Mon, 11th April, 2022 Bush camp by upper reaches of Leaders Creek, NT (exploring Adelaide & Mary Rivers area and Fogg Dam)

Lots of birds chirping even louder than the roar of the water. Walked around to see what the ‘locals’ left behind - so sad to think they have no respect for ‘Country’ which we are told is so important to them. Broken glass bottles, rubbish piled up and the fire was still warm with the remains of a fish and big bones that could have been Buffalo ribs. I couldn’t stand to leave it so went back and got a garbage bag and started cleaning up. I also moved an old fireplace where others who had turned up piled their Macca’s happy meal boxes and grog cartons. There is a big sign beside it about taking rubbish home that they wouldn’t have missed. I am all for culture and history but when they don’t respect their ‘home’ how can they expect people to believe those who really do and that goes for all other Australians too. We have such a fabulous country it is such a shame some people can be such pigs and treat it so badly with no consideration for others. Ok, back down off my high horse.

Got hot after that so had a quick dip in the water while a few more cars & boats headed to the boat ramp. 

Steve had finished his jobs so we headed onto the track on the other side to check out the camp spots further up the creek. The track is wetter here and people have dug it up severely coming in when it was too wet. 

Back to the camper for a cuppa then we packed up and headed back. There is a big rubbish bin near the turnoff to the beach camp area so we put it all in there. Opposite is a high water tower and a huge water tank on the ground. On the Hema there are lots of straight tracks like a township - I think this might be the site of the Prison Farm as on the web it says it is at Murrumujuk Beach even though it was called Gunn Point Prison Farm. 

Back to the highway then south to turn off onto the Arnhem Highway. As we had been to Kakadu with Daniel in 1992 we won’t be doing it again - also so much isn’t open yet but there are a few places to visit along the way. Lots of mango trees and wet paperbark swamp with pretty lilies as we near Beatrice Hill. On the hill is an unusual looking building that is the Windows over the Wetlands but it is closed. Also there are roadworks here and the rest area we had planned to overnight at has been taken over by the road crew. 

A further up we stopped at the ‘Original Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise’ - this is the one we went on, in the double decker boat. The cruise was established in 1985 and is still family owned. Marrakai - the 17 ft croc has stuck in my mind every since. I wonder if he is still a star attraction. 

Steve posed with the leaping croc out front.

We had a look around but have no need to do the cruise again. We have seen enough crocs in the wild over the years.

Had lunch in the shade of a tree with plenty of looks as people pull into the car park. One couple thought the geckos looked great.

Over the Adelaide River with more pontoons for other cruise operators on the downstream side. Can’t spot any crocs on the muddy banks though they will be hiding in the cool water at this time of the day.

The new road has been built up over the wetlands - looks very pretty at the moment.

Roads closed to the first couple of lagoons as it is too wet and they are only average dirt roads.

Another big mango farm (Purple Mango) is also a brewery but it is closed too.

Turned off (on bitumen) for 20km to Corroboree Billabong - well almost the last kilometre was dirt as it wound past the billabong.

A chap had just pulled his boat out at the boat ramp which is part of the Mary River system. The map on the Hema shows the river better.

Is that a croc! No just a stick!

Plenty of bamboo around.

There is a pontoon for boat cruises and house boats to hire - this one needs a bit of fixing up. The cruises only run from June to August. No sure when you can hire a house boat from.

Back to the highway. Some big ant hills around here too. A few hills appear and large boulders by the road. Lots of trucks are carting something from a quarry at Mt Bundy which is chopping up the road on the westward side. When I looked it up it said there were 3 gold projects opening up around here next year. 

Into Mary River National Park - lots of it is still closed so we just checked out the river. Crossed over it, turned around then back to the picnic area below the bridge.

Checked out the info board. Loved the cartoon. We didn’t know that bamboo was native to Australia.

Would be a great overnight camp spot but there is a ‘retreat’ on the other side of the river.

We headed back then I saw a Jabiru down in a lagoon but by the time Steve pulled up and I walked back he had taken flight. Got this photo out of the brochure which was a bit blurry as I took it while we were driving!

Back over the Adelaide River. Someone is fishing - it is amazing to think how high a croc will jump for a feed so what is stopping them jumping into a boat when you pull in a fish! Obviously it doesn’t happen much in normal life or they would have stopped feeding these big boys around here.

Then we turned off to Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. Passed the Dept of Defence Transmitting Station with lots of types of aerials.

Into Middle Point which has a few houses, farms, school and a big turf farm. Went into the reserve and made a cuppa. The dam was made to provide water for a rice farm around here. Wasn’t too successful but it left the area with a great dam. There are a couple of walks too but they are a bit wet!

The dam is very full so you aren’t allowed to walk across the dam wall due to a big salty - lucky there is a perfectly good road on it! Lovely big pink lilies.

We drove across the dam wall - this is just as good as Yellow Waters in Kakadu. Lots of lilies, birds and info with two lookout platforms - one I walked onto to read the info about the birds. No jabirus here but plenty of cranes, magpie geese etc. Kept our eyes peeled for Mr Croc as he wasn’t in the trap. On the other side is the marshland and a sign about the irrigation channel here in 1962 for the rice.

The Rangers have cleared the spillway area and the water is still just flowing over it. Most of the birds are hanging around here.

Interesting looking boat - we think it is for clearing out weed.

Big lookout area on the other side with interesting information.

A tiny little red ‘wren’ bird flittered around - so cute.

Went up to the top for a top view over the marshland and back to the dam wall.

As we drove back I spotted a kingfisher and Steve stopped and so did the kingfisher so I took a heap of photos hoping one will be ok. Got two good ones. Tracy used to go nuts when she saw one that we thought a croc had her by the leg. So here’s one for you, Tracy.

Mr Egret was hogging the road on the way back.

Back to the houses and we continued along the road towards the Adelaide River again (further downstream) where there is another croc jumping cruise company - their croc is called ‘Brutus’ but it is still closed at present. The other road was closed off with big security fence etc.

Back out to the aerials when I noticed buffalos grazing in the paddock so got a close up of a few. There is cattle in the other paddock.

Back to Leaders Creek again for the night - so glad we found this spot. No one here so we backed into our spot again. The creek has cleared - I spotted the catfish again.

Quiet night with a few games of cards then read our books. Set the alarm as we need to be in Darwin by 9.30am for our Covid PCR test to be able to go on the cruise on Friday. Have to have a RAT test before we board at the wharf too.