Yellow River Billabong Kakadu

We made the mistake of thinking Kakadu was going to be all that those images on tv and glossy travel brochures. In fact we discovered that Kakadu is world heritage due to its diversity rather than its beauty. It’s the Dry season and the only time we can get vehicles in and around Kakadu. Around 80% of the park is considered lowlands and this means lots of scrubby vegetation and rocky hills. There is some major off road navigation required to get to those glossy magazine covers! Just sayin.
Anyway today without too much effort we happened upon the Yellow River Billabong. Now this is glossy! It’s a massive billabong which offers scenic boat rides and walking platforms to view the myriad of bird and aquatic life. From dancing brolgas to whirling hawks, whistling kites, magpie geese, ducks, water hens , fish and crocs ( although didn’t see the latter). It lifted our already lifted spirits somewhat more to just sit and watch and listen. Spectacular.
We continued down the Stuart Highway to Mataranka only to find the roadhouse (where Andrew had a great stay in 2007 while cycling with Craig) has been reduced to a run-down, dirty dump. We needed somewhere to stay for the night so we drove out to the spring which was also a big disappointment. It’s been completely overtaken by tourism and here you meet the Vans and the kids and the RAMs and the nomads and the karaoke and the music and the crowds all mixed up into one big uninspiring commercial venture. Poor Mataranka and what was once its pristine natural springs.Read more