DARWIN, Australia -- Seventeen adventurers traveled far and wide across the Australian outback to search for a glimpse of paradise June 21.
The Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 Marines, spent an afternoon in the Litchfield National Park area taking in the breathtaking views of the region's many waterfalls and swimming holes.
The group, currently deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, to support Southern Frontier 2003, left early for the two-hour bus ride across barren highway and dirt roads. The first stop was Wangi Falls, located on the western edge of the park. Wangi provided the Marines a chance to cool off in a deep pool and swim under two different water falls.
With the hot sun blazing, the crystal clear water was "just what we needed," said Gunnery Sgt. Todd A. McCreight, VMFA(AW)-242 Electronics Shop staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "The falls were really beautiful, and we got to meet a lot of really great people."
After a few hours of swimming, sun bathing and eating, the Marines packed up and headed to their next destination - Tolmer Falls. The group hiked up to an observation point and then split up to check out the abundance of plant life and search for a place to cool off.
"Tolmer Falls was my favorite because we ended up finding a water hole in the middle of nowhere," said Staff Sgt. Chester J. Rolka, VMFA (AW)-242 Maintenance administrative chief. "It was amazing how clear and clean the water was," he added.
Rolka said his group also ran across hundreds of interesting-looking plants called Cyacds. These plants, also known as ghosts of a long-past age, live abundantly in the dry areas surrounding the Tolmer Falls and belong to an ancient family of plants that were abundant during the dinosaur age.
He added that the vanilla- and black-colored contrasts of the plants, and the soft, furry texture of the leaves were very interesting. "I really liked those. I've never seen anything like that before, so I took a lot of pictures."
The group then reloaded the bus and visited two more falls before reaching their final destination on the day-long journey - giant termite mounds. These mounds, which can reach more than 10 feet in height, are strategically aligned north to south to maximize their cooling capabilities.
Although the adventurers didn't come face-to-face with any wild creatures while on their journey, Litchfield National Park is home to about 400 species of birds, 150 species of mammals, 300 species of reptiles, 50 species of frogs, 60 species of freshwater fish and several hundred species of marine fish. Common wildlife include the Antilopine Wallaroo, Agile Wallaby, Sugar Glider, Northern Brushtail Possum, Fawn Antechinun, Black and Little Red Flying Foxes and the Dingo. The caves near Tolmer Falls are home to a colony of the rare Orange Horseshoe Bat.
"I was a little disappointed that we didn't see much wildlife," said Rolka. ?But overall I really enjoyed the trip."
The VMFA (AW)-242 Marines will remain in Darwin until July, where they will be replace by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212.