Mindil Beach Markets

The "dry" season has officially arrived but it still feels like the "wet" in Darwin! Relentless humidity & high temperatures has made the last 2 weeks a bit uncomfortable...the nights are the worst with minimum temps of 28-30 degrees.

What better way to beat the heat than to head down to the beach for a cool drink & a good "noshy" meal. Mindil Beach Markets opened their 2010 season tonight & it seemed like the entire population of Darwin was there! The sunset was, as per usual, superlative....enjoy these.

Exploring Kakadu...

After settling into day-to-day life in Darwin & attempting to aclimatise to this god-awful humidity & heat, I set off on an exploratory "famil" tour before I get stuck into real work again....this is sort of like a little holiday for me.

This is what I saw on my first outing.

Only one little "freshie" lurking around the river bank...too early in the season but by June the waterways will be full of them!

Arrivo....Darwin! The end of the road.

Cool graffiti - a reminder that we are once again in the city

Darwin CBD...lots of BIG hotels & plush resorts, great restaurants & cafes & a good selection of interesting retail outlets

The Arafura Sea with storm clouds rolling in

Esplanade boardwalk leading to the famous "Deckchair" outdoor cinema & old WW2 underground tunnels

Colonial Government House

Architecture post cyclone Tracy- note the original facade remnant of the church

The mighty GHAN- iconic Australian railway

Darwin to Adelaide via Alice

The outskirts of Darwin

Finally rain ! And lots of it...

Darwin ahead & a tropical storm brewing..,

Entry to the National Parks, Kakadu & Jabiru

This is what all the tourists come for!

The Adelaide River

Leaving Katherine

After departing Katherine the last few hundred kilometres pass quickly.

We finally hit rain at last; it becomes heavy & then ceases as suddenly as it started.

Tomorrow (in Darwin) we learn of the tropical storm that hit Alice with enough water to allow the Todd river to flow...quite an event at this time of year.

Adelaide River is a stunning tiny settlement with typical country colonial residences, neat as a pin. There is an interesting rail museum here & upon leaving the town we chance upon the mighty Ghan making it s way from Darwin to Alice. An iconic Australian rail-trip.

Huge road signs denoting entrances to the National Parks float by....Kakadu, Litchfield; we wont be stopping at this point-hellbent on getting into Darwin before this evening.

There will be plenty of time to explore after a decent rest!

Suddenly we are entering Darwin & seem to drive for ages thru the outskirts of commercial & industrial areas. A large city (for the Territory!). So many Caravans & Backpacker vans on the road, no doubt arriving early for the season.

Amazing infra-structure here; apparently Darwin is currently the fastest growing city in Australia. There is lots of building going on to rectify the shortage of housing no doubt...interesting, environmentally sound building necessary given this temperamental tropical climate.

Entering the Darwin CBC we drive directly to the waterfront- along the lovely esplanade with its tropical park, to take in the spectacle of the glorious turquoise waters of the Arafura Sea...

Finally, the end of the road, for now at least!

Darwin here we come... Daly Waters Pub & Katherine

A well earned lunch stop at the infamous Daly Waters Pub

The delicious "Barra" burger & "Ute" burger

Time for a game of skittles & then a fuel-up

A cold ale at the "bra" bar while we wait for lunch

A young Boab tree & the famous Stuart tree

Landscape north of Alice

Further north, greener pastures & huge cattle stations...lush & green after the wet

Northern Territory road signs

Hot days....41 in, 41 out

The most boring drive of the trip so far is the first day after Alice...really not much to see however the further north we drive, the greener the landscape becomes.

We begin to see the massive cattle stations this territory is famous for with stock happily grazing beside full dams & flowing creeks. The grass is long & lush. Suddenly it is hot & humid- 41 degrees inside & outside, clouds hover on the horizon...we are hoping for rain.

A stop at Daly Waters, an iconic typical aussie outback pub; for a chance to refresh & revive ourselves with some local delicacies- a "Barra" burger & schooner of cold "draught".

We arrive just as a large coach full of older German tourists is dis-embarking. We enjoy a beer while they individually order their lunch...all 30 of them! Apparently this pub has featured heavily on German T.V & they are all "chuffed" to be here; altho they look decidedly out of place.

At last lunch arrives...WOW! Two magnificent & healthy burgers on the freshest sour-dough rolls...the mighty pure beef "Ute" burger & the delicate "Barra" fillet burger; these will be the benchmark for burgers forever! The pub is worth a visit for this alone! A chat with publican Lindsey is informative & funny as he fills us in on the history & character of the place.

Katherine is actually a very pretty town; its streets are neat & lined with tropical trees, frangipani & palms-very green. An excellent visitors centre gives a respite from the heat as we collect all manner of interesting brochures & reading material. A stop at the shopping complex & supermarket to purchase supplies for the last day of travel to Darwin, we will arrive later in the afternoon. *remember in Katherine (as in Alice), you will need photo ID to purchase take-away alcohol...N.T. law for these 2 towns-Darwin is different.

Our journey is nearing its end...

Leaving Alice...the final "leg", the last 2000

Red Centre sunrise

The name makes a lot of sense...where 3 Highways converge

Wycliffe Well locals

A warm welcome by little green men at our fuel stop

The local townsfolk have some strange stories to tell...spooky!

Devils Marbles & more road ahead

Leaving The Alice

On the road @ 6am, passing the Tropic of Capricorn, more signs, more road...

Arrival in Alice...

MacDonnell Ranges...stunning colours

Flowing creeks & billabongs after the "wet"

Sturts' Desert Rose in flower...

On the road to The Alice..

We called in to say "hi" to Neil (second generation cameleer) at his camel farm between Erldunda & Alice.

The Kulgera Pub offered warm hospitality & cold beer...we downed a few well earned ones here.

The closer we got to Alice, the greener the land became. The plentiful rainfall during the "wet" has filled creeks & billabongs....the most rainfall for 5 yrs.

We did notice a few odd things along the way...discarded capsules belonging to strange creatures from outer-space perhaps?? There were 4 of these oddities scattered along the road into Alice!

At last, all too familiar territory looking vibrant, green & lush; this will keep the local fauna happy for weeks to come.

Looking forward to spending a few days over Easter here to rest & catch up with a few mates.