We planned a couple of stops on the way out of Kakadu the next day based on a few geocaches I wanted to retrieve (I am not addicted, I don't know what you're talking about). My excuse is that its a way to see some parts of the countryside we might not otherwise visit...
Our first stop was Mirrai lookout. This was another hot, steep scramble to a viewing platform on top. Unfortunately, the view was mostly obscured by a thick haze of smoke from burn-offs, but it did make for some nice photos of the distant hills (first photo below).
We then headed a bit further north to Anbangbang Billabong and Nawurlandja Lookout. The billabong was covered in flowering waterlillies with a multitude of birdlife enjoying the water (and who knows what else lurking beneath) - needless to say, we didn't go anywhere near the edge. It was a beautiful, tranquil spot (which we didn't really appreciate till we experienced hordes of tourists further on).
The lookout was at the top of a huge, sloping conglomerate stone face and gave impressive views over the nearby sandstone outcrop as well as the billabong and an expanse of greenery leading off to the horizon (the smoke must have cleared a bit). This one is highly recommended (just do it in the morning before it gets too hot).
After venturing that far into the Nourlangie region, we decided to finish off our trip by visiting the rock art galleries at the end of the road. This is where we finally ran into the tourist trade in all its glory (the place was PACKED). We joined the throng for a walk through the main rock-art shelters, which, despite somewhat lacking in ambience due to the crowds, were some of the most detailed and impressive examples of Aboriginal painting either of us had seen. The walk wound up and between massive slabs of rock (which also made it nice and shady and cool) and included viewing platforms alongside maybe 4 or 5 rock shelters filled with art. We were glad we made the last-minute decision to come!
After that, though, we were out of time and had to high-tail it back to Darwin. We think we could easily spend several more weekends exploring Kakadu (and we will). Just a question of what to see next...
(POST-SCRIPT: Just came back to the computer to investigate a cry of distress from Ryan. Was he hurt? Did he just remember some important job that had been overlooked from the weekend? Was the internet broken? The truth was in fact much worse than all that - he just remembered that in his quest to be an efficient and well-organised camper this morning her had accidentally rolled up his pyjamas inside his sleeping bag (but decided to leave them there because in his own words "I've never managed to roll it up that good before"). He has now just realized that he can't go to bed until he unrolls the whole thing and retrieves his one pair of boxers... I probably could have been slightly more sympathetic :)
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