Yellow Billabong 
Kakadu National Park
The alarm goes off at 5....snooze only the once and out for bed heading for the showers at 10 past. This has to be our earliest start yet. We discover the kitchen is not open till 6 so no brekkie for us today...off we trundle around the corner to our pick up point of Darwin Central Hotel...we are the first ones there 15 minutes early and we are not 100% sure this is where we are meant to be. So a quick stroll around the block and we decide it has to be right. Then another older couple join us in the waiting game so all reassured it’s correct we wait....and wait...and wait...pick up time was meant to be 610 I think it was nearly 640 by the time the bus arrived...610 was the first pick up and we were one of the last.
We are on the road it’s dark and pouring down with rain but thankfully we can both just sit back and enjoy the ride...Here’s hoping it’s not like this all day....We are in a bus full of mainly oldies, but there were a 4-5 other youngish people too. We both have window seats and we are off...
First stop was Corrobaree for fuel and to see a Salt Water Croc and a Fresh Water Croc and to spot out the differences. There was also an albino Water Buffalo and some wild Black Pigs. Toilet break and chocolate we are on the road again...Marcel our tour guide for the day, who strangely enough is Dutch but has been here for 12 years, is telling us all about the wildlife we are seeing and point out different things of interest. Then we are off to an Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Gift Shop. We walked in and it smelt like, as Mel described it, dead fish...It wasn’t pleasant, so the pair of us didn’t spend much time in there.
Next was the Yellow Water Billabong Cruise...This was the most exciting thing of the tour with hopes of seeing a croc or two and plenty of the bird life...We settle into our seats and we are off...this time in the hands of Michael...a local guide...he takes us along the billabong pointing out where the birds were yesterday as there wasn’t much around today...it is amazing to see how much water is out there...The photo’s just don’t do it any justice as the buffalo grass covers parts of the flood plains and gives it the appearance that the water is not there...but we finally see some birds and some water lilies...saw a crocodile nest that looked like it had flooded away from where the mummy croc that built it...and also saw what was believed to be a croc under the water...you could just the see air bubbles rising to the top of the water where a 3m croc normally hangs out...So who knows...With Michael sweating so much he was almost doubling the water in the billabong the boat ride ends...
Back on land after being told about the dingo waters and any other fantastic stories and we are off for some lunch....We were shown a restaurant and went in there. Opted for a bowl of wedges and some chips to share as the buffet lunch was $25 per person, bit rich since it was only salads...and we are full and off to see some rock paintings...
The sun has been out since morning and I am feeling a little burnt from the reflection of water on the billabong...we are in the air-conditioned bus....but when you first get in it’s hot and stinky...On the road to the famous Kakadu rock paintings know as Nourlangie rock. We get to the car park and Marcel gives the group two options. Climb up the top and do a big loop (the hard way) or go some other way (considered the easy way).
Off on the hard way we go...I had get expectations of the rock paintings and they really didn’t live up to them. They are amazing that they have been there for so many years and this was the way of teaching the younger, but I really couldn’t see the great amazement in them. Looking back it was wonderful to see these ancient paintings and it is great to read up on how the paints were made and it is breath taking to think these paints have lasted as long as they have.
Half way around the loop and I find myself busting to go to the toilet, which is back the other side of the car park, nearly a kilometre away. I try to solider on but it’s not going to work I’m going to wet my pants and the walk to the top is about 500m then back down again. I gave my camera to Mel and asked her to get a couple of shots for me and I quickly take off towards the toilets. I pass a sign half way down saying car park is 700m.....OH MY GOD....I’m in pain....and am not sure if i’m going to make it....the thought of going behind a bush ran through my head and quickly ran out as I didn’t want to be cursed by the ancient people of the land....ha ha ha....as if i would do that anyway!!!
Finally made it to the car park and the toilets are of course on the other side. I start undoing my pants as I'm half walking half running across the car park...Only to look up and see another bus pull up....I must have looks a strange site, running across a car park undoing my pants!!!! Finally made it though and I’ve never felt so much relief. By this time it has started raining. I wait under a shelter for the rest of the group to join us, everyone is in need of a toilet stop and then we are back on the road.
We stop for petrol at a little place that’s name escapes me now and there is no diesel there. So we keep trucking on to Corrobaree where we got diesel on the way in. Panic hits Marcel at this stage because if there is not diesel there then we aren’t getting back to Darwin. The next stop past Corrobaree is 80kms and we only have enough diesel to get us 30km past Corrobaree. We get there and what would you know, the pumps are not working as they have been hit by lightening. Off the bus we all get and sit around in the One-Stop-Shop (Pub, Petrol Station, Diner, you name it) and Marcel is making a few phone calls. Then a young girl arrives (she was there in the morning) and she is in the pissing rain playing around with the pubs, after about 20 minutes she gets then up and running, So a full tank later and we are on the road again.....Drama free back into Darwin.
Dinner and off to bed for us. It has been a long day!!!
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