After one month on the road – and more than 8,000 kms – we made it to the Top End! Hello Darwin!
It’s been a whirlwind trip to date, but we’ll slow down the pace considerably from now – and give the fuel bill a rest while we’re at it! (Hallelujah!)
As we’ve both been to Darwin before, we decided to use our time here to restock the food supplies, conduct some maintenance on the van, catch up with old friends, and generally chillax.
And, of course, check out the famous Darwin beachside sunsets.
The Mindil Beach Sunset Market is a must when visiting Darwin – a vibrant market full of local handicrafts, food stalls and buskers, situated alongside the spectacular Mindil Beach.
Locals and tourists alike head to the markets to grab a plate of food and sit on the beach to watch the sunset.
We caught up with old friends at the Darwin Ski Club and took advantage of yet another spectacular sunset. Jen used to work with Joy 10-15 years ago in Canberra, and also went to high school in Western Sydney with her partner Steve. As if that wasn’t enough, our good friend Debbie from the NSW South Coast used to be Joy’s neighbour in Canberra. So much for six degrees of separation – it’s more like two!
Sunday afternoon looked like a perfect time to explore the city and foreshores on foot. Well, except that it was 34 degrees C, with a hot wind to boot. And, nobody told us that the Darwin CBD was largely closed on a Sunday afternoon! On the plus side, we had the streets to ourselves. 😊
The original church was severely damaged in 1974’s Cyclone Tracy.
Just next to the CBD, we loved the Darwin Waterfront area – lovely sandy beach with lifeguards and inflatable climbing walls, slides and jumping areas floating in the middle of the saltwater swimming area. Add to that the separate wave and other pools, children’s park and shady parklands it provides great family atmosphere.
After Darwin, we headed south to the nearby Litchfield National Park – a very popular spot for camping, hiking, swimming, and even day trips from Darwin (given it’s close proximity). Wangi Falls were just beautiful but, although generally safe for swimming, still comes with signs warning of the ‘very low’ risk of crocodiles! According to recent reviews in our trusty WikiCamps app, the swimming area was closed for a few days around ANZAC Day (just a month ago), due to crocs in the area.
Cathedral termite mounds were also prominent in Litchfield. The one in the image below is estimated to be over 50 years old.
Further down the ‘Track’, we visited the beautiful Adelaide River War Cemetery, the final resting place for 436 service personnel who died in northern Australia during the second world war.
Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT