At “Kimberleyland Holiday Park” we had a nice site directly at the lake- in the evening, we saw a few pairs of freshwater crocodile eyes and heard them splashing around in the water only some meters away from our (rooftop-)tent. We drove on eastwards to Keep River Park, where we did the Gurrandalang Walk between interesting sandstone formations despite the heat of the afternoon. The nett morning, we did the 7-km Jarnem-Walk including a lookout with a view on the “Mini Bungle Bungles” and aboriginal drawings.

The next national park, the “Judbarra/Gregory Park” unfortunately was a disappointment: all 4WD tracks were still closed despite the relatively dry wet season and that there were no obvious signs of flooding. When attempting to stay at least one night in the park on “Bullita Homestead campground”, we discovered a bush fire directly on the camp site and were finally forced to spend the night at the road (turn-off to the closed Limestone Gorge) and have our (Australian Raclette) there. In the eastern part of the park, we did the short “Nawulbinbin Walk”, where you can admire aboriginal drawings on some rocks. After another night in the park at Sullivan Creek we went to Katherine and staid for 3 nights in den Nitmiluk National Park.

The 3-gorge boat tour was fascinating: in every gorge there is another boat, between them you walk. The partly narrow, partly wider gorges were beautiful, we saw several freshwater crocodiles and could swim ourselves at Lily Pond (without crocodiles ….).
The following day we got up early and started the hike to Southern Rockhole before sunrise to escape the unbearable heat of the day (which starts already at 9am!). The view from the lookout was well worth the effort- we saw the ship coming through the gorge we had used the previous day – Markus greeted it with his alphorn! The way back with a side-trip to the Barruwei-Lookout was only possible with thoughts of the cool pool at the campground which was waiting for us. The next day, we went swimming in the northern section of the park at “Leylin/Edith Falls” and drove on to Douglas Hot Springs – where were already lots of other campers.

With a short stop-over in Batchelor for Diesel and ice-cream wie headed on to
Litchfield Park with a first stop at the Magnetic Termites.
Since already the parking at Buley Rockhole was overcrowded, we drove directly to the 4WD Camp at Florence Fall where the pool below the waterfalls was also crowded (the next morning, we had it to ourselves) – for the Australians, it was an extended week-end. On the campsite, we met Anita and Lukas who live a few kilometers away from us in Switzerland.

We also visited the other the other accessible waterfalls with several short hikes of the park: Tolmer falls, Tjeataba falls and Wangi falls (where unfortunately swimming was prohibited !) – all 4WD Pisten were still closed.

After spending the night at Wangi falls the next morning we visited the Cascades and then left the park towards the north to go on to Darwin via Berry Springs.

There it rained already when we arrived- with humid-hot tropical air and countless mosquitoes we set up our camp at Freespirit Resort auf. The next day, our Crocomobile was schedulded for service at the Landrover garage. Unfortunately, the brake pads had to be changed and the parts had to be flown in from Sydney – therefore we were forced to stay in Darwin for the next 5 days. The city center is relatively small and there are neither major tourist attraction nor shopping possibilities. But with a visit to the water park, shopping centres, aquarium, city tour, aviation museum and zoo we and also the kids were occupied for that time. Nora and Fiona could also play again with Zoe and Suena Buchmann – by chance, we met the family again on the campground.

After the brake pads were changed, we drove on to Kakadu-Park with an overnighter at “Mary River Park”. In the Kakadu Park, unfortunately almost all 4WD tracks and some walking paths were closed. Even if the wet season was relatively dry, there were daily significant amounts of rain while we were in Darwin…After visiting the Mamukala Wetlands we spent one night at Merls Campground, watched crocodiles at Cahill Crossing and the day after, we saw for one time really nice and impressive Aboriginal Rock Art.

We went to the Bowali Visitor Center where we watched a good documentation movie about the park, saw again nice rock drawings on Nourlangie Rock (Anbangbang Gallery) and then spent the night at Sandy Creek.

The next day we walked to Gubara Pool ( where we could not even make a short break for a pick-nick due to mosquito swarms) and went on to Cooinda Lodge (campground with Pool), where we haf booked a Yellow Water Boat Cruise for sunrise . The early getting-up at 5.30h was worthwhile: we saw lots of different bird species, several big saltwater crocodiles from a distance of only a few meters, buffalos and beautiful water lillies . Included was also a good buffet breakfast in the restaurant after the tour.

Afterwards we went into the Maguk Gorge, where Nora and Markus hiked and Daniela staid with Fiona by the car (Fiona had a virus with diarrhea and fever, both of them were sweating and to cool down, they watched movies from Antarctica…it helped : Fiona was better the next day !).

We visited a very nice not sign-posted gorge which locals recommended us as a secret and spent the next night at Kambolgie-Campground.

After a stop -over Ikomarrwa Rockhole and an ice-cream in Pine Creek we went to Katherine for shopping and then to Mataranka. That was on the 15.5., Nora’s birthday ! We celebrated at the decorated Crocomobile and haf a swim in the thermal pool .

Since the campground did not have an oven and the kids insisted on a birthday cake, the campground owners were so kind to let us bring the dough to the restsurant kitchen where they baked it. After our meal at the restaurant in the evening, the cake was even brought to our table with lighted candles.