Tops off, tools down in Darwin

It’s been Chateau Relaxo here in Darwin - a really great and varied stop.  Crocodiles one day, wave pools and museums, dinner by sunset the next.  Could not recommend Darwin more highly for a warm winter getaway.  The weather is far more reliable than Cairns and the prices generally and eating out were really reasonable.

We’d arrived in time for Mindil Beach Sunset markets on Sunday.  We’d enjoyed the markets from our last trip but our timing was fortunate as they only run on Thursday and Sunday and we were heading back out of town on Wednesday.  The market was almost unchanged from when were last here.  There are amazing food truck choices.  This meant we could all get what we wanted, but longish queues as the market was BUSY.  Top pick was Nessa’s yellow fin tuna tacos, but it was all great.  We wrapped up with poffertjes and fruit down on the beach to watch the sunset over the Arafura sea.  This had been our first view of the ocean for three weeks, and we won’t see it again until Port Macquarie in a month.  Which is quite weird when we’re used to seeing it every day.  The sunset received a spontaneous round of applause from the thousands of people on the beach.

We headed out for the jumping croc tour on Monday morning.  Jemma had been more than nervous about this activity from the moment I booked it two months ago.  As Monday approached she asked more and more questions about the size of the boat, whether the crocodiles would be jumping over the boat etc.  Fair to say that safety measures had been upgraded over the last 15 years and it was a fully seated affair.  There are an estimated 10,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Adelaide River alone, which is incredible seeing they’d almost been shot to extinction when I was born.  A great trip and a very informed guide.

On Tuesday we had Darwin Day, starting at the free-entry Museum and Art Gallery which was absolutely brilliant and had exhibitions varying from wildlife, boats, cyclone Tracy, turtles and aboriginal art.

We then moved on to Stokes Hill Wharf for a look around the Royal Flying Doctors Service Exhibition which had been recommended by a fellow camper.  It was $70 for a family entry which nearly put us off but it was an hour so really well spent.  They’ve used technology really well and there are numerous virtual reality exhibitions on the bombing of Darwin and the flying doctors. My favourite was where you could sit alongside a pilot from the flying doctors and then fly over the West McDonnell ranges, the Gosses Bluff meteorite site and Kings Canyon.  The detail was incredible - you could even see the small 4WD track we’d driven into the meteorite crate on and the walking tracks on top of Kings Canyon.  Much cheaper than a helicopter ride.

After a great lunch on the wharf ($25 for a t-bone), the afternoon was spent at the Darwin wave pool - $25 entry for the family.  The kids had a few active hours in the water and the chlorine finally got my feet and legs clean.

Ness had spotted a great place for dinner next to the museum earlier on and we’d made a reservation to align with sunset.  The Darwin Ski Club has absolute water frontage, $6 schooners and great burgers.  No applause this time for the sunset, which seemed unfair as it was an absolute ripper.

Our stay at the Hidden Valley Big 4 has been amazing.  One of my favourite caravan parks in Australia (up there with Coral Bay and Narooma).  The staff have been so friendly and helpful throughout, from the late booking when we were at Edith Falls through to shutting down some noisy NSW punters.  The facilities were great.  The park has been extended and we were fortunate to be in the shady older section. The new section looks like Coober Pedy - not a tree in sight.  

We are off to Kakadu next which I’m excited for, but Darwin has been an excellent stop and I reckon will feature as a future escape from the Adelaide winter cold.