"THE LEYLAND SISTERS": BERRY SPRINGS

TUESDAY 6.08.2013: In our wisdom we booked back to back tours (did not think that one through)! We wearily headed out for the Adelaide River Wildlife, Leisure and Fishing One Day Tour with Harry Bowman and the Adelaide River Cruises - www.adelaiderivercruises.com.au. What a difference a tour guide can make and what a fabulous day at half the cost.

FROM "THE WINDOW TO THE WETLANDS"

Our first stop was at "The Window to the Wetlands" interactive information centre. Then boarded Harry's boat and headed on down the Adelaide River. The dark line of vegetation on the Adelaide River marks the course of the river. In the dry season it is a slow-moving, tidal river but in the wet season it becomes a deep, fast-flowing, fresh water torrent. After heavy rains, flood waters can spread right across the plain in front of you.

For some unknown reason you feel compelled to take photos of every single crocodile - they all vary s-o greatly from one to another - not! Of the 5,500 photos, these two provide an indicator on how the crocodiles were quite prepared to swim up to the side of the boat and view their day's menu! The Estuarine (Saltwater) crocodile is so named for its uniqueness - they use their blood system to remove salt from the body. Lingual glands at the back of their fleshy tongue excrete salt when the animal is living in a highly saline environment.

We pulled in to the side of the river and Harry prepared morning tea. Onward down the river viewing all on offer. A plate of food was floated for the eagles to come and "peck" on. We had a barbecue lunch on Harry's property at his very rustic, but enjoyable outdoor restaurant. The female bathroom facilities were priceless, no detail was forgotten - pot plants, even!

OUTDOOR RESTAURANT

EYES LEFT!

THE BATHROOM

Harry showed us Aboriginal spear heads found on his property, plus the devastation that wild buffalo can cause to the land. Our final stop was at Goat Island Lodge which is run by Kai Hansen. We enjoyed a wine and had a lesson in freshwater fishing.

GOAT ISLAND LODGE

HARRY BOWMAN

On the return trip we saw a female crocodile and her newly hatched children. They have had problems with poachers selling the eggs to the Crocodile Farms - $50.00 per egg. Not much, but when there can be 50-80 eggs per nest it becomes a lucrative business. Freshwater crocodiles have a small slender head with an unusually long snout. The 'Salties' are a large headed species with a heavy set of jaws. The jaw can exert a pressure of several tons and the 'Salties' like human tucker!

Also saw our first herd of wild buffalo. Had a superb day and yes, we were at the correct pick up point - Humpty Doo Pub!