17 Jul 2023

Maneuvering the Mangroves of Hunter River

During the morning we awoke with Heritage Adventurer enshrouded by some of the Kimberley coast's most stunning escarpments, as the Hunter River system beckoned to be explored.

It was a sunrise start to experience life within the pristine mangrove forest as it transformed from a feeding ground for snapping crocodiles, hunting in the area for fish and mud crabs, to the awakening chorus of birds echoing through the gorges and root systems surrounding us. Australia has the third largest mangrove area in the world - an important eco system to protect. We entered into this gallery of mangroves to meet some of the residents and learned more about the importance of these incredible species.

We could hardly believe our luck as some rarely seen Snubfin Dolphin gracefully arched their backs above the waterline and we also spotted our first large Saltwater Crocodile, photogenically basking with a huge grin atop a rock.
During our afternoon Zodiac cruise of the mangroves, we witnessed firsthand the huge tidal movements and enjoyed spending time with numerous crocodiles which were lying in muddy puddles chasing fish, unperturbed by our presence. There were lots of birds to identify along with Giant Mudskippers living their life both above and below the water. It was also a great spot to sight the antics of the Flame-backed Fiddler Crabs on the banks of mud.