Australia

Storm Growing over Kakadu

If I didn't know it was the Dry Season in Kakadu, I would have expected a rain storm later in the evening. It was August, and Kakadu was not expecting any rain for another three months. It's dry there. I have no idea of the landscape can be so green in such a dry place. It's not a place where you would think anything could survive. Most of the water sources are full of crocodiles. But somehow, plants and animals live well here throughout the year in a land cared for by aboriginals for over 50, 000 years.

The sunsets at Ubirr are notoriously spectacular. Ubirr is one of the most extensive and visited rock painting sites in the park. After you have enjoyed the rock painting, the trail leads to a relatively easy climb up to Nabab lookout. The sun sets over Kakadu's floodplains but the view is 360 degrees. But take a look behind you if you are there and see the sun's rays bounce off the rocks and trees of Arnhem Land, another sacred aboriginal site.

Ubirr was open from 8:30 to 7:30 when I was there. The gates closed prompty just after 7:30. With the later opening, you will not be able to view the sunrise at Ubirr so enjoy the sunset. The lookout was full of hundreds of visitors - it was actually a bit difficult to navigate the people and take photos from different locations. It's a place well worth follow-up visits!

Oh, right, - the storm. We woke up in the middle of the night to a strange noise. A recognizable noise but a noise that I knew we shouldn't hear. I thought it was just the air conditioner making noise. But it was exactly what it sounded like - rain hitting the metal roof of our hut. And at least a ten millimetres of rain fell on Kakadu in the Dry Season. Not enough to get Jim Jim falls flowing again, but definately enough to make it interesting!

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