Darwin, 23rd June, 2022

 Well it’s nearly over we are leaving for the airport about 10.00pm  tonight to catch our flight departing at 1.15am tomorrow morning. We have done a self testing Covid test and yes we are all clear to fly. As from last Monday ‘dear ‘ Jacinda said we don’t need a 24hour RATS test before leaving. Just had to fill out a declaration form on line which we have received approval to enter NZ  ‘phew’ so hope there will be no hiccups. Had a swim after lunch then Walked out to Mindil Beach today. This is where the famous Mindil Sunset Markets  take place every Sunday and Thursday starting at 4.00pm. Thought we should go out to see what they are all about. Typical markets nothing of interest but lots of Asian type food. Had a quick walk through then got a Ubur back, too hot to walk anymore. Now the waiting game to cook dinner, pack the last things before our pickup.

Walking from our Apartment, past the Darwin Botanic Gardens to cross over to the Mindil Sunset Markets at Mindil Beach. Took about 35mins in the heat.
   

Mindil  Beach not what I expected all over rated.

The Mindil Sunset Markets just a typical ordinary market. 

They give it such a famous write up but disappointed. Didn’t really need to go but did it. 

All packed waiting now until pickup. Still a couple of hours to wait. This trip was amazing after having a week in Perth we finally headed out on our long awaited trip to see Western Australia and up to the Northern Territory. Western Australia was all about the turquoise waters and soft powdery white sand up through one of my favourite places Kalbarri. The Kalbarri National Park was our first National park experience and we thoroughly enjoyed it with its amazing scenery. After the west coast moved inland through the Pilbara to the Karijini National Park which again was another amazing National Park. Back up to the coast through the North Western coast up to Broome . Here we left the coast for the eventful trip through the Kimberley. Time at Lake Arygle. Then across the WA/NT border. The NT was really different to WA. First of all the roads were terrible after WA’s well maintained roads with their long straights and the landscape was very different. Seemed to be all the same to start with  just scrub. Once we got to Katherine up to the Litchfield National Park it completely changed to lush greenery, waterfalls and swimming holes. Lots of walking tracks. There was certainly lots of different landscapes over our trip. Especially the many deep gorges and not to forget the experience of flying over the Bungle Bungles. We have enjoyed our four days in Darwin a really nice city small and not too busy, very quiet for a city.  But now it’s time to say goodbye to Australia until the next time.

Darwin, 22nd June, 2022

THE DAY THE WAR CAME TO AUSTRALIA

19th February, 1942. 

Japanese Plan of Attack.

The Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour and Darwin have often been compared and in forms of their impact on each nation. There is no doubt that there are similarities. Neither the United States nor Australia believed that they would be attacked and the resulting nationwide shock brought home the truth of the Japanese threat in the Pacific. The Japanese raids continued across the Top End of the Northern Territory for a further 20 months. There was further infrastructure damage and loss of life during these months, but it was nothing like that of 19th February. In this date more than 188 Japanese aircraft bombed Darwin’s harbour and airfields in two separate raids. This was the first and largest attacks on Australian soil.

This shows the ships in the Darwin harbour on the day the Japanese brought the War to Australian soils on 19th February, 1942

Subsequent Air Raids.

While much of damage occurred during the first raids on Darwin,  a number of buildings and other infrastructure damage on the 19th February were actually damaged or destroyed  over the following 20months. Darwin was not the only Northern Territory location that was targeted. Raids were recorded over Katherine, Adelaide River, Milingimbi and Batchelor. Many of those places we went to. Also they went as far as Broome and Derby in Western Australia.

I loved this little story about Gunner.

Gunner was a male Kelpie dog who became famous for his reliability to alert allied airmen that the Japanese aircraft were approaching Darwin during this time. His action undoubtedly saved lives.

This morning got a Uber out to the Darwin Military Museum - Defence of Darwin Experience out at East Point.

Darwin Military Museum is an interactive experience that will tell the story of the day the War came to Darwin.

Note the tree that has grown up through the old truck.

9.2” Gun Emplacement.

 

East Point Peninsular is a historic Military  Base which includes over 40 Military structures used to protect the entrance to the Darwin Harbour.

Above and below I’m down under the above Gun Emplacement. All very interesting to see the space they had down there.

We even went down another level.

Naval Searchlight.

Searchlights of this type were used to spot the enemy ships so they could be targeted by the above shore gun. Note how it reflects PT and myself as been upside down.!!

There were rooms, sheds etc displaying so much military equipment. 

1939 Chevrolet  Blitz General Service Truck.

                                                                                    

Official - Japan Surrenders.

Emperor to give Cease - Fire

Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies.

           

 

We have now walked out on the coast at East Point. Quite exposed after the sheltered downtown harbour.

Beautiful colour of the sea. Especially after all the muddy coloured rivers we have seen over our trip.

East Point with some different military structures still intact.

Another Gun Emplacement looking straight out to sea over the above bay.

A close up of the above. Very interesting morning reading up Information and watching a large screen film showing the day the Japanese arrived to destroy Darwin.

Called another Ubur to take us to a place called Cullen Bay. What a great area, large boat marina and many restaurants. Had a wander around this area before taking the 40min walk back to our apartment. Above is one of the car parks to the area.

From the car pack walking over this grass area looking out of Cullen bay. Beautiful colour water.

The main street through town.

Looking down the road the other way.

Now for a stroll around the marina.

Leaving this very upmarket area walking about 2.8kms back to our apartment.  It felt like it was becoming a very long morning. Energy levels were getting low. In fact we covered 5.8kms for the morning.

This road we started our walk back to the city is called Marine Boulevard. Pretty flash places lots of high rise apartments looking over the marina on the other side.

Finally arrived back to our digs about 1.00pm after leaving at 8.00am. Spending just short of two hours walking around the Military Museum, then our walk back to the city from Cullen Bay we had lunch then straight up to the pool for a nice cool swim. Very enjoyable.

Darwin, 21st June, 2022

 Took off at 8.30am to do downtown Darwin on foot. Thought then it might have looked like it was going to be cloudy and misty but soon cleared into another beautiful day. We now realise how small the area of the city is. Our Hotel is quite central within walking distance to many attractions. Also it’s amazing how quiet it is for a city, not a lot of traffic. Our first attraction was RFDS/Military Museum, down at Stokes Hill Wharf which stands out on it own. One side the outside harbour and the other side an inside harbour. Bit hard to explain. Easier to see it on the below photo.

Downtown Darwin. Stokes Hill Wharf on the right of photo.

 

Walking the loop out to Stokes Hill Wharf to see the display of the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the bombing of Darwin Harbour during WWII. In a building just to the right of the big wheel.

While we were waiting for them to open at 9.00am found this comfy deck chair to relax while we were waiting. No room for PT.

We are starting off with the RFDS. The above is a decommissioned Pilates 12 aircraft that allows visitors inside the aircraft  and experience a fully aero medically equiped fitout.

This May interest you Dave.

Long narrow plane which doesn’t have full head height. Must be back breaking for the doctors and nurses. They would have to sit beside the patient and work from there as much as they could and stand as little as possible.

We have a patient. He looks pretty fit to me. It’s really interesting how the whole operation is run with story boards that provide very informative reading of all the history of the Royal Flying Doctors service. Also 2 x Virtual Reality Stories of the RFDS - relive a patient’s true experience of medical care and see what it’s like to fly with an RFDS Pilot. Both very interesting especially flying over all the rugged outback landscape. It is so barren out there.

Now for the virtual Reality to relive the drama of the Bombing of Darwin Harbour that rocked Australia in 1942. This was so well done. You had to spin round in your chair from side to side to try and see it all. Things were coming at you from all directions. The production that’s the pinnacle of a movie in VR

Full size replica Japanese Zero aircraft  which mainly attacked Darwin.

Above and below is a big window you stand around looking down over which gives an aerial view of the Bombing of Darwin Harbour that comes to life showing the bombing and aircraft fire of the first raid. Like looking down over from above. Seemed so real.

The noise of the explosion as the bomb hits, gave everyone a fright as the yellow flame spreads right across the window. The whole expedition was amazing.

Now walking back from the above out to the left of this walkway which is the inner harbour. To the right you could call it the third harbour but no boats in here just a very nice recreational area.

Looking out to the right of the above photo there is a complex of very nice high rise apartments looking over a small Sandy lagoon, a safe area for swimming down in Darwin waterfront. From the covered in walkway we were crossing we then walked over a another walkway, top left of photo, to cross over to the waterfront.

Looking back along the apartments lagoon on left.

Looking back over the lagoon. A very nice modern area full of shops and restaurants under the apartment’s.

As the main City area is up a very steep hill behind the waterfront we could go up in a lift and walk across another big walkway over the street below to get to the level the City is on. All very cleverly done.

Now walked through part of the City down to the Bicentennial Park. The park is up high like the city area looking down over the water below called Lomeroo Beach. Although we couldn’t see the beach as it was a high cliff edge. There are lots of memorials at this end of the park.

Looking down to the water over the trees. It’s unusual as when you are walking around the city it’s all quite flat until you see these steep drops down to the water. As we came up on a lift from the lower waterfront you don’t notice the big difference in height. (As you don’t have to walk up it.)

This tells it own story.

These are the stories and memorials  lining the top of the cliffs looking over the harbour.

THE GREAT WAR

1914 - 1919

This memorial is erected by the Residents in honour of those who enlisted from the Northern Territory.

After walking 8Kms around the waterfront and City today  we went straight up to the pool for a well earned swim. I took some more photos of the rooftop pool as the weather was bright and sunny today. Yesterdays photos were a bit dull.

Harbour in the background.

The infinity pool from water level. 

This is the outside of our apartment block. Rather modern looking easy to find with those colours.  

                                 Looking forward to more exploring around Darwin tomorrow.