Day 19 – Saturday 7 August 2021 – 190km

Up early and out on the road towards Arnhem Land and to Cahill Crossing for high tide.  It is around 50km and the scenery becomes interesting as we get closer, with weathered sandstone ranges starting to appear, some very rugged. We need a permit to go across the river crossing into Arnhem Land so we park in the carpark and walk to the crossing. There are a fair few people there observing the crocodiles and waiting for high tide when the water starts pushing up over the crossing. They are there because crocodiles gather there to hunt fish as the fish travel both upstream and downstream over the crossing. The crocodiles wait on both sides of the crossing for their lunch. There are lots of fishermen there too trying their luck. There is a wreath of flowers and a small memorial on the side of the crossing where a fisherman got killed by a crocodile. We wait until high tide and see a crocodile come from downstream & up onto the crossing and walk across then wait for fish. I did see a number of large fish travel both upstream & downstream over the crossing. By now the spectators have amassed in large numbers, we leave.

Just a short drive away is Ubirr Rock and a collection of aboriginal art galleries. We start on the loop walk and see a nice series of aboriginal rock paintings, then we turn towards Ubirr Rock, gallery.   The collections of aboriginal art here are amazing, some are extraordinary with the level of detail & the sheer variety and quantity. We start walking up the rock & we come across more rock art. As we get higher the view of the surrounding countryside gets better and better. It is an effort to get to the top but the views are truly spectacular, worth all the effort. The walk back down is just as strenuous and we are glad to get onto flat ground again. A few more rock art galleries then lunch in the shade shelters back at the carpark.

Back to Jabiru and the scenery is just as nice from the other direction. We go to Bowali, the Jabiru visitor centre, it is very interesting and well set out. The displays are top quality and well worth a visit. The ranger on duty gives us some information on what to see and walks to do, plus some suggestions on the Yellow Water cruises. We go back to our van and look at the Yellow Water boat cruises and decide to see if we can get on one this afternoon. Online it is all booked out so I give them a call. Yes, there are a couple of spots available, it is 3.30pm & the cruise starts at 4.30pm.  In the car and off the road the 60km or so to Cooinda & Yellow Waters.

We arrive with a tiny amount of time to spare, we are seated on the boat at 4.20pm and then out on our tour. This is a totally different environment than Corroboree Billabong, but very spectacular in its own way. We see crocs, big & small, lots of waterbirds, kites and eagles plus water buffalo coming down to the water. We see the sunset over the water before heading back to the dock then into the car back to Jabiru.

We are back in Jabiru by 7.30pm and decide to have dinner at the poolside bistro again as it is a bit late to start cooking. The barramundi is again superb and tonight it is washed down with two corona beers.  Could get accustomed to eating out every night & the Corona beer too.   Another great day.