On Day 7 our first stop was the Warradjan Cultural Centre, where visitors can walk through and learn about the history, traditions and connection the Bininj/Mungguy people have with the land up here. It documents some of the culture that has shaped Kakadu for tens of thousands of years and teaches the importance of passing language, stories and traditions on to future generations, as well as the struggles Indigenous people have faced in doing so since settlement. It was a wonderful place to visit.
From the Cultural Centre we made our way to Cahills Crossing, where we could see 4WDs going along the half submerged crossing, which was unfortunately closed to the public (we especially unfortunately couldn’t get an action pick of the Tundra).
There was plenty to see otherwise, and having avid wildlife enjoyers Eloise & Donnie with us made it easier to pick out different insects and animal life - like mudskippers that were darting around the water’s edge.
Someone also noticed a croc, which was particularly huge - another great reminder to resist the urge to get too close to the water, although that urge had probably completely dissipated at this point having seen a few already.
Our next destination, Ubirr, was probably the highlight of the day. It hosts extraordinary Aboriginal rock art galleries - some believed to date back to around 65,000 years ago, making it one of Australia's most significant cultural sites. Stories are told and messages shared throughout the art, and their placement on the rock faces with the detail and craftsmanship involved make the artwork nothing short of awe inspiring. We felt very fortunate to visit this place, and it gave us an even greater appreciation for the richness of Indigenous culture and the history of this incredible country. You can take a small hike up Ubirr’s peak, where the sun was setting as we were leaving and it was beginning to look amazing.
If you do visit at sunset be prepared for prime time traffic. We’d highly recommend going to Ubirr if you’re ever in Kakadu.
We finished day seven back at by the fire with Harry and George, while Eloise and Donnie went spotlighting. They were lucky enough to spot three Rock Ringtail Possums and also an endangered Northern Quoll.
Onto day eight!
We were blessed with another lovely eighth day on the trip. We travelled to Motor Car Falls, a 20m waterfall with a large swimming hole, and other smaller ones scattered below. To get there you must hike the Yurimikmik trail, almost an 8km return walk - definitely worth it.
The trail led through a varied landscape with gum trees and different animal life like baby black cockatoos and rainbow bee eaters. In the heat of the Northern Territory day with the sound of the falling water sounding nearer, our excitement was building to get to the falls. We were not disappointed when we arrived, they were absolutely beautiful.
We wasted no time and jumped straight in the water, it was chilly, but lovely, clear and clean. It was also very deep, when you dived down you could look up and see the sunshine sparkle through the water.
The 4km walk back was made easier with the smaller Boulder Falls on the way back to the carpark, another magic spot in the sunshine.
That evening marked our final night together in Kakadu National Park. We shared nachos, plenty of laughs and stories around the campfire as we celebrated everything we'd experienced over the past five days.
Tomorrow marks Eloise's 25th birthday, and we'll be making our way to the Humpty Doo Hotel, Mick’s late sister Terry’s favourite watering hole. As we packed up camp, we couldn't help but feel grateful for our time in Kakadu. It truly is one of Australia's most remarkable places, and one we'll remember for years to come. Thanks for reading and following us on our journey, we’re excited to continue on!