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Week 1, Day 1
Brisbane → Darwin
Road: 37kms, Air: 2850kms, Road: 12kms
As we had a very good rate at an off-airport parking station, we decided to forgo the usual taxi/Uber/public transport hassles and took 'The Beast' to the airport. Interestingly, this was also cheaper than anything other than public transport for the time we'd be away. The flight was about 4 and a half hours and was uneventful.
We were glad to leave the dark and rainy clouds behind.
Once in Darwin, we picked up the hire car and headed off to the hotel in the CBD. Darwin is no longer the sleepy tropical town it once was.
Control Towers - New (left) and old (right)
Week 1, Day 2
Road: 150kms
The last time we were in Darwin (about 5 years ago), we took a trip out to Fogg Dam. This was to be the water supply for the ill-fated Humpty Doo rice project in the early 1950s. The plan was a complete failure due to several factors: an invasion of geese who though rice was really good, soil that was too saline, and an insufficient amount of drainage, all combined with poor management. However the dam still here and is a great bird watching site.
However, as the 'Wet' season had been later and with less rain than usual, the water level in the wetlands below the dam was lower and hence further away from the bird hide. Still it was worth the effort.
I'm sure this was here last time. Same croc?
The (still) empty croc trap. Couldn't see any bait.
Whistling Kite
A juvenile (?) Jacana with leaf walking on the lily pads.
Madam 2 storeys up in the viewing platform.
As we did 5 years ago, we went back to Tim's Surf and Turf to celebrate Sue's birthday. Their pet saltwater croc 'Schnitzel', has gone through about 5 iterations as they keep growing!
Week 1, Day 3
Road: 10kms, Walk: 2kms
A 'cultural' day today as we took in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. I know it's only about 4kms, but when it's 33°C and 90% humidity, we're not walking anywhere! We did however, walk to the Esplanade and back in the evening to see the sunset.
'Sweetheart' was the name given to a 5.1m (16' 9") male saltwater crocodile responsible for a series of attacks on boats in Darwin Harbour between 1974 and 1979. Sweetheart attacked outboard motors, dinghies, and fishing boats, but there is no known case of his attacking humans
A memorial to John McDowell Stuart (1815-1866) in the Darwin CBD. He lead the first successful European exploration of Australia from South Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria and back again and never lost an expedition member. The major highway running North/South from Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory is named in his honour.
Darwin Harbour at sunset.
Week 1, Day 4
Road: 2kms
In line with good Covid practice, we all gathered in the conference room of the hotel for testing before we were allowed to board the bus that would take us down to the wharf and get on our ship, the Coral Adventurer. Again, because of Covid, the ship was limited to 100 passengers, all taken care of by 48 crew!
Everyone passed their Covid test, so it was on to the bus and down to the port!
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