If you appreciate a great sunset, have a look at this photo taken from the Dar
win Sailing Club as the sun dropped into the ocean. (This is a nice place for a drink but I would not recommend staying for dinner.)
win Sailing Club as the sun dropped into the ocean. (This is a nice place for a drink but I would not recommend staying for dinner.)There is a good dinner to be had though at Sky City Casino, a bit further along the beachfront. A seafood buffet dinner is reasonably priced at less than $25 per person, but watch the bill as they overcharged us and then it became a hassle to get a refund as the girl at the register said there was no one on site who could authorize it! They did eventually attend to it but it is not ideal.
These types of issues do not appear uncommon in Darwin with the Sailing club advertising discounted beers and nibbles at happy hour but the people working there were unaware of it in spite of posters being up every 3 metres around the place. They eventually did discount the beer price but the nibbles never came out.
It is unfortunate that we noticed an absence of integrity in other local businesses as well, most notably the Darwin KIA dealership (who are the only authorized Fiat agent within hundreds of Km’s of Darwin), but I won’t go into that. Suffice it to say let the buyer beware in this part of the country.
Darwin has a lot to offer and is very well funded by the federal government as it is a Terri
tory, not a state. They appear to want for nothing but a cooler temp, fewer crocs, and the absence of box jellyfish. They have an abundance of wildlife, beautiful parrots and very cute green tree frogs. As it turns out, not all of the tree frogs prefer to live in trees. This one thought that Maree's bikini top hanging on the clothes line would make a fine home. Fortunately she spotted it before putting it on...
tory, not a state. They appear to want for nothing but a cooler temp, fewer crocs, and the absence of box jellyfish. They have an abundance of wildlife, beautiful parrots and very cute green tree frogs. As it turns out, not all of the tree frogs prefer to live in trees. This one thought that Maree's bikini top hanging on the clothes line would make a fine home. Fortunately she spotted it before putting it on...The gardens throughout the area are magnificent and fully reticulated. The bike paths are extensive and we used them to see everything from the (free) botanical gardens to the East Point park. There are (free) water gardens as well as a big (free) swimming area at Lake Alexander, which boasts the absence of both crocs and box jellyfish.. Oh, did I mention the (free) skatepark and (free) waterslides? The bike paths are kept clean by a big "street sweeper" machine, and are a pleasure to use.
Business in Darwin appears to be thriving and I could not get those with good businesses to even consider the possibility of selling. The 3 businesses I did find for sale wanted so much for their businesses that an investment would only provide a return of just over 3%. With the banks paying more than twice that, they are obviously in no hurry to sell.
One of the businesses we approached about selling was Aquascene, a business 
perched on a bay where the incoming tide brings with it hundreds of hungry fish which are then fed by paying tourists. Now just how good is that? It is one of those “must do” tourist attractions that opens only once a day for 3 hours, on the high tide. Of course they have a gift shop, etc. to compliment the income from the entry fees, which were $8 each or $22 for a family of up to 5.
The mullet, catfish, etc arrive by the hundreds and are happy to eat out of one’s hand. Then have a look at the pics below and you can see the amberjack c
ome in for the mullet. Where have you ever seen so many amberjack in a feeding frenzy? 
Before the fisho’s out there grab their rods and pack their bags, I should mention that fishing is not permitted in this particular area, (punishable by a $10,000 fine).
perched on a bay where the incoming tide brings with it hundreds of hungry fish which are then fed by paying tourists. Now just how good is that? It is one of those “must do” tourist attractions that opens only once a day for 3 hours, on the high tide. Of course they have a gift shop, etc. to compliment the income from the entry fees, which were $8 each or $22 for a family of up to 5.The mullet, catfish, etc arrive by the hundreds and are happy to eat out of one’s hand. Then have a look at the pics below and you can see the amberjack c
ome in for the mullet. Where have you ever seen so many amberjack in a feeding frenzy? 
Before the fisho’s out there grab their rods and pack their bags, I should mention that fishing is not permitted in this particular area, (punishable by a $10,000 fine). I should also mention that though they look like amberjack chasing the mullet, these are really bread eating milk fish, and are not nearly as desirable as the great tasting amberjack. :)
A trip to Howard Springs is also a wor
thwhile venture. It is only an hour's drive from Darwin and though one is not permitted to swim in the springs, 
there are scenic areas and walking trails there, but keep clear of the snakes.
thwhile venture. It is only an hour's drive from Darwin and though one is not permitted to swim in the springs, 
there are scenic areas and walking trails there, but keep clear of the snakes. In the springs one
can see plenty of marine life, with families of turtles, schools of catfish eels, and some massive barramundi lazing about. They are plentiful in the waters there and will hang out right near the edges, where you could just about reach out and touch them.
can see plenty of marine life, with families of turtles, schools of catfish eels, and some massive barramundi lazing about. They are plentiful in the waters there and will hang out right near the edges, where you could just about reach out and touch them. 
We also found our way to a Sports Club founded after Cyclone Tracy named Tracy Village. Once a ye
ar they have an open day for non-members and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time. They had all kind of 
entertainment, from pick up baseball games to pony rides to clowns. Excepting Mariah who watched from the shade, the rest of us just had to join in on the baseball, with all making a good showing. They even got the "seventh inning stretch" pretty well organised, with us stopping for a sausage sandwich and a cold beer. The club does a brisk business and we went back that evening for a roast dinner and Guinness on tap. Maree loves a roast dinner and it is not something we can do in the motorhome so is as good as excuse as any for a dinner out.
ar they have an open day for non-members and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time. They had all kind of 
entertainment, from pick up baseball games to pony rides to clowns. Excepting Mariah who watched from the shade, the rest of us just had to join in on the baseball, with all making a good showing. They even got the "seventh inning stretch" pretty well organised, with us stopping for a sausage sandwich and a cold beer. The club does a brisk business and we went back that evening for a roast dinner and Guinness on tap. Maree loves a roast dinner and it is not something we can do in the motorhome so is as good as excuse as any for a dinner out. 
Darwin has certainly been an interesting place to visit but the time has come to continue the Downunder Tour so next week we venture south to Berri Springs, Litchfield National Park, then back to the hot springs of Katherine before turning west and heading for WA.
From the mountain fed springs to the dramatic falls there are picturesque landscapes 
we will be sharing with you.
we will be sharing with you. Mariah also is considering a new and novel idea for the latest fashion in eco - earrings with this very friendly fellow who visited her at Berri Springs.....
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