Mental long day today. Alarm clock went off at 5.10am. Checked out of ocean beach hostel, nice place to stay but some ghoul bag, pissed as a flute, woke me at 3am falling down the little stair case outside our room. Also we had a little fridge on room which made noises every 5 mins on the button and when it stopped it was like a stone breaking a window. To make it worse we could it turn it off as the freezer section was iced and it would have melted.
Got a bit lost in Fremantle before getting to airport but after filling the little KIA up one last time, we dropped it off. Fortunately returning the car was a whole deal easier that picking it up! Checked into Perth domestic (btw domestic and international are 2 totally separate airports about 10km apart) which was I have to say the easiest checking ever. Weighed our own bags and threw them onto belt and off they went (love Oz!).
We were allowed bring liquids on board (love Oz!!) apparently cause it's a domestic flight (do you hear that ryanair??!).
Had 3.5 hour flight to Daaarwwwin and landscape and views of Australia mid region were magnificent. Lots of mountains, sandy terrain and bushfires bit as we approached Daarwwin views became a lot more back to earth! Hoped off plane and it was 28 degrees compared to 13-15 in Perth. (13-15 was still not low enough to get us into long pants- we are Irish!!)
We hopped on airport shuttle bus (46 bucks return for us both) with our driver 'Norm' - never had a name being ever as much suited to a job!
Nice drive Ito Daaarrwwwin and checked into Banyan View Lodge. Had private room again but shared bathroom this time but we didn't mind as we would not be there that much. Apparently the place used to be a strict woman's accommodation but it all changed. Thankfully.
Went to Mitchell street which is main area for backpackers and it was buzzing. Reminded me of Lanzarote! We bought picnic stuff and went to bicentennial park for lunch. Was a massive day, not a cloud in the sky and overlooking the ocean. Mallow was a far cry from here!
After lunch we walked down to deck chair cinema as they would be showing film tonight that we could go to, and have food / drinks there. They were showing 'man from snowy mountain' or something but they would have Sigrid Thornton there, one of the stars of the movie. It was due to start around 7.30pm.
We continued strolling and came across a very cool area of Daaaarwin - the waterfront district. Had a huge man made wave pool ($5/8) and a little plunge pool which was free. The place was packed with folk of all walks and seemed to be the place to be.
After seeing the wave pool we said we'd return to our own hostel to make use of our own pool. Water was freezing but kept telling Carol it was lovey so she'd come in! She wasn't buying it!
Got chatting to German couple at pool who drove from Perth to Daarwwin via Coastal route over 6 weeks. Thats the way to see it..it got me quite excited about our own Cairns to Sydney drive in a camper van.
Anyway, got out of pool and wandered to deck chair cinema. Very cool place buy was packed at 7pm! We did get a free drink though so we were happy :-)
It was a bigger show than normal due to this Sigrid Thornton being there, I didn't know her from Adam (or Eve!) but everyone else thought she was the dogs bollox and were all over her like flies on a bucket of s***. Film started and ended. Carol fell asleep! Could really be bothered explaining it but you're free to google it!
One thing that came across though was that Oz people are quite into their films or just this one! (anytime some dude won a fight or something it was greeted by applause and cheering - or maybe they were all just pasted drunk!)
Once film was over we opted to run from the Q&A with Sigrid and headed up the road for some dinner.
Tomorrow is Kakadu 2 day / 1 night tour something I am really looking forward to.