Todays visit is to the Window on the Wetlands , it's run by NT Parks and gives you an insight into the comings & goings of the wetlands , wildlife & the effect the weather has on it all . It is an imposing building perched up on a hill overlooking the wetlands & Adelaide River . There are interactive displays , a continuous movie of all the seasons of Kakadu , and an outside viewing deck .
The wind was picking up, so was the temperature , but it was pleasant on the outside viewing deck . You get views nearly all the way round the building - to the east we have an artificial lake bathed in green , bordered by the highway , to the south & west there is wetland that isn't terribly wet at the moment , and is also a bit charred & black from burning operations , to the north there is more wetland , but hidden by trees & a hill .
It was decided to do a trial on growing rice here many years ago , it didn't do too well , so the result is a lot of flat area that is now all wetlands . Some of those areas are close by :- Fogg Dam & Harrison Dam . Now our idea of a dam isn't what we found , here the Fogg Dam is more of a levee bank separating water , about a metre difference in the levels . As would be expected , there is prolific birdlife here and all the different species coexist quite happily - there is enough room for everyone .
There are rainforest & wetland walks that can be done , we had lunch in the rainforest - quite dry at the moment , so we decided to keep looking around . School zones are interesting here - they run from 7am to 5 pm - all day !!! no breaks !!!
Driving back , we stopped at Adelaide River where they do jumping croc cruises , you couldn't look at the river as it was all overgrown and no access , apart from the pontoon & floating platforms for you to get on the cruise boats , so we thought no , we'll head back to the RV - the idea of feeding the crocs from a boat is probably not in the best interest of fisherman or anyone else out in a boat !!
There were crocs resting on the muddy banks of the river - they know they don't have to go far for a feed !!!
Back to the RV , it was hot , so it was swim time , & cool off before having cheese & bickies & a nice cold beer . We watched as an influx of camper vans & hire motorhomes arrived late in the day & jockeyed for a position to get power & water . Most were foreign tourists who had picked up their vehicles today from the look of things - not knowing how to operate all the bits & pieces of their vehicles . Hope they're prepared for the rest of their adventures - me thinks they don't know what's about to hit them !!!
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