Kakadu- Maguk Falls

Kakadu National Park is a big place, and rather different from what we'd expected from photos and documentaries we've seen!  The image we had was of endless waterlily-covered wetalnds, but in fact almost 80% of the park is made up of tropical woodlands- dry looking bush with small palms and termite mounds scattered among taller trees.  This morning we drove for about half an hour through such bushland, the last part along a rough, corrugated dirt road.  Then we walked through a section of monsoon rainforest along the banks of Barramundie Creek, clambered over rocks and finally arrived at the plunge pool below the falls at Barramundie Gorge, or Maguk in the local language.  The walk had only taken us half an hour or so, but it was hot and we were glad that this was one of the places where you can swim without fear of crocodiles at this time of the year!  The children swam with us all the way to the waterfall and had fun jumping off the rocks into the deep water at the head of the gorge. 

young pandanus fruit- just starting to grow

Back at the caravan park, they wanted to swim some more- this time in the resort swimming pool.  There was hardly anyone else swimming, as everyone was watching the football! 
Late in the afternoon we took sandwiches to eat on the way and walked to watch the sun go down over Yellow Water Lagoon.  By the time we got back to the caravan it was dark and the children were well and truly ready for bed!