Wednesday, Oct 5th, Darwin

Greetings!

 We left soggy Litchfield/Bachelor heading north towards Darwin.  We stopped off in Berry Springs for the North Territory Wildlife Park, and what a great find.  Although 30 years old, it's quite updated - 70 hectors of natural monsoon forest, wetland, and woodland, with well-marked paths and a train going around a circuit.  Not crowded, but a decent number. We started with a hot drink, then to a presentation at the billabong. - a pelican feeding.  They are huge white birds with black wing markings, and fly in with feet as landing gears, and slide across the water.  We got within a few feet of them.  Next to the Flight Deck Display, where trained birds came to the trainer.  There were Jaibiru, osprey, emu, and a wedgefield eagle (who broke open an emu egg with the rock).  We walked to the Nocturnal House, with all kinds of rat-like marsupials, echidnas, wallabies, bats, and snakes.  Then to the aquarium with the range of freshwater habitats.  there was a walk-through "glass" tunnel with barracuda, whiptail rays, archer fish, oceanic invertebrates, and a cool moray eel (white with black spots and a yellow nose. 

We did see a dingo and water buffaloes, but missed the walk-through in the Aviary and several other walks in our over five hours stay.  It closes at 3pm, and the heat leveled us by 2:30pm.  But a real highlight to our trip.

We had about an hour's ride to the outskirts of Darwin.  It's hot and muggy, and may rain tonight. Tomorrow, we drop off the van.  Hopefully, we won't get dinged for the broken headlight screen.  Then to a 655 pm flight to Cairns.  

Some thoughts on the Darwin adventure:  The van experience (minus getting used to the Manual/Drive transmission) was mostly positive.  We got to meet more people in the campgrounds and on the trails.  The air-conditioning made it tolerable, but the space is cramped.  Of course, no schlepping of the heavy luggage.  Northern territory seems pretty remote, but not as bad as Kimberly.  But the roads and park amenities are first rate.  The wet is coming on earlier this year, so I think we are getting out of here just in the nick of time.  Cairn may also be hot, but it should get relief as we head south.

Here are the photos taken that day: Wednesday, Oct 5th, Darwin