We’d heard it would be busy on the tourist scene in Darwin at this time of year. So we called ahead on our way into the Big Smoke to book a site at a caravan park – just in case. Little did we know that “calling ahead” in Darwin means at least a few weeks ahead. After four parks were totally booked out, we found another place on the net, way up the north end of town. It wasn’t too flash, and had a truck load of permanents, but at least we had a place to set up Trevor. I think I know why this one wasn’t suggested in Lonely Planet.


When we arrived here at the beach, the boys remarked on how it’s been a long time since we saw the ocean, and we’ve all missed that familiar sight, smell and sound.
Darwin is famous for its many markets, and it was a Thursday – that’s Mindil Beach Market day here! This is a huge market with the biggest range of Asian food stalls (think of every country’s cuisine you can – they were all there) plus Greek, Italian, seafood, kebabs, burgers, Croc meat……you get the idea. No cooking tonight.
Plus there was the usual array of junk they sell at every market in the country, as well as flaming baton jugglers, singers and buskers.
But wait, there’s more: a blood red sunset that sees thousands (no kidding) line the beach – if they can drag themselves away from the adjacent market. It was stunning.

We ate our fill and enjoyed the entertainment. Ferg tried cracking a whip – and succeeded!