Darwin

Tuesday 21st July - Friday 24th

Darwin

We arrived in Darwin early as the drive from Wangi Falls is not a long one. We decided to splurge and stay in a hotel for our stay in Darwin as all the caravan parks are a long way out of town. So we booked into the Double Tree Hilton on the Esplanade, a lovely spot looking over the harbour and Bi Centennial Park. 

                      Panoramic view from our hotel room of Darwin Harbour

                       Sunset shot from hotel room - not bad!

       Just after sunset - I went a bit berserk taking lots of pics so I had to share some of them

This spot is only a short walk to the main shops of the CBD and a short bike ride to the wharf precinct, where you can swim, relax at the man made beach area or indulge in a long lunch or be entertained at one of the many bars. This area is the only place that you can swim in the water at any time of year because of the crocs, the box jelly fish and the stingers. They have a special netted area which is surrounded by parkland and a wave pool as well.

                   Beautiful beaches but no one swimming and the temp is 33 today

Darwin locals are surrounded by beautiful clear water and their temperature is hot all year round and back yard pools are the only way to cool off. 

Darwin is a tidy and very clean town. It is so small for a capital city. There is no other capital city in Australia where you can comfortably ride your bike down the main streets of the CBD.

We had a lovely time riding to most places and enjoying the very relaxed, layback lifestyle of Darwin. We spent our time indulging in the culinary delights of the city. We had lunch at the Il Lido Bar at the wharf area which was a good start on day one. Day two we rode our bike to Stokes Wharf, just near the wharf precinct. Oysters, fish and chips sitting on the wharf was a delight and a must if you make it up here. 

    Stokes Wharf with one of the naval ships in the background

Day three we caught a bus to Fannie Bay and had lunch at The Sailing Club right on the beach. 

                                            Sailing Club and first selfie using the iPad 

Also on day three, Thursday, we went to the famous Mindil Beach night markets. These markets start at 5 in the afternoon and close about 10. They attract approx 20000 people to the city and are on a Thursday night all year round and a Sunday only in the dry season. This is where the cosmopolitan city, as many say, comes alive with rows and rows of food stalls from all around the world with a very strong Asian influence. Besides food stalls they have the usual arts and crafts, live performers and the stunning sunset over the beach. A must visit.

     A typical food stall - massive paella dish

Darwin has a very tropical feel and the locals make the most of their close proximity to Asia snapping up cheap flights often. When Mez decided to get her hair cut the hairdresser already had 3 flights booked for later on in the year at a cost of no more than $120, very cheap.

Darwin is a city with a lot of history and they proudly display the monuments of events past. We explored the underground tunnels used in WW11for storage of oil - very interesting. There is a strong military presence with large naval ships dotting the harbour and state of the art boarder control vessels moored along Stokes Wharf.

Darwin is a long way from anywhere but a place well worth a visit but only in the dry season. Don't think it would be too pleasant in summer with 30+ degree temps each day in winter.