Australian Outback Adventure - Day 9 - Ubirr and Barramundi Gorge

Saturday, October 27, 2012 - Cave Art and Swimming with the Crocs?

Way Outback Itinerary for Day 9:

You will journey to Ubirr, located within the East Alligator Region of Kakadu National Park. Here you will view a wide range of ancient Aboriginal art which will be interpreted by your guide. Learn the story of the Rainbow Serpent and climb the Nadab Lookout for panoramic views over the floodplain and beyond into Arnhem Land. After lunch we travel along a dirt road to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). Following a short hike through monsoon forest and a rocky creek bed you will view the waterfall and have the opportunity to cool off with a swim in the clear plunge pool. As the day draws to an end we head to our private campsite at Cooinda for dinner and overnight stay.

• Ubirr
• Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)

Ubirr

Our first stop was Ubirr Art and Cultural site.  Towering rocks, cliffs, and over-hangs provided the sandstone "canvass" for the Bininj/ Mengguy people to illustrate their culture and transmit their values and stories for their young.  

Intimacy

Tasmanian Tiger

Great View from the Top of the Cliffs

Billabongs fill with early rain water - filled with bird life

We visited several rock galleries and climbed to the top of high rock outcropping or spectacular views of the valley already greening from early rains and dotted with billabongs (watering holes).  

While at one of the sites a school group of indigenous boys in uniforms from a football academy 300 km east of here joined our group and listened intently to the stories thatp Luke was sharing related to the art.

We finished our cultural walk around 11:00.  We were sweating but there was no cooling breeze and our clothes stuck to us like hot wet rags.   We clamored on to the bus wishing the air conditioner to hurry up and cool us off, then we were off to Jabiru and a bar-b-que chicken burger lunch.

Barramundi Gorge and Maguk

After lunch we made our way to Barramundi Gorge and Maguk (a fish) via the visitor center in Jabiru just long enough to change into our swim suits.  Luke flew across the rutted dirt road.  We were bouncing around hard and fast.  I thought we might bite off our tongues as our teeth chattered across the washboard.  We arrived in Maguk late afternoon and hiked to Maguk Falls and very large plunge pool.  In the wet season when the water is high, saltwater crocs find their way into the pool.  

As the water recedes in June, and the land bridge between the pool and the river is exposed, the salties are caught (they think they get all of them all, hmmm) and transported overland to the river, but they leave the fresh water crocs in the pool. 

Since we are one of the last safaris of the dry season, and they haven't had anybody attacked or eaten, they are reasonably sure that the salties are gone, but the freshies are still in the dark pool.  All righty then!  

Good enough for us.The sun is hot, our clothes are sticky, and the flies are all over us.  We ease ourselves into the water that does not feel all that cool, but at least the flies are at bay.  Some of our group swim across the pond to the waterfall and jumping rocks, others stay close to the beach....just in case....you know, tic toc, tic toc, tic toc.

After an hour or so of splashing about, we hurriedly dress and try to walk faster than the flies.  I've found that my light weight paru when wet and drapped over my head with visor and shoulders keeps me cool, shaded, and unattractive to.....flies and everyone else.  Perhaps this is also one of the reasons that Muslim women willingly wear a hijab. 

We couldn't resist taking photos of these termite mounds in the late afternoon sun.  Russ is the photographer.

These trees don't look so good.  Wonder Why?

Our Encampment

Once again we are  4 wheeling to our encampment.  We are in unpowered tents tonight.  Not only is there no light except from our headlamps, there is no oscillating floor fan and the tent is a stifling sauna.  

Camp Kitchen and Dining Room Enclosed by Screens

Home sweet home for our last night

Sleeping outdoors is not a realistic option either as there are some very active mossies waiting to suck our blood.  Eventually, after a great barbie of chicken sausages, beef and kangaroo steaks, wine coolers and a cool showers, we wander back to our tent.  We sleep on top of the sheet with nothing else.  This is our last night camping.