Northern Territory 2023: To Kakadu

Sadly left Darwin today. An enjoyable stay with plenty to keep us busy. On the road at about 8.30, first stop was the Window on the Wetlands Information Centre, owned and run by the local nations people, good information about all things wetland. We then drove to the Fogg Dam, a dam built to support rice farming in the region, that venture failed but left a huge lagoon filled with birdlife, also warnings not to walk across the dam wall due to crocodile activity. Got our first look at a black necked stork (Jabiru in the old language).

Next up just down the road to the Adelaide River Crocodile Jumping Cruise. It's a tourist thing to do but it's great fun and we learnt many facts about these huge animals. Lesson number one was to not go near any water! Plenty of bee eaters flying around and on the way back to the jetty the staff on board fed the local kites.

Two hour drive to Jabiru, the administrative centre of Kakadu National Park. Spotted another black necked stork and a couple of brolgas. Before we got to the motel we called into the Information Centre. We were in for a surprise, today is the first day of the Taste of Kakadu Festival which is a week long festival celebrating all things Kakadu. Checked into the motel then headed back to the centre for a demonstration of Aboriginal dancing by men and women from the Bungul nation from the far north of Kakadu, they don't usually dance at festivals, most of their dances are used principly at funerals.

Following the dancing there was a free buffalo and vegetable dinner. The buffalo had been cooked in an ground oven and was quite delicious. Pam opted for the for the beef and chicken skewers, we decided after a taste test that it was surely buffalo and crocodile!!

Home well after dark, planning for a big day tomorrow.