Gallery 1 — Living Lee

A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, a flash of lightning, a drop of dew, a phantom, and a dream. So is this fleeting world.

Diamond Sutra.

Rugged, remote, yet resplendent! Mitchell plateau and Arnhem land, the crown jewels of Australia, do not earn their charisma for nothing. These ancient sandstone tabletops boast magnificent rocky escarpments dissected by deep gorges, where islands of rainforests persist and tiers of waterfalls roar. Over millions of years, this is home to some of Australia’s most unique and elusive animals. They have adapted to fluctuating climates of tropical monsoon and tell intriguing stories of a complex biogeographic history. This is a glimpse of the land far north and the wild spirits that thrive on it.

Trip routes: October 2024 | Darwin → Kakadu NP Jabiru → Pine Creek → Katherine → Nitmiluk NP → Victoria river crossing → Timber Creek → Kununurra → Katherine → Darwin; August 2025 | Darwin → Timber Creek → Kununurra → Mitchell Plateau → Bell Gorge → Purnunulu NP → Kununurra → Kakadu NP Gunlom → Umbrawarra Gorge → Darwin.

Highlight species: Black grasswren, Scaly-tailed possum, Rough-scaled python, Jewelled velvet gecko, Sandstone pie-dish beetle (Pterohelaeus latus).

This album is dedicated to Ash Walker, the former Mitchell Plateau ranger, for his generous support and philosophical wisdom.

Black grasswren (Amytornis housei) [Dalal] @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Purple-crowned fairywren (Malurus coronatus) @ WA, Drysdale river, Miner's pool

White-quilled rock-pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) @ WA, Kununurra, Mirima NP

Chestnut-quilled rock-pigeon (Petrophassa rufipennis) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Bardejiliji walking track

Sandstone shrike-thrush (Colluricincla woodwardi) @ WA, Kununurra, Mirima NP

Kimberley honeyeater (Territornis fordiana) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Scaly-tailed possum (Wyulda squamicaudata), feeding on Padanus fruits at the edge of the rainforest thicket @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Rock ringtail possum (Petropseudes dahli) @ NT, Umbrawarra Gorge

Savanna glider (Petaurus ariel) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, near Little Merten Fall

Monjon (Petrogale burbidgei), the smallest rock wallaby @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Eastern short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale wilkinsi) @ NT, Kakadu NP

Golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Kimberley rock rat (Zyzomys woodwardi) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, near Little Merten Fall

Rough-scaled python (Morelia carinata) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Olive python (Liasis olivaceus) @ NT, Umbrawarra Gorge

Jewelled velvet gecko (Oedura gemmata), part of the O. marmorata/gemmata species complex @ NT, Kakadu NP

Rock pie-dish beetle (Tenebrionidae, Pterohelaeus latus) @ NT, Victoria river

Purple-backed fairywren, male (Malurus assimilis rogersi) @ WA, Mitchell plateau, River view trail

Purple-backed fairywren, female (Malurus assimilis rogersi) @ WA, Mitchell plateau, River view trail

Sandstone fairywren, female (Malurus assimilis dulcis) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom, Upper pool

White-quilled rock pigeon (Petrophassa albipennis) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, River view trail

Partridge pigeon (Geophaps smithii blaauwi), the best campground pigeons for the best oz campground toilet @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, near campground toilet

Sandstone shrike-thrush (Colluricincla woodwardi) @ NT, Judbarra/Greogory NP, Escarpment Walk

Bar-breasted honeyeater (Ramsayornis fasciatus) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Grey-fronted honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula) @ WA, Timber Creek, Nackeroo lookout

Yellow-tinted honeyeater (Ptilotula flavescens) @ NT, Timber Creek

Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) @ NT, Katherine

Crimson finch (Neochmia phaeton) @ NT, Katherine, Edith Fall

Crimson finch (Neochmia phaeton) @ WA, Kununurra

Long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Mamukala walking track

Masked finch (Poephila personata) @ NT, Katherine, Edith Fall

Long-tailed and Masked finch @ NT, Katherine, Edith Falls

Star finch (Neochmia ruficauda) @ WA, Kununurra

Double-barred finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii) @ WA, Kununurra

Chestnut-breasted mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) @ NT, Darwin

Finch party: Yellow-rumped munia, Chestnut-breasted munia, and juvenile Star finch @ NT, Timber Creek

Finch tree: Gouldian finch, Masked finch, Long-tailed finch, and Star finch @ NT, Victoria river region, Buchanan hwy

Rainbow pitta (Pitta iris) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom

Rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Leaden flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula), male @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Paperbark flycatcher (Myiagra nana) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Shining flycatcher (Myiagra alecto), female @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom

Black kite (Milvus migrans) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom

Brown goshawk (Tachyspiza fasciata) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Black-breasted buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) @ WA, Bell Gorge

Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) @ NT, Darwin, Lee Point

White-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow water cruise

Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata) @ NT, Darwin

Whistling kite (Haliastur sphenurus) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Kakadu hwy

Rufous owl (Ninox rufa) @ NT, Darwin Botanic Garden

Rufous owl (Ninox rufa), new fledgling @ NT, Darwin Botanic Garden

Barking owl (Ninox connivens) @ NT, Darwin

Buff-sided robin (Poecilodryas cerviniventris) @ WA, Kununurra, Ivanhoe Cafe

Buff-sided robin (Poecilodryas cerviniventris) @ WA, Kununurra, Discovery park

Hooded parrot (Psephotus dissimilis) @ NT, Pine Creek, Lazy Lizard Tavern

Northern rosella (Platycercus venustus) @ WA, Purnululu NP, Walardi campground

Red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) @ WA, Purnululu NP, Walardi campground

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) @ NT, Darwin, Lee Point

Red-collared Lorikeet (Trichoglossus rubritorquis) @ NT, Victoria river crossing

Black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) @ WA, Gibb river road at Cockburn Range

Australasian Darter's morning break (Anhinga novaehollandiae) @ NT, Darwin, Buffalo creek

Australasian Darter's challenge (Anhinga novaehollandiae) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow Water cruise

Common emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica) @ NT, Darwin, Buffalo creek

Torresian imperial-pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) @ NT, Darwin, Botanic Garden

Comb-crested jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow water cruise

Azure kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow water cruise

Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Bardedjilidji walking track

Great bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) @ NT, Pine Creek, Lazy lizard tavern

Grey-crowned babblers' 'business' (Pomatostomus temporalis) @ NT, Pine Creek

Eastern koel 'rainbird' (Eudynamys orientalis) @ NT, Pine Creek

Spangled drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) @ NT, Darwin

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata), always three, sometimes two @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow Water cruise

Western short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, near Little Merten Fall

Western short-eared rock-wallaby (Petrogale brachyotis) @ WA, Bell Gorge

Monjon (Petrogale burbidgei) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Sleepy Monjon (Petrogale burbidgei) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Antilopine wallaroo (Osphranter antilopinus) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, near Little Merten Fall

Antilopine wallaroo (Osphranter antilopinus) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, River view trail

Rough-scaled python (Morelia carinata), showing ridged scales @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Little Merten Fall

Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) @ NT, Kakadu NP

Merten's water monitor (Varanus mertensi) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Merten billabong

Jewelled velvet gecko (Oedura gemmata) @ NT, Kakadu NP

Bynoe's gecko (Heteronotia binoei) @ NT, Kakadu NP

Gracile velvet gecko (Oedura gracilis) @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Gehyra sp. @ WA, Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell falls track

Burton's legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) @ NT, Kakadu NP

Frilled-neck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), the best NT road sign 'We like our lizards frilled, not grilled' @ NT, road to Robin Falls

Swampland lashtail (Tropicagama temporalis) @ NT, Darwin Botanic Garden

Salty (Crocodylus porosus) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow water cruise

Salty 'yawn' (Crocodylus porosus) @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow water cruise

Tenebrionidae (Nyctozoilus sp.) @ WA, Kununurra

Tenebrionidae (Alleculinae, genus sp., terrestrial wingless) @ NT, Victoria river

Tenebrionidae (Seirotrana sp.) @ NT, Kakadu NP

Tenebrionidae (Alleculinae, genus sp., wingless terrestrial) @ WA, Kununurra

Carabidae (Cicindellinae, genus sp.) doing the bee thing @ NT, Victoria river

Cerambycidae (Rhytiphora sp.) @ WA, Purnululu

Mitchell river crossing @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Deep gorge at the Big Merten Fall @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Merten creek in the dry season @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Rocky escarpment at the Merten billabong @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Rock art at the Merten billabong @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Steep descent into the mesic gorge where pockets of monsoon rainforests persist @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Monsoon rainforest thicket @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Rainforest thicket @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Spinifex-capped rocky area, black grasswren habitat @ WA, Mitchell plateau

View of horizon from the Little Merten Fall @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Sunset at the Little Merten Fall @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Merten campground teemed with tourists in the dry season @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Merten creek bath @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Sunrise at 5:58am @ WA, Mitchell plateau

King Edward river crossing @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Corrugated Port Warrender road meandering through lush Livistona palm forests, understatement is to say that 'The road is really not in a good condition' @ WA, Mitchell plateau

Gibb river road, good for 'butt massage', bad for tyres @ WA, Gibb River road

Sunrise at Miners' pool, Drysdale river @ WA, Kimberley

Padanus and paperbark lined riparian habitat @ WA, Drysdale river

Padanus-lined riverine habitat of Purple-crowned fairywren @ WA, Drysdale river

Banded beehive domes at sunset @ WA, Purnululu NP (Bungle Bungle)

Banded beehive domes close-up @ WA, Purnululu NP (Bungle Bungle)

Elephant rock @ WA, Purnululu NP (Bungle Bungle)

Yellow Kapok (Cochlospermum fraseri) @ WA, Purnululu

Magnificent palm trees rising from rocky crevices and narrow gorges @ WA, Purnululu NP (Bungle Bungle), Echidna chasm

Banded sandstone @ WA, Purnululu NP (Bungle Bungle)

Tropical savannah with Cockburn range in the backdrop @ WA, Gibb River road

Black-necked stork at Cockburn range @ WA, Gibb River road

Sunset at Weeber plain, finch country @ WA, Kununurra

Sunrise at the Red lilly lagoon @ WA, Kununurra

Sandstone at the Mirima NP @ WA, Kununurra

Early morning at the Mirima NP, with a sandstone shrike-thrush singing in the background @ WA, Kununurra

Spinifex capped sandstones at Mirima NP @ WA, Kununurra

Rock formation at Mirima NP @ WA, Kununurra

Boab against the background of sandstone escarpment @ NT, Keep river NP

Sandstone gorge, White-quiled rock pigeon habitat @ NT, Keep river NP

Sandstone gorge at sunset @ NT, Keep river NP

Boab tree, the sentinel of tropical savannah @ NT, Timber creek

Red-flowered Kurrajong (Brachychiton paradoxus) @ WA, Timber creek

Storm gathering when the news arrived that Geoff Monteith passed away, 2024trip @ NT, Victoria Highway to Timber Creek

Storm gathering @ NT, Victoria river region, Buchanan Hwy

Escarpment hike, fantastic view over the Victoria river @ NT, Victoria river region

Escarpment hike, farewell to Charley Hesse @ NT, Victoria river region

Water pools formed after the brief rain providing essential meeting places for finches @ NT, Victoria river region, Buchanan Hwy

Victoria river crossing @ NT, Victoria Highway

Gunlom campground @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom

View of Southern Kakadu from the Gunlom lookout @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom

Gunlom lookout, upper pool @ NT, Kakadu NP, Gunlom

Padanus idyllic scene, Yellow water cruise @ NT, Kakadu NP

Yellow water billabong embraced by Melaleuca forests @ NT, Kakadu NP

Water lilly @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow Water cruise

Buffalo grave and scavengers @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow Water cruise

Buffalos and cattle egrets @ NT, Kakadu NP, Yellow Water cruise

Ubirr rock art, nature's menu @ NT, Kakadu NP

Nourlangie, magnificent rock formation @ NT, Kakadu NP

Nourlangie, view over the green expanse @ NT, Kakadu NP

Bardedjilidji, Chestnut-quilled rock pigeon habitat @ NT, Kakadu NP

Padanus the wizard hairdo @ NT, Kakadu NP

The fisherman and black-necked stork @ NT, Darwin, Lee Point, Buffalo creek

Light falling into the fig-encrusted rocky tunnel @ NT, Kakadu NP, Bardedjiliji

Sunrise at Darwin @ NT, Darwin, Lee Point, Buffalo creek

Sunset at Darwin @ NT, Darwin, Lee Point, Buffalo creek