Last Chance for Blue-Winged Kooka’s

9^th – 14^th October 2025

We stayed in the same caravan park (Katherine Riverside) as last time. More than half of the park was closed in preparation for the wet season, but we stayed for three nights, knowing it was my last chance to see my Blue-Winged Kookaburras one more time. I went into stealth mode and got some great shots.

Later that day I got the female flying back across the Katherine River.

As she got closer to the bank she spotted something interesting, she could obviously see me but decided to ignore me and go for her tucker.

Her prize securely in her bill, she quickly took off and headed to the safety of a tree. I scrambled up the bank and followed her. She sat there for a good five minutes before flying off with the now, well and truly dead frog.

Sometime later, a male, presumably our huntress’s mate, caught my attention. He flew into a hollow where he stayed for quite some time, I think he was trying to cool off a little before heading on his way.

I was hoping to see these stunning birds one more time before we left the NT, and they put on a great show for me. I really will miss them.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the other birds in the area,

Rainbow Bee-Eaters, Red-Collared Lorikeets, Dollar Birds, White-Bellied Sea Eagle and Rajah Shelducks. There was also a huge flock of Whistling ducks, not sure which ones (Plumed or Wandering) high above the canopy.

After three nights at Katherine, we continued south. Everyone had interesting things to say about Daly Waters, it’s promoted as a ‘must do’ stop in the territory. It was only 6 km west of the highway, so we went. Well, what can I say. There was nothing there except a pub, a very quirky pub.

The decor was eclectic, chaotic and a little bit creepy with dolls (and other paraphernalia) pinned to the walls and ceilings. Not my cup of tea. In the streets and the car park, where we camped, there were donkeys, horses goats, and chooks freely roaming. It was an interesting place, and we experienced our first tropical storm there, but the highlight was that we had dinner with a lovely couple and have kept in touch with them since. Would we go again? Probably not.

We overnighted at Three Ways in the van park (unremarkable) before making our way back to Camooweal.

This brought an end to our sixty-nine-day adventure around Australia’s Top End. Despite the extreme heat, the extensive burn-offs, and the lack of wildlife, we really did enjoy it, especially the crocodiles. Next time around, I think we’ll go at the end of the wet season and I’m sure we will see a completely different landscape.

See you out there somewhere

On tow and on the go!