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Day 31. Tuesday 8th
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Left Safari Park early.
Everyone keen to see what we could of Litchfield and get on the road to Darwin.
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Our first stop was Cascades but after reading the information sign and a 3 hour walk and croc warning we decided it was worth listening to the whinging and we got back in the van and opted for a slightly shorter 1 1/2 hour return walk Greenant Creek to Tjaetaba Falls. A bit of a climb after a lovely monsoon rainforest stroll raring at the top of the falls and another incredibly deep pool. I took photos while the others had a swim after it was determined croc free, Grace bait rejected!
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As we were the only ones here, no one else to splash or annoy, of course once again there was a bit of rock jumping!
Back to the van and I thought a dip in Buley Rockpool but no was out voted and we hit the road for Darwin.
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Only a quick drive to Darwin and after a brief stop to empty the loo and talk a bloke about a problem leak in the bathroom (which was making it smell even more gross than normal), booked in for some repairs on Thursday....We packed a few basics into a back pack and locked up the van!
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We checked into RNR appartments in Wood Street, for 3 nights with 3 whole bedrooms with 3 doors! Space! White towels, our own laundry, a shower without thongs on!
I can highly recommend this place even if you haven't spent 3 weeks straight sleeping in a van. Its very new, spacious, clean, safe and has the most gorgeous rooftop pool with 360 degree views over the whole city! It's only a few blocks from the Esplanade, waterfront and city, great place to explore Darwin from.
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Kids were in the pool before we could blink but of course we had to go check out our surroundings, there time to swim later!!
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Walked to and along the Esplanade past the very impressive Parliament building and Government House and spent some time in Bicentennial Park and Cenotaph trying to educate the girls about Darwin's role as Australia's somewhat unrecognised frontline against the Japanese forces during WW2!
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Also learning about the city's second devastation when Cyclone Tracy struck on Christmas Eve 1974.
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So a lot of the city is less than 40 years old, spotted with unique heritage early 1800's buildings which have been either rebuilt or repaired.
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The pool beckoned (have we mentioned the pool!) so we walked back through town past The Vic (Victoria Hotel) survivor of every cyclone and bombing raid throw at it! We also saw a statue of the famous inland Australian explorer John McDouall Stuart whom the Stuart Highway and much of the areas surrounding are named after.
It was well past 5'oclock!!!
Got a wee bit excited to have some room, and obviously a high efficient freezer and I accidentally froze my Cloudy Bay wine and made the whole bottle into wine slushy!!!
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We went for dinner at the O.A.K. Graces choice. It was really good! JD had a beautiful crispy skinned Barramundi and I had Spannercrab and Barra linguine. Yum!
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Back to hotel, the girls found some awful American rubbish movie to watch and we all went to bed smiling.
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Pete I liked Darwin, We began our Sail Indonesia from there, so had a couple of weeks doing repairs etc.