PIPPA’S TOP END HONEYMOON
THE world’s most famous honeymooners have had a close up view of one of the Territory’s most famous residents — a saltwater crocodile.
Princess-in-law Pippa Middleton and her new husband, billionaire James Matthews, were reportedly thrilled to see a huge 4m beast sunning itself on the banks of the East Alligator River on Friday. Pippa took plenty of holiday snaps of the fearsome croc.
The couple took in the sights of the river on Kakadu Cultural Tours’ Guluyambi Cultural Cruise.
They posed for a photo with guide Robbie Namarnyilk with the croc in the background.
“I didn’t want to do it (be in the photo) but they asked,” Mr Namarnyilk said.
He showed Pippa and James rock art in the Arnhem region and taught them indigenous Australian culture.
He pointed out which plants and trees were used to craft spears, firesticks and woomeras, and told them how pandanus leaves were used for weaving.
But Pippa’s and James’s widespread fame meant little to Mr Namarnyilk.
“I didn’t know who she was. And this guy, he told me ‘you see that woman ... you know Kate and William? She’s Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton’,” he said.
“She was very nice. she didn’t talk much; she was shy.”
The tour was a low key af- fair, with just Pippa, James, guides and two other lucky punters.
The two other tourists, from Melbourne, had read that morning the couple was in Kakadu, only to find themselves sharing a boat with them in the afternoon.
The Sunday Territorian can reveal Pippa and James have been staying at the exclusive Bamurru Plains Lodge on Kakadu’s western fringe.
Previous bookings were told a few weeks ago they would not be honoured.
The ultra-luxe lodge costs a cool $2700 a night for its premium suite.
One of the key selling points of the lodge is the privacy and seclusion it can offer its high-profile guests.
There is no internet or phone coverage at the lodge, which is inaccessible by public roads.
It also boasts a pillow menu, which allows guests three options of pillows on which to lay their weary heads.
The entire lodge is booked solid until Wednesday, though it’s not clear how long they will be staying.
“She was very nice, she didn’t talk much; she was shy”