Darwin

Crocodile beer can boat





Police patrolling the heavy drinking at the regatta



 Heading into Darwin, we turned on the radio and got a real radio station to listen to. But we also got to hear what was happening in Darwin. The annual beer can regatta was happening today at Mindal Beach, that was where we were heading for the afternoon. The beer can regatta is so typical of the year round drinking that goes on in Darwin, due to the warm to hot climate all year round. All the creative boats were made from beer cans, we quite liked this crocodile creation. Many hours of drinking was involved with the making of this creation.

After strolling the beach we checked out the famous Mindal Beach markets which were just like any big markets really but watching the sunset from the beach I guess is what makes them.
 

Mindal Beach

We spent 5 days in Darwin loving the Sunsets, swimming facilities and the perfect weather conditions.
The second day we were there we discovered the Leanyer Recreation Park, then we visited this every day. A free park with playground, water playground, huge pool and best of all 3 waterslides. We spent many hours there going down the slides and swimming, awesome facility for Darwin.



Kate drawing a frilled neck lizard at the Museum

 The Darwin Museum was fantastic, again we visited this more than once. There were all species of creatures, birds, butterflies, fish, snakes and much much more. A great display of cyclone Tracy which taught the girls a lot about cyclones. There was a maritine museum with so many different timber boats and a few Indonesian style boats. Of course there were aboriginal arts and crafts and then a section which displayed the talents of some local year 12 students. This place is well worth a visit.


Emma's crocodile catch at Darwin Museum

Darwin wharf

 We had to visit the Darwin Wharf to have dinner. Sitting on the edge (lucky we lost no girls over the side) watching the huge fish swimming around just waiting for someone to throw them some dinner. I tried a camel burger, Darrin tried a crocodile burger and the girls had a kids seafood pack. We were lucky enough to run into a family we know from the girls school at home, they were holidaying in the NT for the school holidays. It was good to catch up on what is happening at home and school.

We caught the end of the sunset on the first day we were there and just amazed. The sun is so rich in colour and huge as it fades in the horizon. So it was our daily ritual to watch sunset. We had a mixture of cloudy and clear skies which both looked fantastic but also the colours looked so different. And the after glow was just as magic.

Sunset at East Point



Sunset at Fanny Bay

We got to catch up with some friends we met when we worked in Darwin on our first trip. The kids had a ball together and after 13 years it was great to see where everyone was up to.

Cullen Bay Marina



The girls helping inspect the boat



We had a stroll down the Cullen Bay Marina, we were lucky enough to see a sailing boat coming in. He had travel through international waters so he had to be quarantined. We were talking to the inspectors as the boat arrived and they explained to the girls what their jobs were to do. One of the inspectors had to dive under the boat and put a solution over the boat to kill off a particular weed which is harmful to out waterways.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Darwin, such a relaxed city with great facilities.