We are a tad higher, a few meters in altitude. With turkey bush.

There is lots more shade here, but of course that brings more mosquitoes.

We eat inside.

The west side of Anbangbang Billabong has a promising walk around the billabong.

Alas, this is as far as we got, the edge of the billabong, before encountering "seasonal closure" signs in both directions.

But there is a clue. Perhaps the afternoon light will illuminate Nourlangie Rock.

On the horizon is the Arnhem Land escarpment. The 240km of escarpment that reaches as far as Katherine.

The sandstone was laid down in a shallow sea. The escarpment is the underwater coastline, falling to a shelf - an underwater plain.

The sandstone didn't rise. The sea fell.

The source of the sand that formed the sandstone was somewhere unknown, to the north west. One can imagine a very large mountain range reduced to a very large volume of sand - a  very rough calculation suggests 8,000 cubic km .... which really is "lots".

In parts there are basalt (volcanic) intrusions to bend the sandstone, and even some basalt that flowed above the sandstone, though perhaps not on the scale of shield volcanoes. There was pre-existing basalt below the sandstone.

A small billabong beside the campsite. Choked.

The Illigadjar Floodplain Walk beckons. A 3.8km loop from the campsite.

It looks sufficiently dry to us (bone dry sums it up). All that is lacking to open it is the tractor with slasher that will be driven around it to trim the grass and weed.

The steel pipes with yellow painted tops are sufficient for where the track is less clear.

We set off clockwise. Towards Burdulba Campsite.

Generally easy to find the track disappeared in this long grass.

We could see the next pole, but not the track.

But eventually, we stared at the grass long enough, and the track became apparent.

With occasional birds.

We are hot, and tired.

Add that not only is Ubirr closed but also the Merl campsite and all tracks in that area we return to Malabanjbanjdju Campground.

Friday starts in a leisurely manner. A return to Cooinda for a walk along the boardwalk.

Very pleasant.An egret in the morning light.

One of two we saw.

Perhaps an early arrival.

This is outside. A representation of the six seasons in the area.

Relax, watching the birds.

Lunch.

They are hesitant, in a tight bunch, waiting until it is safe to cross the open patch of ground in front of us.

Then a dash for the other side.

The escarpment much better illuminated than the previous morning.

We read the clues correctly ......

Ali remained to enjoy the view, across the billabong.

Then back, again, to Malabanjbanjdju Campground.

An early start tomorrow as we venture north about 300km to Garig Gunak Barlu (Cobourg Peninsula) National Park.