Darwin 2012 - Darwin

We finally made it up to Darwin again. The aim of this trip overall was to visit Rebecca, Rachel and their families in Katherine. With Rachel, however, having 4 small children it has been difficult for her to get out and enjoy some of the local attractions. With this in mind we found ourselves staying at the Coonawarra Defense base again. For $80 p/n we have a containerized cabin with three bedrooms, lounge/kitchen, laundry and bathroom. All of this located in a safe and secure place, on a Navy base.

 

 

Arriving on Friday we did the first thing I am sure many remote town people do and headed for the local shopping centre, Casurina. My sisters do much of their bulk shopping here before heading back to Katherine, which has a very basic set of shops.

On the Saturday, Rachel and David went to the Adelaide River Queen Jumping Crocodiles tour, something we have done in the past and is well worth anyone visiting. The tour takes you up and down the Adelaide river, which host many Saltwater Crocadiles as well as many other forms of top end wildlife. As we did 4 years ago, they fully enjoyed it.

Mum and Dad hosted the kids at the "Playshack" for nearly 5 hours whilst I did a runner and headed into town.

During my escape I went to the Darwin Museum and Arts centre, where they have a great set of exhibits showcasing aboriginal art and craft, local prehistoric animals and megafauna, fisheries and a cyclone Tracy exhibit. I came mostly for that but ended up spending quite a bit of time wandering through all of the exhibits. The visit is free and I think people of all ages would enjoy it. Unfortunately but understandably no photos were allowed inside.

 

Outside the museum there is a great view across The water, and being a fantastic day I spent some time taking it all it, as well as photographing a beautiful dragonfly that was abundant in the grasses, the Graphic Flutterer Dragonfly (Rhyothemis graphiptera). I expect if I stood still enough I would of had many landing on me as well as the grass.

After all that, and a quick tour of the main Darwin mall, I returned to pick up the parents and kids for lunch back at the cabins.

Lastly for the evening we had dinner at a recomended restaurant, Tim's Surf and Turf, the servings we large and well cooked. The kids ate free before 6:30pm and their servings we also large so all in all it was a great meal. The restaurant itself has a great atmosphere and the hosts were friendly and inviting. I would definatly eat there again when in Darwin.

Aft tea we headed down to Mindil beach so the kids could have a run around. We got their on the last bits of sunset but we still had great views and the kids loved playing in the sand. Unfortunately the Mindil beach markets don't start until dry season has fully started, like many thinks in this part of Australia, so we missed out this trip.

 

17April2012 - Edit: Update for return trip to Katherine

Our second/last day in Darwin was very subdued. A couple of us Adults travelled out to see the “Oil Tunnels” in the center of Darwin. The tunnels, built during the War and the bombings of Darwin by the Japanese were dug out by hand with little in the way of tools, however by the time they were completed the war had ended so they wee never fully commissioned or used. It was a very interesting, self guided tour with many photographs showing the many servicemen and planes in and around Darwin.

 

We also had a Coffee at Darwins take on the Docklands, the Darwin Waterfront Precinct,  with a great environment, protected beach and Wave pool. I looks to be a great investment/holiday opportunity.

On the monday we travelled back to Katherine, stopping at both Hayes Creek and Edith Falls. Hayes creek as a great looking Big4, in the middle of know where but from the vantage point of the petrol station at the top of the hill, it looked to be a great, shady, quiet spot with its own swimming hole.

Edith Falls was significantly different from last time we visited due to some large floods through there last Christmas. Dur to the risk of Salt Water Crocodiles swimming was also not allowed.

 

 

Lastly some instagram photos from the weekend.