Judbarra: familiar rock, new discoveries

Judbarra / Gregory National Park was our first national park in the Northern Territory, and it felt familiar in an elusive way. There were echoes of the Kimberley in the rock and vegetation, with enough differences to keep making us stop and look again.

The rock art was a highlight. We were delighted by figures that looked to us like little bandicoots, and left wondering about the story behind a much larger bird-like figure. We have kept the question mark rather than trying to give it a story of our own.

Then there was the olive python. We had been hoping to see one since first hearing about them around Millstream, and this was an impressive introduction: easily more than three metres long by our estimate, moving through the branches and leaf litter.

The harlequin bugs were busy on a much smaller scale. Rock art, a remarkable snake and a cluster of brightly patterned insects made for a very good start to the Territory's parks.