Darwin NT – Oz Half Lap 2018

About Darwin

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory. Located between Beagle Gulf and Port Darwin and situated on Fannie Bay, it is a thriving and prosperous centre which has become the vital service centre for the Top End. While the city has its own attractions – the evening markets, the cruises on Fannie Bay, the exceptional restaurants on the shoreline, the interesting history of the its bombing during World War II – most visitors use it as a base to explore the surrounding area.

It is an easy starting point for people wanting to explore the wonders of Kakadu National Park, Litchfield Park and the Tiwi islands. It is wonderfully multicultural and has a true tropical ambience. At times the visitor can wander the town and feel as though they have stepped into a Joseph Conrad novel.

There is an overlay of wildness that belies the comfortable suburbia which surrounds the central business district. It’s a city to be enjoyed like a good party, where a myriad of cultures (more than 100 nationalities at the last count) have mixed together to create a vibrant and fascinating potpourri like nowhere else in Australia (sourced from the Aussie Towns website – click for more).

Darwin Caravan Park

Settled into our campsite at Hidden Valley Caravan Park, about 11 kms from Darwin City (maplink).

Mindil Markets and 1st Sunset

Then off to the famous Mindil Markets (maplink) to watch the sunset and do some shopping.

Our site at Hidden Valley
Our site at Hidden Valley
Darwin Beach sunset
Darwin Beach sunset
Buskers galore at the Mindil Market
A great market

Corroboree Lagoon Trip

We took a trip out to Corroboree Lagoon (maplink) for a wetlands tour with Wetland Cruises. Check it out on Tripadvisor.

This is a very nature centric tour (no jumping crocs) for 2.5 hours on the lagoon with a very informative and enthusiastic tour guide, Chrissy. Absolutely fantastic time had by all. Check out the 21 best photos taken (of 168) on the day. My favourite is the Rainbow Bee Eater with a bug in it’s mouth.

The tour begins after 109km drive from Darwin
A lotus flower
Nice hat
Nice hat
1st croc
The pale colour of the tail indicates the croc came into the lagoon from the salt water this year
Rainbow Bee Eater with his dinner
Sea Eagle nest
A darter
Fresh water croc
Salt water croc sharing the same tree branch as the "freshie"
Beautiful blue dragon fly
Corroboree Lagoon Croc
Corroboree Lagoon Croc
Jacana leaf walker bird
Our first Jabiru
Egret takes flight
Jabiru spreads his wings
You are not getting MY fish!

Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum

We paid a visit to the RFDS Museum located on Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin (maplink).
It was very good and well worth the visit. You begin the experience with a hologram movie by presented by the Reverend John Flynn (founder of RFDS) describing how the service was created. This is followed by a 2nd hologram by the Captain in charge of a US naval vessel who describes the bombing of Darwin.

This is a must see in as you then venture onto a virtual reality (goggles) experience of the bombing of Darwin which is pretty incredible. Check out these Trip Advisor Reviews. This is a 5 star attraction.

After the RFDS tour we took in the views of Darwin Harbour from Dudley Point Lookout at East Point.

RFDS Museum entry
Virtual reality session on the bombing of Darwin
Virtual reality session on the bombing of Darwin
Catalina Flying Boat
Japanese Bomber
Lunch on the wharf - fish tacos (sweet)
Dudley Point Lookout
Dudley Point Lookout
Dudley Point Lookout

Float Plane trip to Sweet’s Lagoon

While we were at the Mindil Markets we found this tour operator who run a trip out to a remote lagoon west of Darwin via a Floatplane. The company is called Outback Floatplane Adventures which is based in Darwin (same company we have booked to do Horizontal Falls in WA).

We kicked off the tour with a thrilling floatplane flight from Darwin airport that culminates with a landing in Sweet’s Lagoon (maplink) on the Finniss River. This is a very cool tour to take. After landing on the lagoon we then had a hearty breakfast then onto the air-boat (like a swamp boat with big fan on the back) and did a quick thrill ride on the lagoon. Very fast ending in the obligatory 360° spins – what a hoot!

Then we went out on a 2 hour trip through the swamps and channels spotting all sorts of bird life and heaps of crocs. This tour is rated by Tripadvisor as one of the best to do in Darwin so if you are ever in Darwin – book it!

Trip from Darwin Airport in a float plane
About to land on Finniss River
Arrival at the pontoon base
Our swampy transport
Sweets Lagoon with plane
Sweets Lagoon - west of Darwin
Stunning wildlife
Helicopter trip if you want to
Merrisa tries for that elusive barra
Air boat trip begins
Air boat 360's - got just a BIT wet
Hungry Egret
Under the watchful eye of a sea eagle
Sea eagle decides to leave
Tempting a croc with food
Tempting a croc with food
Tempting a croc with food
Nice croc
"Closer please" says the croc
Up the creek
Up the creek
Tempting croc to visit
Tempting croc to visit
Beautiful croc skin
Croc selfie

Spirit of Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise

We met a couple in Coober Pedy who we kept bumping into along the way and became really good friends. They are Gary and Janice from Newcastle.

It was Gary’s birthday on the 22nd June so we joined them on a sunset dinner cruise of Darwin Harbour aboard the Spirit of Darwin cruise boat. The owners are friends of Gary & Janice so that made the night even better as we kicked back after the cruise and had a few quiet ones. Other friends of Gary also joined the cruise to celebrate his birthday so it was a great night had by all.

So if you are looking for a great sunset dinner cruise lookup the reviews of Spirit of Darwin on Tripadvisor.