Page 2 - Camper Trailer Australia Mary River National Park

EASTER TRAVEL
WORDS LINDA LEE RATHBUN; PICS STEVEN DAVID MILLER
Mary River NP, NT
Lotus lily.
A jabiru.
With a sprawling catchment that embraces lily-studded wetlands, billabongs throbbing with wading
birds and crocodiles, and monsoonal paperbark forests laced with parrots and fruit bats, the Mary River region offers visitors the chance to relax and have a great Top End experience.
WETLAND SEASON
On the way to Kakadu from Darwin most people speed past the Mary River without realising what they are missing. Many of the tour buses stop briefly at Windows on the Wetlands, but to visit this region and not do a wetlands cruise is a tragedy, and you couldn’t possibly do better than the one at Corroboree Billabong.
The Corroboree Tavern roadhouse has camping at the back, with the turnoff to the billabong just 200m up the road. Camping is permitted at the billabong, which is 20km up an unsealed road, as long as you don’t mind clouds of mozzies and a dodgy toilet. The late afternoon cruise offers the most birdlife, but it’s beautiful at any time of day.
The next place offering camping is Mary River Park, an absolute gem of a spot and an excellent base for the entire region.
Don’t expect a flash toilet block or laundry facility, but the setting more than makes up for the modest facilities. Try the drive to Bird Billabong, with a 4.5km walk to
the lookout, or go for a swim in the pool before happy hour.
There is a number of worthwhile river cruises on offer, but if the budget only allows for one, go with the billabong cruise. Kingfishers, black cockatoos and numerous other birds can be seen in
the park, and at dawn the misty field is populated by agile wallabies.
“The late afternoon cruise offers the most birdlife, but it’s beautiful at any time of day”
As inviting as it may be, don’t even think about swimming or fishing from the shore of the river. The Mary has the highest concentration of saltwater crocs in the world. The bridge over the river
is a good place to spot one, although the billabong cruise will have already introduced you to a few.
The wetlands at Rockhole.
Another option for a roadhouse campground is Bark Hut Inn. Access to Annaburro Billabong is across the road, but this is not always open so check at Bark Hut for information. Point Stuart Road, 18km further on the Arnhem Highway, is the access road for Mary River National Park.
If you want to camp in the national park there are three options: Couzens Campground is at the end of the 18km long Rockhole Road and is perfect
for those who want a secluded bush camp; Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge
is 40km north of the turnoff and offers such creature comforts as showers, a swimming pool and a saloon, as well
as boat hire from Shady Camp and a wetlands cruise from the Rockhole; 17km further on Shady Camp has camping, but no shade, and is popular with campers who settle in for weeks at a time and go fishing until they can’t stand the thought of one more barbecued barramundi.
IN THE PARK
So, what is there to see in Mary River NP proper? Rockhole Road is well worth a drive, with access to the northern end of Hardies 4WD track and the southern end of the Wildman 4WD track. You could also
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