Barney's adventures in the Top End

Barney was born on a Tuesday evening. I fed him diligently for 10 days, almost giving up on him that first weekend when he went all flat.

The next Friday evening it was time to bake. What a happy boy he was, expanding with gusto. We didn’t have time to proof him as long as we would have liked though, but he turned out just wonderfully golden.

First stop on our trip was beautiful Edith falls, a little way out of Katherine. What a stunning pool surrounded by pandanus, with a little waterfall in the distance.

Here we had a simple lunch with some organic cucumber (so fresh! Like a real cucumber) and cheese. Barney was a little flat in shape, but had a nice chewy crumb and a caramelised crust.

That afternoon we went to the amazing Nitmiluk gorge, the red sandstone walls flanking a gorgeous body of clear deep water. 

We climbed up to a lookout for sunset, taking Barney with us for some great views of the gorge.

That night we stayed at a retro old-school motel in Katherine. The breakfast spread included true retro features like a turn-stile toaster, cereal dispensers, tinned peaches and Nescafe 43. We love the Territory!

On the second day we drove into Kakadu national park and visited Gunlom falls. 

This is truly one of the most amazing places I have ever been to – an impossibly calm green pool with a towering cliff face on one side. Imagine what the waterfall must look like in wet season!

We ate Barney with some Thai salad that had survived surprisingly well in the car, roast cauliflower, red capsicum and more cheese.

Gunlom was such a perfect place to relax and we spent a few hours lazing around, swimming and reading. We didn't even find any crocodiles!

That night we stayed at the Crocodile hotel in Jabiru and I fed Barney his first beer – just kidding!

On the third day we went out to Yellow Water billabong but we didn’t bring Barney along – the salties may have eaten him! 

We took him to Nourlangie rock for lunch in front of some incredible rock art from thousands of years ago. 

We had an absolute feast with Barney here – lots of veggies, avocado and cheese.

More relaxing by the pool at the Crocodile hotel. There wasn't much of Barney left by then but we had a few more bites for good measure. 

We brought him along to the top of the escarpment at Ubirr, a panoramic view over the wetlands of Kakadu. 

This is arguably the best sunset, in. the. world.

On our last morning, Barney was sad to be leaving Kakadu too.

On the way home we stopped off at the Humpty Doo hotel for a trio of Territory burgers – buffalo, crocodile and barramundi. Needless to say, Barney was tastier than all of them!

No Northern Territory trip is complete without a visit to the Boxing Croc!

We love Barney! xxx his proud parents