We jumped into it boat and within only a minute were looking at a buffalo on the waters edge with a beautiful sunrise behind it. As it turns out this buffalo decide it would attempt to cruise the billabong and started wading it's way through the water, we then sighted our first estrine (salty) crocodile headed right for the buffalo. The buffalo got wise and quickly headed back for the bank. It was a tense 60 seconds and everyone on the boat exhailed in unisome once he made it safely back to the bank.
We saw some amazing bird including a sea hawk, 10's of thousands of ducks and a Jesus bird which has the largest got to body ratio allowing it to walk across the water on the lily pads.
We watched a crocodile use it's whole body to caress schools of fish against the bank before taking a snap to catch one. Some of the fish jumped over the top of the crocodile as it was attempting this. The same crocodile also went head to head with another croc in it's territory but the other displayed is submissive aquatic pose with it's head and tail in the air so it didn't recieve any further trouble.
The yellow water billabong was home to 55 different species of fish and is the largest mainland national park in Australia. All fish in the national park are protected except for barramundi over 55cms. However local aboriginals have the right to catch and kill any animals on the land.
We packed up or camp and checked out the cultural gallery as we left and leant about how the local aboriginals divide the year into not just a wet and dry season but 6 different seasons which all have their different impacts on the environment.
We headed up the road and then turned off to Jim Jim road this was another badly corrugated road all the way to the campsite. We made camp and unhitched Sandy to travel the next 8kms to the Jim Jim falls carpark which to 40mins.
The 1km walk in was slow climbing over the large rocks. Marty had gotten the nickname 'Marty mountain goat' because he always liked to walk the higher and more difficult track. But then we suprisingly arrived at the end of a canyon with a sandy beach bemused by a gaping huge water fall descending the escarpment.
Photos didn't quite capture the feeling we got when we first saw it. But it wasn't until we swam past the first body of water and climbed over the fallen rocks to the eerie black water hole where the canyon meets the water fall. It was Grand yet quiet. The swim out to the water fall was another good 60m across the black water shaded by the sheer Cliffs on either side.
We spent hours playing in the sand with our toes in the water waiting for the schools of little fish to come and bubble out toes. Marty and Judd thought it was fun but tickly. Micah was interested but scared when they got to close.
Credit to the big boys on their walk back who, dispite being 4:30PM were happy to walk back unassisted, which was a welcome surprise for mum and dad. We talked on the way back about how much all of our boys had grown, not just physically (which was noticeable) but had matured about in ways, particularly their reliance to change, challenges, the way they deal with getting hurt. It was all welcome change as a result of this adventure we were all on.
Driving back all 3 kids feel asleep in the car, not ideal, but understandable. It was a big day with an early start. To be honest we all felt ready for a sleep when we got back to the car.
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