There's more to Kakadu than water....

.....there are rocks.
And where there are rocks there is amazing rock art.
We're told that this rock art can be more than 20,000 years old! Seems incredible doesn't it?

We saw rock art at Nourlangie, Nanguluwurr near Jabiru and Ubirr in the very eastern side just near the border with Arnhenland.

One of the special things about aboriginal rock art is that because the paintings tell a story and are for the moment, they can be painted over by another story. Touching up someone else's painting is not allowed but putting your own picture over the top is OK.
So sometimes you can see the various layers of images and if you stare or gaze at the walls more images can pop out. Just like those 3D images that were popular a while back. (Except these aren't 3D)

 There are also rocks to walk around, climb on, and watch the sunset from.

Not just another sunset.

This was a very special sunset.

Yesterday we got up ultra-early for the sunrise cruise on Yellow Water at Kakadu and a handy little hint is that if when you buy one cruise you can get another one for just $25! "And would you like fries with that?"
I think they made us an offer we couldn't refuse.

It was different.
The birds seemed more active somehow.
We saw a lot of the same ones, or the same type (not sure if they were exactly the same ones)
We saw some different ones - including brolgas, forest kingfishers...
and we saw heaps of crocs!

Juvenile Nankeen Night Heron -

Egret, not sure if it's a Small, Intermediate or Large (those really are the names)

And then it was time to play Spot the Croc!

 

The late afternoon light on the lotus lillies was gorgeous.

Can you see him?

Beautiful Pied Heron.

There he is!

A very obliging pair of Sea Eagles.
We saw 2 pairs.

The pandanus is pretty too.

Look! There's one!

Darter drying its wings.

This one was huge!
The biggest one our tour guide had seen.
He was very obliging too - sitting in a nice sunny spot and opening his mouth on cue.

Then the sun set.

A magical morning

We listened to all the people who said "go on a Yellow Water cruise when you go to Kakadu" and despite not being morning people (well one of us isn't a morning person) we opted for the sunrise version.

 It was pretty special - the super moon setting on one side and the sun rising on the other.
A slight mist over the water.

And lots and lots of birds.
Seen here  -whistling ducks, magpie geese, Nankeen Night heron,

plus egrets, ibis and spoonbills - you'll just have to trust me on that.

 This is a jabiru, Australia's only stork.

 Lots and lots of whistling ducks - safety in numbers I guess,

because now it's time to Spot The Croc!

White breasted sea eagle - we actually saw 3.

Lotus. An asian import.

As the morning warmed up the crocs decide to do the same and come out onto the banks to bask.
These are saltwater or estuarine crocodiles which are the ones that will eat you if they are hungry.

So swimming in the billabongs and creeks is a big no-no here, there are plenty of signs to remind you.

We were so brainwashed by the whole no -swimming thing that when we went to Maguk the day before we didn't even think to take our cossies.
Of course there is a beautiful rock pool below the waterfall which has been cleared for swimming.

So, yes, we did go in in our undies and tshirts!

The creek below is very pretty but not recommended for swimming!