Suggestions for an O/S Australia day weekend trip?

[Evan]

<..>
Monday - Dry off, go home
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You should include sober up in the Monday to-do list
E

 

[anat0l]

You should include sober up in the Monday to-do list
E

Do you really have to? :mrgreen:

 

[straitman]

You could always just go to Darwin for 3 days - it's almost like leaving the country as it's a bit of a multicultural melting pot.

Saturday you could visit the Parap Markets where a fruit shake and a laksa is a must. Locals go there mainly to eat but there are some good quality handicrafts to buy there as well for visitors to the NT.

In the afternoon you could visit the NT Museum and Art Gallery at Bullocky Point (admission is free) before having a cappuccino at the Cornucopia Cafe (on-site) overlooking the sea.

Dinner could be either at the Trailer Boat club which takes advantage of the great sunsets, Pee Wees at the Point or even Hanuman (next to Darwin Entertainment Centre in town) for excellent Indian, Thai or Nonya cuisine.

Sunday why not drive down to Litchfield National Park for the day. It's only a short 1 hour 15 mins down the road and you can go swimming at Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls (park admission is free) which is great.

Monday you could do a day tour by air (20 min flight from Darwin) to the Tiwi Islands for a cultural experience or drive to the Territory Wildlife Park 45 mins out of Darwin stopping off for a dip at the Berry Springs Nature Reserve on the way back or even the Kakadu Winery which contrary to its name is not at Kakadu but Yarrawonga (about 30 mins from Darwin's CBD).

There's even the Darwin Aviation Museum at Winnellie on the RAAF Base side of the airport on the Stuart Highway which is home to Australia's only B52 Bomber.

The general consensus from people visiting Darwin from down south is that "it's been great, it's just so relaxing". Anyway you'll just have to find out for yourselves.

All the best whatever destination you decide on.

Cheers

OBB

ozbeachbabe,

Welcome to AFF.

Don't worry about the idiots who posted after you. They are really great big softies at heart. Just that around this forum it does not take much to go Off (any) Topic to On Topic about alcohol :!:

We did as you suggested and spent 3 nights in Darwin last June and had a great time. Thanks for the suggestions on what to do next time.

 

[anat0l]

ozbeachbabe,

Welcome to AFF.

Don't worry about the idiots who posted after you. They are really great big softies at heart. Just that around this forum it does not take much to go Off (any) Topic to On Topic about alcohol :!:

We did as you suggested and spent 3 nights in Darwin last June and had a great time. Thanks for the suggestions on what to do next time.

Actually I do want to head up to Darwin one day (as well as Uluru). Just never knew what to do in the 'top end', but now I do. Cheers ozbeachbabe.

But to go back on topic, I think most here have covered the main O/S jaunts. Anything else will be a bit too expensive.

What's the weather up in DRW at the moment? People have been saying to beware of going to CNS due to the heat (and, if another reason, the incoming cyclone)...

 

[Mal]

... still nothing decided / finalised, but I do appreciate the suggestions

Have also thought about SON (Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu) with a sidetrip/tour to the Yasur Volcano. But that doesn't look like an easy trip either as no direct flights from SON-TAH, (connecting flights are around $500 pp + ~$200pp for the tour), or alternatively the tour from VLI is around $500pp incl airfares to TAH. Not too keen on staying in VLI though.

Lots of thinking going on

 

[lovetravellingoz]

People have been saying to beware of going to CNS due to the heat (and, if another reason, the incoming cyclone)...

Well I booked my flights many months back (I had $500 worth of Jetstar Vouchers after being successful on a $200 claim with them chipping in an extra $300 as a nice surprise. But I had to use them or lose them) and so I hoping the cysclone will pass.

I don't mind the combined humidity and heat...as I will only be their 4 dayss and in some ways it adds to the tropical experience.

 

[Mal]

I don't mind the combined humidity and heat...as I will only be their 4 dayss and in some ways it adds to the tropical experience.

Plus being there (and Darwin as well) in low season has it's benefits...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Plus being there (and Darwin as well) in low season has it's benefits...

Yes...I tend to visit most places on low to shoulder season as I hate crowds. Lower costs are an added benefit.

And tropical places tend to be lusher....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Markis10

There's a post script to Friday night......

* After getting drunk and wet go back to hotel - get bag, swag, fishing rod, box of frozen fish from Mr Barra etc then go to airport.

* Complain about having to pay for excess baggage because you didn't check the allowance and duly come to the attention of the AFP because you are being loud and obnoxious.

* Get waylaid at the security screening point because you have fishing lures in your carry on despite being asked at check-in if you had any sharps.

* Go back to checkin counter to checkin yet another piece of luggage - there's no way you are going to lose your prized lures you bought from Reidy's on the way back from the East Alligator. By now AFP have you well and truly as a marked man.

* Go upstairs with good intentions of getting a strong coffee, after all you vaguely remember the check-in agent saying you will need to be assessed by the duty manager before boarding.

* As you stroll past the newsagent you happen to notice a curvy Kim Kardashian on the latest cover or Ralph so you put boarding pass down while you rummage in your pockets for loose change some of which spills out onto the tiled floor.

* You spot your mates at the bar - geez you'll just have a quick schooner of New. One roadie won't hurt.

* You hear your name being paged on the PA - crikey now what do they want. Someone has handed in your boarding pass you left in the newsagent. AFP now have a name to match the face, out comes the notepad and pen. Duty manager arrives on the scene.

* As you turn around to rejoin your mates you momentarily forget about the hand luggage test rack behind you but too late as you do your best rendition of a swan dive or slips catch that would make Allan Border proud right in front of the flight attendants who have just arrived at the gate for boarding.

No more lifelines - you are now officially cough out of luck! :shock:

Oh, don't forget to multiply above scenario ten fold after the V8 Super Cars weekend and the Barra Classic. OBB