Willis's Walkabouts Australian Bushwalking Holidays

THE WET SEASON: Part 2

The pictures on this page tell the story of wet season walking. Look at the first three below.

The first picture was taken on the Ord River part of our Green Kimberley trip in February. Look at the sky. 15 minutes earlier it had been pouring with rain.

The picture at the right above was taken on another Green Kimberley trip in February. Rather than pitch tents in the rain, the group was able to set them all up in a rock shelter. We can't find sheleters like this every night, but we can find them often enough so you can dry out even in the wettest weather.

The picture to the right was taken in Kakadu in March. Again look at the sky.

On a wet season walk, water is everywhere. You seldom walk for as much as an hour without stopping for a break, without slipping into yet another inviting pool.

On all wet season trips, swimming is a pleasure. On some it is a requirement.

The three pictures above and to the left were all taken in Kakadu in January. The first shows a group floating packs across a river. The second shows a group just after a long pack float. Rather than walk, they all decided to hop into the river and let the river do the work for them. The one at the left shows wading through a creek which is dry for most of the year.

It's not only the creeks and rivers which look different during the wet season. The land itself takes on a completely different aspect. The two photos below show a group walking through open woodland. The first was taken in June, early in the dry season; the second in January, early in the wet season.

Finally, the three pictures below show just how lucky you can be. All were taken from within 50 metres of each other, the first late one April afternoon, the second and third the following morning after the tail end of a cyclone came through. (Where we walk in Kakadu is too far inland for cyclonic winds but not too far for the associated rain.)

When we arrived, it was easy to step across the creek. The following morning it had turned into a spectacular torrent.

We were dry and comfortable in a nearby rock shelter, stepping out every so often to enjoy the magnificent views. The next morning the rain had stopped and we moved on, feeling privileged to have been able to experience the might of the wet season in such comfort.

It's not only the creeks and rivers which look different during the wet season. The land itself takes on a completely different aspect. The two photos below show a group walking through open woodland. The first was taken in June, early in the dry season; the second in January, early in the wet season.

Finally, the three pictures below show just how lucky you can be. All were taken from within 50 metres of each other, the first late one April afternoon, the second and third the following morning after the tail end of a cyclone came through. (Where we walk in Kakadu is too far inland for cyclonic winds but not too far for the associated rain.) When we arrived, it was easy to step across the creek. The following morning it had turned into a spectacular torrent.

We were dry and comfortable in a nearby rock shelter, stepping out every so often to enjoy the magnificent views. The next morning the rain had stopped and we moved on, feeling privileged to have been able to experience the might of the wet season in such comfort.