Darwin Hilton for a night

It was so different to be packing up the van and hitching on knowing that we are not going to be staying in it that night, instead I had booked us into the Hilton.  Mind you I did think it was going to be a bit embarrassing walking into reception in our daggy travelling clothes and as for bags, well we don’t have proper suitcases or anything so it is a small backpack, orange beach bag and a woollies bag!  Still it doesn’t matter as it was a good deal for a room for us all, so as long as we are paying we are entitled to be there!

We got on the road quite early according to the car clock!  Realistically it was more like 8:30am but we still haven’t changed the clock to NT time so it was still showing 7am.  We wanted to tow the van just over 200km to Coomalie Creek where there is a little caravan park that is cheap and has come recommended to us by Mike & Wendy and Ian & Gwen.  The drive was really good and our fuel economy was awesome.  We were joking at how much money the Northern Territory is saving us as not only has our fuel economy been awesome since crossing the border but all the caravan parks are way cheaper too.  It was nothing to be paying $55 a night in WA but so far in NT we have only been charged $38 a night and the one we are moving to is only $20 a night for power and water!

Following an explosives truck into town.  Hmm wonder what it is carrying?

So just before lunch we rolled into Coomalie Creek and booked a powered site for the three nights.  We just set up the basics and plugged in the power before making a quick bite for lunch and heading off.  We wanted to make the most of our overnight stay in Darwin and the motel room.  The drive into Darwin was so cool and the 130km/hr part seemed so fast after travelling so long with the van at 95km/hr.  Before long we were in the city and parking at the motel.  We checked in and proceeded up to our room.  Honestly I lay on the bed and never wanted to get up.  It was so big and comfy.

Nice big comfy beds.

A bathroom the size of half our caravan.

Someone certainly made herself at home.

However we did have to venture out as there was no way that Jason was going to be here to celebrate Territory Day where he could let off fireworks legally and not actually let off a firework.  So we went out for a walk and I took the kids to get some snacks from the shop whilst Jason went and bought some fireworks.  There aren’t really any specialty shops; it is just normal shops like IGA that just sell them this one day a year!   Most people pre-order theirs and just have to go in and pick them up, with some places having some pretty amazing kits.  Jason just opted for the “Road Kill” basic kit which was only $40 for four fireworks!  He didn’t feel right getting the “mother-in-law kit” and setting it alight!

The boys and their fireworks!

So now we were all set we returned to the motel for a little rest before heading out to Mindil Beach which was apparently the place to be.  It certainly did not disappoint us and we managed to easily get a park before making our way through the markets (the food smelt divine) and sussing out where the concert was.  Then it was a matter of deciding where we wanted to set ourselves up for the night.  I was leaning more towards the grass area, yes you couldn’t see the stage but you could see the big screen and weren’t far from the food.  Jason however liked the idea of the beach so we could see the concert stage.  So we went with the beach.  This was a decision we would some come to regret.

After setting ourselves up the kids then proceeded to play in the sand and before we knew it they were covered in it, our picnic rug was covered in it and it felt like it was starting to cover us!  It was a bit of a wait until the concert started and it was quite warm sitting in the sun, but once the sun started to set it became a lot more comfortable and then when the concert started we were right.  Though before the concert started we moved forward a little bit as Jason saw another family we had met in Airlie Beach so they invited us up to join them as there was space.  Now Kayla had Will who she could dig and play in the sand with. 

Mindil Beach starting to get crowded.

Sun setting and the concert is starting.

Now if we could just get the photo with a few less people.

Skydiver with the NT flag.

I managed to escape and get some food for dinner which was a bit of an effort due to the queues and getting back down onto the beach as they had closed off the entry point closest to us as people had just blocked it.  Maybe they needed better control over keeping the walkways clear by having them roped off or something as it would have allowed a better flow of people.  As the sun set, the fireworks started.  These weren’t the planned ones but of course random ones people had bought.  Thankfully Mindil Beach itself was off limits however down on Little Mindil Beach people could go to their hearts content and you could see them going off on the far beach and random places.  It is actually really cool to see.

Kayla having fun in the sand.

Hamish showing us his dance moves.

The concert was pretty cool with the major drawcard being Jessica Mauboy.  So we bopped along to her for a while but now the kids were getting quite tired and over it all so we decided to call it a day and got out of there before every man and his dog was attempting to.  Getting out through the crowd was obviously the hardest part but we managed to get there and then Jason went back for the stroller whilst I let the kids have a play on the jumping pillow whilst we waited.  This seemed to wake them up and give them a second wind for the night. 

The Chicki Dancers.

Jessica Mauboy.

Just one part of the awesome fireworks.

As we made our way back into the city I must admit I got a little nervous at the sight of fireworks going off on the side of the road, especially when one came flying out on the road.  Jason however was more interested in finding the perfect spot to let off his fireworks and even nearly drove down the wrong side of the road!  Lucky I was there to point out his mistake before it was too late!  Finally he found the right spot.  In the parkland that runs alongside the city, there were heaps of fireworks going off everywhere and down one end it looked quite crazy and a bit out of control so we went further along until we found a more quieter spot.  It wasn’t really quiet, they were just in between fireworks obviously when we pulled up.

Still I kept the kids in the car whilst Jason went out and did his first one.  I just felt it was safer in there, and Kayla was asleep so she was easy.   Hamish joined me in the front seat and after the first success we felt safe to venture outside and stand beside the car.  They were actually really awesome fireworks for only $10 each and it made me wish we had got a whole mixture of ones.  However that thought was soon short lived when I saw the guys next to us start to hold them as they ignited them so were more pointing across the park then up into the sky.  So as soon as Jason had completed his four we had a quick chat to the Victoria family beside us who was also amused at the spectacle before retreating to the safety of the hotel.

Jason letting one off.

This is what Jason thought was his - but honestly his were bigger and better.  The camera just couldn't snap fast enough to capture it.

Now it was time to try and get all the sand off the kids and us so we could get a good night’s sleep.  It seemed to take forever as if it was glued onto the kids but we managed to get there.  I wasn’t too happy as even though they knew four people had checked in, only two towels were in the bathroom.  So I called reception and waited and waited and in the end just gave up and we shared towels.  Seriously expected more for a place like this, but if that was the worst thing that happened to us that day then it was still a good day.  We then drifted off to sleep whilst watching the fireworks still going outside.

I actually thought we would have the best night sleep and the kids certainly did but Jason was up at 3am shutting the blinds (so the kids would sleep longer) so this woke me out of my deep sleep and I struggled to get back to sleep.  Eventually I just gave up and caught up on the blog and trying to research some videos we needed for school.  I didn’t have any success with the school stuff but at least I tried.  We managed to do some school before heading out to the Coffee Club for breakfast.  Thankfully we had eaten some fruit before heading out as it was a long wait for our breakfast.

Then it was back for more school and to check out and pack up the car with all our miss-matched bags.  We then drove the short distance (yes we could have walked but we needed to check out) to the Information Centre and got brochures on all the surrounding areas and Darwin itself so we can read up and plan the next few weeks.  From there we walked down to the WWII tunnels as we thought we should see something whilst in town.   These were really cool and used to store the fuel for the planes and other vehicles during the war.  There are actually quite a few of them, and at first I didn’t think they would be that big, but once inside and walking down one of them you really do get an appreciation for their size. 

Walking into the entrance.

Hamish playing with a sculpture.

Looking into one of the tunnels.

Another tunnel, but this one you can walk down.

It was great also as they had heaps of history information there too, which Jason and I picked and chose what to read as the kids ran ahead to the end and then waited there for us before making our way back down.  Outside Jason left the kids and I whilst he went back to get the car.  This saved having to drag them back up the hill.  Once we were all loaded in the car we headed back out to Coomalie Creek where we had left the caravan.  All ready to explore the surrounding areas.

This was so big and a great way to display wartime history.

Making our way back out.