Darwin - a beautiful harbour city



The great wave lagoon on the Darwin waterfront



Charlie reading about the bombing of Darwin Harbour

The watefront precinct Darwin

One of the WWII oil storage tunnels

One of the information board in the WWII oil storage tunnels

Jane outside Government House - a lovely building in a beautiful position

Charlie at one of the underground ammunition batteries at East Point

Charlie wrestling a crocodile at the marina - the new Crocodile Dundee maybe?

Waterfront properties at the Cullen Bay marina in Darwin

Cullen Bay marina in Darwin

Jane outside Buzz cafe at the Cullen Bay  marina - they have the "quirky" men's loo

Well we have spent some time in Darwin now and we are loving every minute of it.  The city is so easy to get around, apparently it was surveyed by the same person who surveyed Adelaide and is done in squares so we are finding it difficult to get lost (well I am anyway!!). 

One day we spent some time down at the waterfront which is a lovely area and there is a wave lagoon there which looks fantastic fun - might have to go back with my boogie board!!  The waves get quite high and the people in there are having a ball.  There is a small charge for the day - only about $8 or so but it looks well worth it.  There is also a large swimming lagoon alongside which is free.  These pools are all surrounded by a lovely waterfront precinct with cafes and shops.  We had a lovely coffee watching all the activities before we wandered around the area reading all about Darwin's part in WWII.  I never realised until we came here what an important part Darwin played in the history of the war so have learnt something this trip.

We also went to have a look around the WWII oil storage tunnels which were constructed in 1943 to protect Darwin's oil supplies.  Apparently they were all dug by hand but by the time they were finished the war was over as they took 2 years to complete!!  They are now a major tourist attraction.  After that we wandered around the Esplanade looking at all the plaques commemorating certain events in the war and ended up outside of Government House which is a beautiful white picket fenced wooden building overlooking the water.  From there we wandered on to the Darwin wharf where we had a lovely lunch of local NT barramundi and chips.

Shopping in Darwin is easy as with every city there is a mall with lots of specialty shops, cafes etc along with the suburban shopping centres but haven't spent too much time shopping as we are saving our pennies so that we can do some of the tours etc.  However its still nice to wander along the mall and listen to the buskers, have a relaxing (there's that word again) coffee and people watch.  The weather is just perfect at the moment, very warm and have had a couple of quite humid days.

On Monday we decided to go and have an "old farts" lunch at the Skycity Casino in Darwin.  What a great deal that was.  We both joined and it didn't cost us anything and with our membership they gave us $15 each to play on the pokies, a free drink (beer, wine, basic spirit, soft drink), plus $5 for keno and we also had a smorgasbord lunch at a cheap rate because we are "seniors".  It was a beautiful lunch with everything imaginable in a beautiful venue overlooking the sea.  We managed to win about $15 between us which we thought was ok although would have liked to have been like John in our caravan park who won $5,500 with his free money!!

After that we wandered down to the Cullen Bay marina - there's certainly some money there and some beautiful waterfront properties.  Had a drink in the Buzz cafe and then I did the "mum" thing and persuaded Charlie that he needed to go to the loo.  After going to the "fake" loo which is just a door and then an inner door which won 't open and standing there trying to get in, he found the men's loo.  Inside the urinal is up against a one way wall of glasss and as he's doing (or trying) to do the business, I'm standing on the other side of the glass waving at him as you can see out into the cafe.  He said it put him off - I wonder why????  All good for a laugh!!

Well that's probably all for now about Darwin - we will be leaving on Saturday or Sunday as we are going on a houseboat on the Mary River for 3 days and 2 nights with Lyn and Graeme so until I've got more to say Adieu from The Wandering 2s.

Darwin beer can regatta and Mindl Beach market

Beer Can Regatta - Aussie thong

Charlie peeking - mmmm I think he likes what he sees!!

The "pure blonde" crocodile



Out on the water racing



Merrilyn, Jane and Fi

Jane doing what she does best and what she's been doing alot of - CHEERS

Entertainment at the Mindl Beach market

Sunset over the water at Mindl Beach

Ball of Fire

Where's the sun going Mum?

Almost gone

Gone for another day and everyone on the beach clapped!!

Well we had a lovely day at the Darwin beer can regatta and the originality of some of the floats was great.  As you can see from the photo, Charlie really liked one of them!!  It was a really fun day, the atmosphere was great, there were lots of families, lots of food at the markets and the beer was flowing!!  Well they do have to start collecting cans for next year's regatta so I had to help them along.

Met up with Merrilyn who I used to work with in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, she and her husband are up here working so that was great and also Fiona who I used to work with at MMC Asset Management in Adelaide.  She has been living up here for about 7 years so it was a good catch up.

We had a look around the markets and had some food (the food is sensational - all types, all nationalities and very reasonable).  Also had icecream and beer.

We then stayed for the highlight of the day which was the sunset over Mindl Beach which is truly spectacular.  People take their chairs and glasses of wine down to the beach and sit there watching the most perfect sunset over the water and at the end clapped!!  It was a truly lovely day - another one on our truly lovely trip.

Anyway all for now from the beer can regatta - Adieu from The Wandering 2s - until my next blog - if you keep on reading then I'll keep writing!!

Berry Springs and Surrounds

Charlie, Jane and Graeme bobbing in Berry Springs

One of Berry Springs natural pools

Charlie talking yet again in Berry Springs upper pool

Mandorah Beach Hotel - great spot

Looking from Mandorah Beach Hotel across the Darwin Harbour

Charlie trying his luck again at the Mandorah Jetty

A croc trap on the Darwin River Dam - there was a large saltie in the Dam

He was interested in what we were doing

Historic WWII Strauss Airstrip 5000 ft long and 100 ft wide

Charlie, Graeme and Lyn at the Singalong with Tigertone at the Caravan Park

Jane doing an Abba karaoke number at the Singalong - embarrassed Charlie!!

Well here we are in beautiful Berry Springs about 56 ks south of Darwin at a lovely caravan park called Tumbling Waters - don't you just love the name!!  It is a perfect spot, very relaxing and the owners are brilliant - can't do enough for you.  We had thought to stay for a few days and then move on in closer to Darwin but decided no, we really liked it here and its only a 45 minute drive to Darwin anyway.

We've had a good look around this area and there's plenty to do.  There's the Territory Wildlife Park just 5 minutes away from the caravan park which has won lots of awards and is supposed to be brilliant but we haven't been there yet.  May or may not go. 

We have spent some time bobbing around in the beautiful Berry Springs pools - I seem to spend half my time "bobbing" on this trip!!!  The water is crystal clear and although not hot springs is warm and there are lots of fish which swim with you.  Now me being a Princess took some time to get in because they also nibble at your toes removing any dead skin and I just didn't want that to happen but I finally plucked up the courage and plunged in.  I had my noodle with me so just floated on the top and kept my feet up.  However - there I was bobbing when all of a sudden I felt something touch one of my feet and I screamed - turned into JC and walked on water only to find that it was a leaf!!  Gave everyone a bit of a laugh anyway!!  As it was pointed out to me people spend a lot of money in health spas to have their feet nibbled by fish but not me.  Next time I went I wore my reef shoes!!

We also went to Mandorah Beach and Charlie tried his luck (no luck) at fishing from the jetty.  Its a beautiful place with a lovely hotel right on the beach.  A bloke to one side of him caught a couple of big queenies and another chap caught a spanish mackerel and some queenies, using the same bait as Charlie but unfortunately he didn't even get a bite!!  Still I'm sure it WILL happen one day.  I got fed up with waiting for the "big one" and took myself over to the hotel where I spent a very relaxing (I'm getting really good at this) hour or so with a glass of sauvignon blanc just looking at the ocean.  I could get used to this life - oh yes I'm living it - perfect!!

The caravan park has resident freshwater crocs and put on all sorts of entertainment including Deckchair Cinema on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Didgeridoo info and playing on Saturdays and the highlight of the week the "Singalong with Tigertone"!!!  Its all a bit of fun really as its also karaoke.  Its in the lovely garden bar where you can buy a crownie for $5 so I've had a few of those.  Sunday was their opening night as they are now going to be doing food and there was a lovely spit roast and entertainment.  I had a couple (or 3 or 4) so decided to get up and do a couple of Abba numbers with a couple of other ladies - had great fun.  Am waiting now for the contracts to start coming in so that I can find fame and fortune.

Well I think that's about all from Berry Springs so its Adieu from the Wandering 2s - until my next blog!!

Adelaide River and Litchfield National Park - the land of endless waterfalls!!

Charlie the Buffalo (from Crocodile Dundee and Charlie the Beefalo!!

Adelaide River War Cemetery

One of the beautiful ponciana trees outside the war cemetery

Litchfield National Park - a true treasure

Wangi Falls Litchfield National Park

Tolmer Falls Litchfield National Park

Beautiful bush - don't know what it is but lovely

Florence Falls and the plunge pool beneath

FlorenceFalls Creek

Termite mound - and you think you've got problems

Me sitting in the Buley Rockpools Litchfield National Park

Charlie showing he's still got what it takes (he had to bribe them first)

Well we set off from Katherine ever onwards and upwards to Darwin and decided to stop at the quaint little town of Adelaide River.  This town played a major part in World War II as the location for a huge military base with the 119 Australian General Hospital, army camps and thousands of service personnel stationed in the town and surrounding areas.  Following the bombing of Darwin in 1942, Australian and American military headquarters were relocated from Darwin to Adelaide River and it has the third largest war cemetery in Australia.  It was very sad looking at all the remembrance graves and being a mother of 2 sons it actually upset me quite a lot - a lot of these men were just boys really - the youngest grave I saw was of a 17 year old.  I must admit I did shed a tear - it was very moving.

Anyway enough of the serious stuff, Adelaide River is also home to Charlie the Buffalo of Crocodile Dundee fame - unfortunately he is now stuffed having died last year but takes pride of place in the historic Adelaide River Inn.  We had a lovely couple of days there, relaxing in the caravan park, swimming in the pool and having their lovely barra and chips for dinner one night.  See if you can pick which one is Charlie the Buffalo and Charlie the Beefalo in the above picture!!

We then decided enough relaxing we had to get out there and have another adventure so off we went to Litchfield National Park - what a fantastic place.  We visited all the famous places, Wangi Falls but unfortunately there was no swimming there, Tolmer Falls with the waterfall which cascades down in a straight line, Florence Falls the beautiful dual falls and had a fantastic swim in the plunge pool beneath the falls.  It was quite bracing getting in but once there it was absolutely lovely.  We also had a lovely picnic along the creek and a bushwalk so am trying to avoid buying those shorts although Charlie told me the other day when he was walking behind me, that I'm getting there!!  Needless to say he's got a few bruises now and lucky he's still got his manhood!!

We then went on to the Buley Rockpools which are a series of cascading waterfalls and rockholes.  We had a great couple of hours there and Charlie even managed to pick up - I know you are all saying IMPOSSIBLE but look at the photo!!  He had to beg and bribe and in the end I think they felt sorry for him.  I think he wanted his sons to know he's still got what it takes.

We also saw the amazing magnetic termite mounds which stand up to 2 metres high the edges of which point north south minimising their exposure to the sun and keeping the mounds cool. 

Unfortunately because of the big wet this year a lot of the tracks were closed so we couldn't get down to the Blyth Homestead or the Lost City but never mind we will have to come back again.

While we were in Litchfield, it was Territory Day on 1st July celebrating when the Northern Territory became an independent state so there were celebrations and firework displays all over the place.

After a great 3 days in Litchfield we decided to move on towards Berry Springs which is just outside of Darwin and where we will spend a couple of weeks exploring the Darwin area but that will be the subject of another blog.  Until then happy reading and Adieu from The Wandering 2s.

Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge Nitmiluk National Park - Katherine

Me at the Lower Pool at Edith Falls

Don't jump - I don't know how to hook up the caravan!!

Edith Falls - Upper Pool - Aaaah we still like each other

Beautiful Edith Falls - imagine it in the wet season

Me venturing into the cold, cold water

Charlie in the cold, cold water but only by default - he slipped!!!!

Cruising up the Katherine Gorge

One of the many sandy beaches along the Gorge where the freshwater crocs lay their eggs

Another gorge view

Another gorge view - no not me!!!  This is the most photographed section  of the second gorge

Charlie at the edge of the Lily Ponds swimming hole as part of our 3 gorge cruise

Bats hanging in the tree in Nitmiluk National Park - a very heady aroma of bat poo all around!!!

Well we had a brilliant day at Edith Falls (Leliyn)  in the Nitmiluk National Park the other day.  At the base of the Falls is a large pandanus fringed plunge pool called the Lower Pool which is a popular swimming area.  I just sat on a rock and looked pretty there - it was a bit too cold for me!!  The park has lots of walking trails and the one we did was called the Leliyn Trail which is a 2.6 km round trip that climbs to the top of the escarpment and then down to the upper pools.

The view of the Falls was absolutely breathtaking and there were many people there swimming.  I went in up to my knees and stood there for a while until Charlie came in and he promptly slipped and fell in by default.  After he stopped screaming at the cold, he quite enjoyed it - he needs more meat on him like me so that he doesn't feel the cold so much!!  That's why I always say I need more water to shower - there's more of me to wash and my dangly bits are danglier than his!!  We stayed there for a while and then walked back and had a picnic in the picnic grounds plus an icecream - my bum is growing for those pink checked shorts although haven't been able to find any yet in the op shops and of course MUST  have the matching top!!  Anyway a few more happy hours/champers/wine/cheese/bikkies - gee I'm going to look spectacular at the end of this trip.

We also went on a Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise up the Katherine River which was for 4 hours and we did 3 gorges and also had 45 minutes at the Lily Ponds swimming hole.  It was spectacular and the guide we had told us all about the Jawoyn people whose land it is, the Johnson River crocs (freshwater), the bird life and general info.  He also told us that the day before he had caught 5 barramundi but Charlie didn't want to hear about that.  Our tour was called "The Timeless Land" and its easy to see why.  There are rocks and boulders separating each gorge and so we had to have a different boat for each gorge which meant we got a bit of exercise in amongst all the eating.  It is a truly spectacular place.

After our cruise we just chilled out for the next couple of days - Charlie fishing (no, I know you don't believe he likes fishing) and me reading, eating and drinking wine.  All in all our week in Katherine has been great but I'm looking forward now to moving on tomorrow towards Darwin although if we ever get there it will be a miracle!! 

We will look at the historical gold mining town of Pine Creek, then go on to Adelaide River where Charlie the Buffalo was made famous in the Crocodile Dundee movie, and then explore Litchfield National Park before heading off to Tumbling Waters at Berry Springs.  We may get to Darwin within the next month - how long did we say this trip around Oz was going to take?  Anyway the plan is there's no plan so we shall just wait and see and keep on having fun and growing fat.

Will keep you all updated with more photos etc. etc. when there's more from the next leg of our journey. 

So for now its Adieu from The Wandering 2s.