Archive for Darwin
The Wonderful Tiwi Islands
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The Wonderful Tiwi Islands
The "Arafura Pearl" Ferry
Well friends since I posted the last time, I have been given the opportunity to live & work on the Tiwi Islands. I was very pleased to be accepted as a member of the Islands housing council, and at the same time be able to pass on my trade of Plumbing to young Tiwi Aboriginals. I am still getting established here and settling into the house the Council has given me. The Wonderful Tiwi Islands has every thing I need to enjoy my stay here, from fishing to photography & yes I have great access to the Internet as well !!
For those who are wondering just where the Tiwi Islands are located, I can tell you they are 100km of the northern coast of Australia and directly above Darwin, the capitol of Australia’s Northern Territory. It is set in the tropics and now entering the wet season very soon. It is a tourist destination and can be accessed by a 20 minute charter flight from Darwin or as I chose to travel, a 2hr Ferry ride on the beautiful “Arafua Pearl ” ferry that travels 3 days a week from Darwin while the weather holds up.
Many tourists come on the ferry in the morning from the mainland, spend the day here sight seeing and visiting the Tiwi Aboriginals craft & art centres, then return in the afternoon to Darwin. It is a long day , yet a memorable one indeed. The Tiwi Islands consist of two main islands, one called Bathurst & the other the much larger one called Mellivle Island. They call them the Tiwi Islands as the beautiful Tiwi Aboriginals are the indigenous residents here & have been for centuries. Already I have made many aboriginal friends, and expect I will make many more before I leave here.
Boatshed & Foreshore of Bathurst Island
I will bring you all plenty of stories,photo’s & fishing tales while I am here on the Island. I am still searching for my first prize 1mtr barramundi catch & am expecting to catch him during my stay here. The islands are very large and consist of hundreds of small inlets,creeks & waterways , so plenty of fishing will be happening I can assure you all. Already I have been taken on some great boating & fishing trips & managed to see some beautiful places, so stay posted and I will do my best to share the beauty of , The Wonderful Tiwi Islands
A Plaque For The Tiwi People
Good Bye now to you all and see you for our next blog post here on Fishermans Blog .
Tight Lines
Allen Sentance
Fisherman
Adelaide River Jumping Crocodiles
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Crocodiles Jumping For Our Tourists
Welcome back to the Fishermans blog , friends today I would like to tell you just a little about our world famous Adelaide River Jumping Crocodiles , and add some photographs to help you visulaize the experience that so many tourists from around the world flock to see.
Adelaide River
The river is in the top end of the Northern Territory of Australia . If you were to fly to Darwin and join a tour group there they will take you by mini bus 90 km from Darwin to where the Jumping Crocodile cruises are located. These cruises are set up along side the Arnhem highway bridge that crosses the river to get to another famous spot Kakadu National Park , which is another 90km further on .
The roads are all first class bitumen sealed , to the cruises pickup wharf and tourists coffe shop. To see a map of the area that will perhaps explain the location a little clearer and show you where I live on the Adelaide River you may like to visit my other blog here . There are thousands of crocodiles in the Northern Territory of Australia, and when you are negotiating any waterways around here, you must have your witts about you at all times.
Getting Crocodiles To Jump
This process has evolved over time from the crocodiles being fed regularly, at the same spots . The cruise will go approximately 4km up river and move at a very slow pace , so the tourists get to spot all the crocodiles and take in the beautiful surroundings of the Adelaide River wildlife and birds. When they are approaching the crocodiles some will surface and begin to swim to the boat . while others will just lie in the mud at the rivers edge.
They vary in size from 3 to 6 mtrs , at this point the boat will stop and dangle some meat from a string on a pole. They will raise the dangling meat up and down until the crocodile is ready to jump, they can tell this as his tail section will sink deep into the water to get the propulsion he needs to launch himself. All this action happens within 2 or 3 mtrs from the side of the boat, and to see a huge crocodile jump out of the water is awesome .
Although this is a great spectacle and tourist attraction , getting crocodiles to jump in the wild like this . Some will argue that it only encourages crocodiles in the wild to jump into and attack unsuspecting fisherman and boating enthusiasts . The last photo I will share with you may support, that Adelaide River Jumping Crocodiles are infact more dangerous . I live on the Adelaide River and have my own opinion, that crocodiles are only as dangerous as the people that put themselves at risk, acknowledge them and treat them with respect at all times.
A Very Lucky Escape Indeed
This is a photograph from our local news paper only this year, where some fisherman had a very lucky escape. I hope I have enlightened you all as to our famous Adelaide River Jumping Crocodiles , and you can form your own opinions. Our Northern Territory Government fisheries department can supply all you need to know about our laws and controls of crocodiles . We trap around 300 crocodiles annually, in Darwin Harbour alone and relocate them.
Good Bye now to you all and see you for our next blog post here on Fishermans Blog .
Tight Lines
Allen Sentance
Fisherman
