Seven Emu Station. (Gulf of Carpentaria)N.T.

On the Savannah Way, we leave Borroloola behind and head out to Seven Emu Station. Ludwig Leichhardt and his men named Seven Emu Station in 1844.  Frank Shadforth owns the station now and his Father “Willi” was the first and only Aborigine to purchase a pastoral lease.  In 1953 Willi paid cash for the 1665 square miles of Seven Emu Station, which is a working Cattle Station.(Willie made his money, droving, buying and selling Cattle).

We arrive to find the truck has just been loaded with cattle and it is hard to know, what is the Homestead, offices or Sheds?? We meet Frank and have a bit of a yarn and head of to our Camp site. The cost is $50 per night or $500 and you can stay as long as you like!!! Four Campsites up on the cliff and spread out, Camp site 4 is the best, looking down on to the Robinson River. We thought it was a bit expensive, no power and just a long drop, but it has a million dollar view and $50 per night is cheap!!! It is absolutely stunning, breath taking and no one else around!!! It’s heaven!! Occasionally the bull chaser goes by and that’s it. There are cattle, Roo’s, Horses, Birds and lot’s of Croc’s. Two nights ago they lost one of their pig hunting Dog’s called “patch”, they have GPS trackers on the dog’s, the dog followed the pig into the water and Whoosh, the Croc got the dog!! Last night from the cliff top we were spotting Crocs and in 10 mins we saw 4 Saltwater crocs just on our little patch of river. Two of the croc’s we were watching, came upon each other, they circled each other, hissing & growling, they didn’t fight, but they were definitely warning each other!!! The fish in the river are amazing; we can see Queenies, Barramundi, Mangrove Jack’s, Brim, Mulloways & Garfish (Long Toms). Steve has caught a large Queenie, however still has not caught a barra!!

 

First the water crossing, no idea of depth!!

 

A mean looking bull in the stock yards.

 

Steve enjoying the million dollar view!!

 

                                    Looking up stream of the Robinson River.

                                      Looking down stream. Robinson River.

                                            The view from our Campsite.

                                                       Our on suite!!!

                                            The view from our on suite!!!

Our Campsite. Perfect!!!

 

Steve trying for a Barra??

 

If only it was a Barra :(

 

The sun going down at Seven Emu Station.

 

Stunning.

 

 

The end of another perfect day!!!!

 

                                     Another day, chasing the elusive Barra!!

Can you see the Barra??

 

Whistling Duck's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limmen National Park.NT.

We leave Mataranka behind and head along the Roper Highway towards Roper Bar. Passing several Creeks along the way with water in them, we pass Brahman Cattle, Horses, a group of 20 plus Donkeys and many Escarpments, a very pretty drive. We stop at Tomato Island in the Limmen National Park, excellent place for fishing if you have a boat.  Carrying on through Limmen N.P which has several water crossings.  We decide to camp at Butterfly Springs for 2 nights, the waterfall is still trickling, the Common Crow Butterflies are everywhere, lots of bird life and the swimming is fantastic!!

 

Three little Donkey's!!

 

Me trying to pinch this for Neil's IRB Racing motor!! Tomato Island, Limmen N.P. 

 

Limmen Bight.

 

Butterfly Springs. Limmen National Park.

 

Still running.

 

Two Honey Bee Eaters.

 

Common Crow Butterfly's.(Why it is named Butterfly Springs). 

 

Four Sulphur Crested Cockie's on the springs.

 

Just Pretty.

 

The Southern Lost City is 30 klm south of Butterfly Springs (Limmon N.P) a 2.5klm easy walk, gives stunning views and the bird life is excellent.   A very scenic Lost City.  Carrying on we cross the Limmon Bight, which is very pretty, with several small lakes. We make it to Borroloola where we camp for one night.

 

The early morning mist over the road.

 

                                 Steve in the Southern Lost City. Limmon N.P.

                                 Steve in the Southern Lost City. Limmon N.P.

                                                   Southern Lost City.

                                       Steve in the Southern Lost City.

                                                  Southern Lost City.

                                                  Me in the Lost City.

                           Three Rainbow Lorikeet's (Or similar). The Lost City.

                                                    The Lost City. NT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garig,Gunak Barlou National Park.2.& Cutta Cutta Caves.

Here are some of the birds we saw; Jabiru, Black Cockies, Hawks, Eagles, Falcon’s, Little Egrets, Cormaronts, pelican’s, Pied Heron, Beach Stone Curlew, Pied Oyster catchers, Red Capped plovers, Bar shouldered Doves, Brolga’s, Sulphur crested Cockatoo,, white breasted wood swallows, night Heron, Sooty Oyster catcher, Olive backed Oriole, Camcal Pheasant, Honey bee eater & many more that we don’t know their names. We saw Banteng Cattle; this is the home for the world’s largest wild herd. (These Indonesian cattle are endangered in their native habitat). We also saw a snake near the rangers lodge (unsure of what type).

Garig Gnak Barlu National Park is located 570klm from Darwin by road;  the park includes the entire Peninsular, the surrounding waters of the Arafura Sea,  Van Dieman Gulf and some of the Islands.  It covers 4,500sq.km . The park contains sandy beaches,  dunes, grasslands,   mangroves,  rainforest patches,  swamps,  lagoons, coral reefs,  sea grass meadows & rich marine life.  We have driven the coastal drive and collected fire wood,  it was sooooo pretty and we saw many tracks: - Dingo’s, turtle, lizard, pigs, Snake, buffalo, donkey’s & cattle, unfortunately we only saw the tracks!! There is no safe swimming hereL.

Around our camp in the evening we have northern Brown Bandicoot, (apparently they ate some other campers tucker last night)!!! Wallabies, also the camp next door had a small croc in it, 3 nights ago!! 

We did the wetlands walk around Wuwurdi Swamp, this was a very pretty walk, again we saw lots of tracks, we did see a 2 metre Croc in the Billabong. Next we drove out to Smith Point to have a look at the Beacon, this was built in December 1845 by marines from Port Essington, to help guide the ships, it was rebuilt in December 1978 by the crew from H.M.A.S Ardent.

 

Steve painting his Didgeridoo at our campsite.

 

Steve at G.G.B.N.P.

 

 

                                                          Me in a tree.

                                                        Turtle Tracks.

Kurrajong Blossom.

 

 

                                          A Croc hiding behind the tree.

                                         Devastation caused by the cyclone.

                                       The Wetlands walk. Wuwurdi Swamp.

                                                           The jetty.

                                               Steve at the Boat ramp.

Steve at Smith point Beacon.

 

                                                            Smith Point.

                                              Smith point on a windy day.

                                                  Sunset at G.G.B.N.P.

                                                           Us at Sunset.

A tiny Lizard.

 

Me doing the washing old school.

 

The best Damper I have made!!!

 

              Steve with the Lamb Shanks on the go, to go with the Damper!! Yummy!!!

                                               The drive back to Kakadu.

Cahill's Crossing.

 

See the good picture's I take, when a 4 metre Croc is swimming along side and the water is trying to push us off the Causeway. If you look, you can actually see the force and speed of the water!!! Scary!!!!

 

The rush of water.

 

Steve having a beer at Jabiru.

 

A baby Rock Wallaby.

 

Cutta Cutta Caves.

 

Cutta Cutta Caves.

 

Cutta Cutta Caves.

 

A peacock visiting our camp.