Barb & John's Hols: Day 15 Cooinda Gagudju Lodge

Day 15 Cooinda Gagudju Lodge

Jess did arrive at 8.30 as she'd said. We met up with her in the Bistro for a late dinner and to plan what we'd do during her visit. Jess is booked into a Lodge room so she was very pleased to be able to have a comfy night's sleep. Mind you...we did too in our trailer.

Yay! Jess arrived safely. No we aren't turning yellow...the lights are presumably to ward off insects

We got an early start to the day after a hearty buffet breakfast, and drove down to Maguk. Someone from Jess' work had told her this was a beautiful spot to go swimming in a pool with a waterfall. They did warn her that you'd need a 4WD to get past a stony creek crossing but "it's only a kilometre of so walk in from there if you park on the other side". This person needs a severe talking to for their very wrong directions. Adventure turns into mis-adventure very easily with addition of mis-information.

A hearty breakfast to stand by us for the day

Jess and Barb at Cooinda campsite

The stony creek crossing that we couldn't cross with the Imprezza

Barb and Jess smiling at the start of the walk in

Still walking on the corrugated road

The drive on the very corrugated dirt road was bad enough. Every bit as bone-jangling as the Daydream mine experience of a couple of years ago. We didn't attempt to cross the stony crossing. Instead we parked up and took enough water for the kilometre walk in and back. We began to smell a rat when we'd been walking for well over a kilometre through bushland that was still smoking from a recent controlled burn and there was no end in sight. A 4WD passed us with a family of four in it. No room for three extra hitch hikers. About 15 minutes later the man returned after dropping off his wife and kids to pick us up. It was another 5 kilometres to the carpark so he took pity on us! It was still another kilometre or so to walk in to the waterfall, this time scrambling over boulders. Great! We are eternally grateful to this lovely young family for helping us out or we would never have made it here.

Finally we made it to Maguk carpark

This is the lovely young family who rescued us from a long hot walk in

The walk hadn't finished yet

At least this part was shaded and scenic

Beware the crocodiles!

When we finally got there it did indeed look beautiful and the water looked inviting. We'd read the crocodile warning signs however and I tried to stop Jess going in. A small bus-load of foreign tourists turned up with their guide who had confirmed with the park ranger that it was croc-free and safe to swim. Jess was in that water in a flash.

The water looked so cool and clear and very inviting

Jess was desperate to go in

Aha....some other tourists arrive with their guide. Safe to go in

John and Barb still scaredy cats

Jess not eaten by crocs

After her swim we faced the long walk out. This time we weren't so lucky to find a kind soul with enough room in their vehicle to pick us up. We had to trudge the whole way in searing heat. We were down to our last few drops of water and feeling very hot and bothered when we finally began to recognise some familiar landmarks and see our own footprints in the dusty road. Hooray! We made it out alive. When we got to the car we all guzzled down a bottle of water each and drove back to the lodge where Jess and I jumped into the pool to cool down. We had lunch and a shower and once we'd re-inflated with fluids we were actually feeling quite energised for some more exploring.

Jess and Barb at Maguk waterfall

We drove to Nourlangie Rock aboriginal art site. Another walk! Well worth it though for some spectacular views and interesting art which was thousands of years old to view insitu in ancient camp sites. Jess spotted a sign warning of a rogue water buffalo which had been terrorising tourists in the area. She said he looked very guilty in his mug shot. We didn't encounter him but did see evidence of wild brumbies on the road. Big piles of horse poo....or maybe it was buffalo poo.

John and Jess at Nourlangie. Beware the rogue water buffalo

Viewing the rock art

Barb and Jess take a break

Very eerie and beautiful setting

More rock paintings

Beautiful views

Looks so majestic

Jess views the landscape

Barb and John at Nourlangie lookout

Beautiful flowers

It was still only mid afternoon, so we drove on to Ubirr Rock about 40 km past Jabiru, just on the border of Kakadu and Arnhem Land. It's supposed to be wonderful to watch the sunset from here. The drive in is amazing enough. Through creepy tree tunnels and past rugged rock escarpments. The walk to Ubirr involved more rock climbing. It's actually quite physical and there is definitely no disabled access. There is more wonderful rock art to view on the way too.

Rock art at Ubirr rock

The views took your breath away!

So pretty

Selfies at Ubirr

Once you actually climb to the top...oh WOW!!!! The view takes your breath away! In fact it almost seems like you are on a movie set not looking at something real. The Arnhem Land floodplain is lushly green, probably swampy and croc-infested, but uniquely beautiful. We just couldn't stop taking photos. The 360 degree view was wonderful in every direction. We did decide not to wait until sunset though. More busloads of tourists were arriving and I didn't want to negotiate down the rockface in the dark. The sun was just setting by the time we got back to Jabiru. We went to the Crocodile lodge there (the building is in the shape of a crocodile) where Jess very kindly shouted us a restaurant meal. My word it was good too! Barb's lobster tails were delectable and Jess' crocodile and barramundi risotto likewise. Altogether a wonderful action-packed day.