Aussie Dust

Last night was Territory Night (July 1) where the people of Darwin are allowed to buy and light fireworks to celebrate.

So we went to the main Mindil Beach front to watch the fireworks put on by the Territory Government from pontoons out in the bay.  This is the very beach where a 4 metre crocodile has been seen stalking people and dogs who come close to the waters edge!  At 9.30pm when it had finished it was still 27c

The other pictures are of Howard Springs which is only 25kms south of Darwin.  It is a natural spring developed by the military during WW11 for swimming and as a water supply.  When we arrived, the local guide was giving people sardines to feed to the enormous Barramundi who were swimming in the springs.

Just a few kilometres up the road is an amazing local garden centre and cafe which has sculptures of dinosaurs , dragons, snakes etc.

Hello from Darwin

We arrrived in Darwin late last Friday June 19, and are staying at a fabulous resort/caravan park called the Big 4 FreeSpirit Caravan park which is located 15kms out of Darwin on the Stuart Highway.  The park has three pools and a great bar/bistro area overlooking  the main pool resembling a luxurious location Bali or Phuket.

We have been taking in the sights of a very cosmopolitan Darwin from picturesque Cullen Bay Marina with it’s great restaurants and views over Cullen Bay to Stokes Hill Wharf also with great views and eateries but this time of Darwin Harbour itself.

Newly opened at Stokes Hill Wharf is a safe swimming beach which includes a great wave pool. Being school holidays it is packed every day.

Darwin has an extensive WW11 history so with having a relative based here during WW11 we have been visiting the museums and war tunnels.

Darwin also has a wide variety of markets to visit, but for now our next visit is going to be the Casino!

David is now back to running and is doing short daily runs to test his leg and so far all is well.  I am running also but doing my usual scenic slow run some distance behind David.

We are now in Kakadu having spent time in Katherine enjoying beautiful Katherine Gorge at dusk and walking and swimming the National Park run Edith Falls.

The warnings at Katherine to swim at your own risk are now saying DO NOT SWIM here in Kakadu.   Our Yellow River tour guide said last night that there will be a complete ban on swimming in this region within five years as the saltwater crocodiles move further upstream into the freshwater.

The information given on the tours has given us a new respect to the work done by the National Parks and Aboriginal Communities of Kakadu.