“Maguk is open.
Jim Jim Falls will be opening very shortly.”
These are the news we received from Kakadu National Park HQ this morning. Short and sweet.
The families travelling with us yesterday visited Gunlom in the morning, tackling the escarpment walk to enjoy splashing and swimming in the rock pools above the falls. Naturally, everyone was really looking forward to more swimming in the afternoon!
And after the gate on the track to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) had only been unlocked by park rangers a couple of hours earlier, our party was one of the first to walk along the creek all the way up to the plunge pool around lunchtime!
I love Maguk – and I’m glad I had the opportunity to join our guides Jeanne and John and the lovely bunch of people they were travelling with for the afternoon!
Maguk looks stunning this year!
Crossing the creek, the huge Silver-leafed Parperbark trees (Melaleuca argentae), give a good indication of the wet season water levels. Layers of the soft, papery-thin bark have been torn off the trees up to several metres high by raging currents and floating debris in many places. However, the wet season 2009/10 is now definitely a thing of the past and the creek is back to its dry season level, crystal clear, flowing peacefully. The vegetation along the creek has recovered nicely – it’s lush and green and bears a lot of interesting surprises!
Anyway, there was so much to see and to talk about, I forgot to take any pictures on our walk through the monsoonal rainforest! I did remember to take a few shots at the plunge pool though, where the kids (big and small) hopped in the water while Jeanne and John prepared a yummy picnic lunch.
Taking the Plunge at Maguk
Now to the other big news:
Park rangers have wrapped up their crocodile surveys at Jim Jim Falls. The rangers are now satisfied that all Estuarine crocodiles have been removed from the gorge. All that’s left to do now is some last-minute housekeeping now. We hope we’ll be heading in there within the next few days!
For the next couple of days we will visit Gunlom and Maguk, but later this week our itinerary will read “Budjmi and Jim Jim Falls”.
There’s still a question mark behind the opening of the Twin Falls precinct at this point. After the last rain another couple of Estuarine crocodiles found their way into the area, creating some headache for the Kakadu’s crocodile management team who basically had to start over with their survey work. We’ve been told that two Salties have taken up residence in the Jim Jim Creek near the day use area and the crossing. Unfortunately, for as long as these haven’t been removed the gate at the Jim Jim Creek crossing will remain locked for the general public.
But I’m sure I’ll have more good news for you soon!
Boh boh
Anja
And the good news keep coming!
Tomorrow, 30 June 2010, we will visit Jim Jim Falls for the first time this year!
We have also been informed that nearby Budjmi Lookout will also be accessible (one of the questions marks taken care of).
To make the most of the day we will avoid spending more time than necessary in the vehicle and spend as much time as possible in the Jim Jim region. Don’t worry, we’ll make the journey into the stone country surrounding this Kakadu icon worthwile! Bring your swimming costumes!
Boh boh
Anja