Top End Road Trip

In October I went on a self drive holiday to the Top End of the Northern Territory. I spent the fist night in Darwin after a delayed flight from Alice Springs and went out for a harbour cruise with Darwin Harbour Cruises. It was excellent the skipper and guide were both very friendly and knowledgeable. The sunset was absolutely beautiful.
The next day we drove down to Jabiru which is about a 3 hours drive from Darwin, where we spent the night at the Gagudju Crocodile Hotel…! The croc is a great spot to stay as it is not too far to Nourlangie Rock, Ubirr and the visitor centres. The next night we stayed in Jabiru again but this time at the Lakeview Park, in a Bush Bungalow! They are cool you can see in and out they don’t have proper walls or aircon but at night time with the fan going it is fine.! I went out and did a day tip into Arnhem Land and saw some awesome Rock Arts, they are and I agree better than the ones that you see at Nourlangie Rock and Ubirr. The next night we stayed in Katherine, stopping along the way to do a yellow waters cruise at Cooinda which is about an hour from Jabiru and 2 hours from Katherine, it was very hot but it was worth while. On our return back to the boat ramp we came across what we thought were crocodiles fighting but soon worked out that they were mating..! The next morning we did a Dawn Break Breakfast Cruise on Katherine Gorge, this is the best time to go as you avoid most of the crowds and there is only your boat cruise the gorge at that time. It is a great time of the day for taking photos! After breakfast we drove down to Mataranka, and stayed the night at the Territory Manor hotel. It is an older hotel but is still really nice, has a nice outdoor restaurant with many peacocks running around! Twice a day you are able to watch the Barra Feeding. Just down the road from the Territory Manor is the Thermal Pools, they are very refreshing not too hot or cold once you get past all the bats! The next day we went back up to Katherine for another night and did a Crocodile by night tour! You leave just before dark and go for a 4km cruise down the Katherine River before getting to your dinner location, where there are a few local crocodiles that your guide feeds some of your dinner to! With your touches you are able to spot heaps of crocodiles, birds and turtles! The next morning we got up early for the 3 hour drive back to Darwin and visited the new crocodile park on Mitchell Street – Crocosuarus Cove before flying home at lunch time. At Crocosuarus Cove I went swimming with the crocodiles, they have a cage of death that you can go in right in the middle of a tank and be up really close to the crocs! But I didn’t have time to do that before my flight as you have to pre book it. When you go swimming with them you are in separate tanks separated by a not very thick piece of Perspex.