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.
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