Off to See the Wizard - Bark Hut Pub to Darwin

I seem to think of this trip in stages - home to Alice Springs, then the next stage ends with Darwin.

The drive was pretty much just driving, rather than playing the tourist., except for the first wildlife we have seen on the road since we left home.  Can you believe that!  We saw a snake on the road and two wallabies.  All were unscathed by our passing.

We had been advised that Corroberee Billabong was worth visiting.  It was 20kms off the highway, with the last 2kms of corrugated gravel road.  When we got there it was pretty.  However, there was just one small place you can view it from.  The rest of the area is cordoned off for billabong tour boats and house boat access.  

What was interesting was this sign about “Salvinia”.  I forgot to mention this weed when I wrote about our  Yellow Waters tour.  It is well established in Yellow Waters Billabong.  Apparently it was introduce via fish ponds in people’s houses and yards and now is a major problem.  Now it is easily transferred to different waterways by boats, so they must be diligently cleaned.

Anyway, we arrived in Darwin in the early afternoon and set ourselves up at the caravan park closest to the city centre.  We have no plan of where and when we will be places, so can’t book ahead more than a day or so. I was very fortunate in that only two days before I called to enquire about a powered site for a week.  Yes, they had one.  Yay!  We thought we may have to caravan park hop.  It has been really busy in Darwin with two public holiday weekends recently, one for the show and last weekend for the Darwin Cup horse race.  Fortunately for us, things have quietened down a bit now.

There were a couple of things that we needed to buy, so we went in search of a shopping centre and ended up at Casuarina Shopping Centre.  I think it is the largest in Darwin.  Boy, what a great place.  There was everything from Best and Less to Country Road and Cue, plus two supermarkets, variety stores, loads of others and a cinema and best of all it was nice and cool.

We had to pop into a chemist to get some stuff to flush out Mick’s ear as he has got water in it from swimming.  This is a recurring problem when we travel as he gets a wax build up due to wearing ear plugs all the time for work. Fortunately, it has not got infected this time, so was easily fixed, once we finally had access to a chemist.  While there we asked if there was any chance of the fourth COVID-19 vaccination? Yes.  And it was a Sunday afternoon! Yay! They announced our eligibility just after we left home, but we have not been anywhere to get it.  We are pleased to tick that off the list.

Our timing of arriving in Darwin was perfect, as on Sundays and Thursdays the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are held.  What a great way to start our time here.

We enjoyed having a general wander around the myriad of stalls. There were food and drink stalls galore, crafts, clothes, you name it.  I was happy to find a nice cool summer dress.

Mick found his main souvenir of our trip.  He is now the proud owner of a didgeridoo.  Not just an ornamental one, but one to play.  It is in the key of D and has a really nice tone.  It is made from a hollow blood wood tree that came from just east of Edith Falls.  Now he can have fun learning how to play it.  He can get the basic drone happening, so now wants to build on that.

Kenn is the maker.  

As these are “Sunset” markets we had to go and see the sunset, but first, an ice cream to eat while we watched.  Half and half passion fruit and dragon fruit was pretty nice.

Seeing the sun set over the ocean is a novelty for many Australians, as we mainly live on the eastern side of the country.  There were so many people on the beach and an aboriginal man was chanting in the background.  As the sun finally dipped below the horizon everyone started to clap.  It was such a lovely moment.

When we walked back into the markets area there was a man juggling.  He was great to watch, juggling up to six items.  Then his partner came out and they did a few acrobatics and more juggling.  

When they finished, we had another look at the sunset.

Then it was time to get some tea - paella for Mick and Pad Thai for me.  Both delicious.

Before we headed home we had to have one final look at the sunset.

It was now nearly 8 o’clock, but there were still loads of people about. I suppose, the evening is by far the best time to be out and about in this climate.

We had one final stop to make on our way to the ute - there was a stall selling tubs of cut up mango.  I didn’t think they would be available this early in the year.  We had seen several mango orchards earlier in the day, but none with fruit, so this was a nice surprise.  We took it home for later. 

We had no expectations of Darwin, but everyone we have spoken to have said we will love it.  Our first day was a wonderful introduction.

The highlight of the day was definitely the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and for Mick the purchase of a didgeridoo.