A Week in Darwin

We arrived in Darwin on 17 Aug.  It was a bit of a nerve racking experience getting into the marina as we had to go through a lock which we had never done before.  We amused the lockmaster with our nervousness.

Odd shaped sandstone cliffs along the foreshore, entering Darwin at Cullen Bay.











We made it though and were soon "locked" safe and sound in the marina at Cullen Bay.  From the look of the yachts in this marina it is apparent that yacht racing is alive and well here.  It must take a bit of organization on race days as they all have to get out through the lock for their events.  



The marina is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.
I found out very quickly to go to the bathroom fully dressed (not in my nighty) before bed as the walkway took you straight past the most popular restaurant.

We hired a car to do errands as well as have an inland trip which we did to Litchfield National Park.  We thought this would be a good place to see lots of wildlife as well as cool off in spectacular waterfalls.

The roads were very good which meant that "a lot" of other people could do the same.  Lucky that there aren't too many people willing to wander around swamps looking for birds, so we had Tabletop Swamp mostly to ourselves.




A yellow form of the Snowflake lilly.  So called as they have a delicate fringe around the flower petal.  They are of the Nymphoides family.

A Royal Spoonbill surveys his kingdom, looking for a dirty rascal to eat.

Ian looking for snakes amongst the weird and wonderful rock formation in Litchfield National Park.

Fruit Bats keeping an eye on us at Wangi Falls.









Unfortunately, the number of people visiting the waterfalls were inversely proportional to the number of people birdwatching.  This, combined with good roads and easy access meant that there was standing room only when we got to each waterfall.

Back in Darwin, we visited Lake Alexander, a salt water man-made lake.  We spent a few hours there taking photos and feeding the sandflies. 










A camera-shy Rajah Shelduck disturbs the glassiness of the lake - beautiful!

Pied Imperial Pigeons enjoying a tasty meal of Palm fruit.







                                      




Back at the marina.

 Striated Herons are showing up everywhere.

A leaf in the still water of the morning.
















Sunset at Cullen Bay.







Off to the Kimberleys.