Darwin 30th August - 2nd September

Arrived in Darwin in the mid-afternoon and headed to Free Spirit Caravan Park. We set up the tent and went to the pool to cool off.  We chatted with a mix of travellers and some who were living in the caravan park.

On Saturday morning we headed into central Darwin to Parap Markets which were a mix of handicrafts, clothes, fresh produce and food. We all enjoyed fresh juices and some Asian delicacies for breakfast. Boyd took the boys to the local primary school playground to get their dose of park equipment. Imogen and Lisa wandered around the market and then visited two very good indigenous art galleries.

Whilst at the markets we bumped into the Rath family who live near us at home. Their youngest will start school with Jasper next year. To make the coincidence even more extraordinary, we found that they were staying in the same caravan park as us.

After the markets we went to the Darwin Museum which is a mix of indigenous history, local wildlife exhibits, an exhibition showing the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy. This section included a small room in which, after entering and closing the door, went pitch black.  There was a recording playing. This was of the actual sounds in someone’s house during the cyclone. The intensity of the wind and the noises of destruction were spine-chillingly eerie. Imogen thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition and checking the facts she had learnt whilst doing a school project earlier this year, with those she found in the museum.

Our next stop was in Darwin CBD at the electoral commission where we voted in the upcoming federal election. We then sat down for a Thai lunch.

The afternoon was spent at an artificial beach (wave pool) in central Darwin. Archie and Jasper both loved “catching the waves” and Imogen went out deeper to have fun on a boogie board. It was a great way to spend a hot and humid afternoon.

We returned to our campsite and were preparing dinner when who drove past looking for a site? Pip, Dean, Archie and Sam who we had said goodbye to in Broome 2 weeks ago. They had driven from Kunnanurra after doing the Gibb River Road. Dinner was late that night.

On Sunday morning Sam and Archie appeared and the kids played. We then headed off for the Wave Pool and Lisa had a walk around the waterfront. Late that afternoon we went to Mindil Markets where Pip, Dean, Archie and Sam joined us for dinner on the beach after we had a brief look around.

On Monday morning we said are FINAL farewell to P, D, S and A as we would not be seeing them again. We then drove to Litchfield National Park.