Kakadu not "Kaka-don't"

Kakadu- what do you say? It's huge, so much bigger than you would assume. It's beautiful. It's walks are short and easy, with most sights very accessible. It's campgrounds have warm showers that feel like you're showering in the rain, for $5.40. It's rangers are nice. Kakadu was great, though perhaps not as "spectacular" as it's touted to be.

The first day we went up to Ubir, in the most Northern part of the park, and checked out some wicked aboriginal art and a great lookout. It was beautiful.

Over the next few days, we managed to see a sight or two a day (nothing compared to the 6-8 daily activities suggested by the Kakadu Itinerary Planner) and enjoyed all of it. We saw a saltwater croc (slowly) stalking a duck in one of the rivers. We met some great guys who were discussing their favorite aspects of "spondonicles" for hours and asked us if we'd seen any on the track as we passed them (to which Phil proudly proclaimed "not here, mate, but I used to make 'em!"). We saw the same two guys on the way to Jim Jim falls and were greeted by a loud cry of "Spondoes!". Speaking of which, we lucked out and got to go to Jim Jim falls which is accessibly by 4wd track only and was shut until just a few days before we arrived. We also took a very cool night cruise with the two rangers who ran our campground and got to learn all about file snakes (mom's favorites) and the "itchy bush tree", though we didn't get to see many reflective eyes of crocs.

I have to say the devastation of the forest was very evident. Phil and I weren't sure what the park would look like after the cyclones that went through a few months before, but there were broken and uprooted trees all over the place. The upside? Lots and lots of firewood for Phil.