Today we continued our push North into the East Alligator Region still within the Kakadu National Park. To say we were disappointed is an understatment; yes we walked a couple of tracks beside the East Alligator River, yes we watched a couple of very nice barra being caught at the famous Cahill's crossing, however, the main reason for visiting this area was to see the World famous Ubirr rock art site and the great lookout which gives views to a vast area of the flood plain. To be confronted by a locked gate and road closed signs everywhere was hard to accept. What does "Cultural Closure" mean? We believe it is wrong that a very tiny minority of this wonderful country of ours controls such an important National asset and can slam the gate shut at anytime. Hopefully we will have better luck tomorrow when we head South to the Nourlangie Region.
One consolation was seeing a wide variety of landscapes, plenty of water and swamps and lots of different birds. The crocs didn't show up for the high tide at Cahill's Crossing as they normally do, nor did we see any water buffalo which we were warned about on a series of signs.
Wendy later braved the water in the pool back at camp, but it was far too cold for Greg who ended up going for a bike ride to the Ranger Uranium Mine. ERA operates the mine and produces about 1,800 tons of uranium oxide each year. Don't tell the Greens that there is a Uranium mine in the World Heritage Area!
Pool at Kakadu Lodge
Kakadu Lodge driveway
Swamp with egrets
Scenery
The one site we really wanted to visit today
Low'ish tide
Higher tide and this bloke has obviously done this crossing before, very risky!
A nice looking barra
High tide, no crocs
Another barra
Didn't see any buffalo, but saw where they had a wallow, if you want a free facial, just come to Kakadu
Grasslands
Walked past this impressive looking rock
Another one of the hundreds of cold burns done in the Kakadu each year
