise in Darwin. The APT couch is a big tour bus that is notably over-crowded with over-aged people, but me and Ann fit in :D In terms of physical space, not physical appearance. Kakadu is a 590km return trip away from Darwin and getting there and back takes about 4 hours both ways. Enough to catch up on some sleep. Once arrived, we made a quick hop in-hop out to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for an insight to the historical and cultural significance the park holds to its traditional owners. Despite its educating purposes, I found it hard to pay much attention to the still displays and commentaries, being impatient to board on the wildlife boat cruise along Kakadu’s most famous wetland area, the Yellow Water Billabong. Famous for? Diverse birdlife and beautiful waterlilies, rising pandanus trees and blue waters, but most of all – the reason number one we’re up in the tropics – the salties (saltwater crocs). To see these powerful creatures in flesh in their national habitat and snap some close-up super zoomed photos of Mr Crocs for our personal collection. Although zoom wasn’t essential as the boat stopped by the river banks only a few meters away from the lazybones killing their time in the sun. And they’ve got heaps and heaps of it living as old as 100 years. 6 crocs made their debut to my photo album, but one of them rose above the others. It was a huge fat male croc that looked like he had just swallowed another one of the same size. That croc alone made the trip worthwhile. The rest of it was a nice day out in the nature with a buffet lunch, a hike to the Nourlangie Rock with Aboriginal rock art, a quick stop on the way back to view some giant termite mounds, but the unbeatable ‘spetacolo’ of the day had been played on the Yellow Water Billabong. The way back to town long but happy with a few glasses of wine and lulling sunset over the floodplains at the Window on the Wetlands. Back safe and sound from the lands where crocodiles rule and Aboriginal bush tribes perform their lifelong rituals.