Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 00:54
It has been a while since I went into Barramundie
Gorge - one of my favourites but I believe it was two wheel drive accessable with only one sandy
creek crossing with water in it. The bottom was pretty hard and only about 1 foot deep or less. This is a great
gorge with quite a walk up to the top of
the gorge. The
camp ground is set back a bit and we usually found it nice and quiet but we would often go a bit earlier in the year to avoid the tourists.
Swimming at the base of the falls was pretty ordinary and a couple of freshwater crocs in there too. We would go to the top of the falls which had far better swimming facilities so long as you stayed away from the edge. Because we camped at
the gorge grounds we would go up to the top of
the gorge early to avoid the tour buses. (These are the plague of touring by yourself in
Kakadu - dozens of people decending on your peace and quite - all speaking german or swiss or other and all playing those mini didgeridoos.
We would have our primary aged children with us when going to the top of
the gorge. To get there follow the main access trail up to the point where you cross the river but instead of crossing look for the trail on the same side going up the
hill and follow that.
Once up the top there is just the best swimming and sunning yourself on the rocks. Also a very cool hole in
the rock where a round hole - about 5ft has worn right through - about 6ft underwater - and you can swim down and out again.
As for your question about the old JimJim track - are you refering to the old access track into
Kakadu from the Arnhem highway. This is not accessible for two wheel drive with multiple creek crossings that where fairly significant.
The other track into JimJim falls is not accessible to 2wd either. There is a graded road for for quite a while but then it becomes a difficult 4x4 track with multiple soft river crossings. The
campsite in there becomes inundated with big 4x4 tourbuses and loads of tourists as it is a highlight for most tours. When room is tight they will just setup
camp on top of you literally less than 3 feet away laying out swags anywhere - staying up all night yelling and screaming - and playing those bloody tourist didgeridoos.
Once in the
camp you have access to visit either
Jim Jim falls or
twin falls. It has been a while since we where there and back then you had to swim up to the
twin falls. Over the years the rangers have not been able to get the saltwater crocs out so now I believe there is a boat that you need to pay for to get up to the falls.
Hope this helps. Some things may have changed since I was there.
David
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 00:59
Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 00:59
Tour groups got to Maguk as we did. This was the only time we felt crowded out by them.
Mh
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Follow Up By: Member - Serendipity(WA) - Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 01:01
Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 01:01
Just a photo of the
creek crossing on the Old JimJim track - This is the main crossing of the South Alligator.
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