In a bid to become re-inspired, I packed up my new co-owned esky and headed to Kakadu for the weekend to enjoy my surrounds. We drove out past Jabiru to Nourlangie Rock, just as some imposing black clouds descended upon it. Parking the car, we hiked through isolated showers to a sacred place. The sign said that Aboriginal people once sheltered here for thousands of years.Just as we arrived, a huge storm hit, preceded by swirly wind and heavy heavy rain which lasted for about 20 mins. We were the only ones there, and completely sheltered under this natural rock formation. It was so freakin magical.
The hike took about half an hour, and it rained most of that time, but it was so beautiful. This place is so different during the Wet Season. And there are no tourists.
We headed off to find a spot to eat rice paper rolls and homemade muffins. As we were gobbling our food, we noticed a blue-winged kookaburra, perched on a sign. I was able to get really close to take his photo.
After eating, we saw that there was a 250m walk we could do to a lookout. Thinking it wouldn’t take us long, we scooted off merrily, not bringing camera or water. We carefully jumped over a body of water (with slight concerns of disturbing nesting crocs), climbed a man-made ladder and then started an ascent up 45 degree rockface. It was like a rock kingdom up there, with wattle trees growing from the cracks and as we climbed higher, the view became more and more sublime. It felt like we were explorers, discovering this place for the first time.
There was not a soul to be seen, and it was oh-so-quiet, apart from the birds. We could see a huge billabong at the foot of the escarpment. FULL to the brim with crocs.
We booked a room at a nearby lodge with ‘Territorian’s rates’ and enjoyed the pool and BBQ facilities before turning in for a night of Movie Channel action.
The next morning we cruised the calm waters of Home Billabong and Yellow Waters, watching birdlife and the multitude of flowers which sprout up during the wet. Then bought Billabongs to eat, filled up the car with petrol and headed home, via Fogg Dam.
It felt like a true holiday, in only two days.
