Darwin (Day 3) - Australia

Today's our final day in Darwin. This made our 3rd day in a row having breakfast at Curve Cafe Bar. After breakfast, we decided to make a trip to Skycity Casino using public transportation. The Vibe Hotel has been connected to Darwin city centre by a pedestrian sky bridge. We walked pass Christ Church Cathedral followed by Brown Mart Theatre. Darwin interchange is just opposite Brown Mart Theatre.

We took bus route no. 4 (Darwin to Casuarina via Casino - Fannie Bay - Progress drive shops - Charles Darwin University - Casuarina Interchange) Roughly, every 30 minutes there's a bus from Darwin to Casuarina. Detailed timetable information and fares can be obtained from Darwin public transport website (www.nt.gov.au/publictransport)

 

Darwin interchange
 

 

Darwin bus

 

 

Darwin bus (from the inside)

 

We bought a single bus ticket ($3) that expires in 3 hours. Within 3 hours we can hop on and off any Darwin bus. You can even purchase a daily tickets ($7) that has unlimited bus travel until the last service of the day.

 



 

Darwin bus ticket (expired in 3 hour) - $3

Our first stop of the day was Skycity Casino. It only took 10 minutes from Darwin Interchange to Skycity Casino. Standard dress regulations at the Skycity Casino is neat and tidy attire, including appropriate footwear. Use of mobile phone cameras are not allowed in gaming areas. Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted in the gaming area.

 

 

Skycity Casino

 

 

Skycity swimming pool

 

Address:

Skycity Casino

1 Casino Drive,

The Gardens NT 0820,

Australia

 

Mindil beach is just behind Skycity Casino! It was low tide when we reached there. Seems that jellyfish are common in the month of October - May and people are warned not to swim during these months. Jellyfish are less common in the month of June - September but serious stings have occurred during this period. People are warned to be cautious if swimming and to bring along vinegar to the beach and when boating. If minor stings happens, use ice packs for pain and vinegar to remove the tentacles.

Mindil beach sunset market only available on every Thursday and Sunday evening from the last Thursday in April until the last Thursday in October annually. Food is the main attraction besides enjoying the sunset view.

 

 

Mindil beach

 

 

Mindil beach

 

 

We spent around 1 hour at Skycity before heading to our next destination - Casuarina Square. One of the largest shopping centre in the Northern Territory. It took us around 50 minutes from Skycity to Casuarina Square by Darwin bus. We were not in our shopping mood. Hence, it took us less than 40 minutes to walk around the Mall. We bought steak taster wrap (comes with sliced beef, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise inside a tortilla) from McD as our snack. It was good!



 

 

McD Casuarina

 

 

Steak taster wrap - $3

 

Address:

Casuarina Square

247 Trower Road,

Casuarina NT 8010,

Australia



 

We managed to get onto the bus on time before it expired! We head back to Darwin city and had our late lunch. We wanted to try Ducks Nuts but sadly kitchen was closed. We ended at Ducks Nuts Bar Espresso, a little coffee shop that serves lunch snacks and coffee. I ordered sandwich (comes with ham, cheese, salad and mayo) while my partner ordered baguette (stuffed with tuna, cheese and lettuce). It was nice.

 

 

 

Bar Espresso

 

 

Ham, cheese, salad and mayo sandwich - $7.50

 

 

Tuna, cheese and lettuce baguette - $9.50

 

Address:

Ducks Nuts Bar Espresso

76 Mitchell Street,

Darwin NT 0800,

Australia

 

It took us around 15 minutes to walked from Mitchelle Street back to Vibe Hotel. Along the way, we saw the former Palmerston Town Hall (Town house ruins) and Mokuy. Mokuy or spirits progress on an eternal cycle through the landscape. People of north east Arnhem Land belief we all have spirits. When our body dies, the spirit must be sung through to the reservoir of souls from which it came, so it can return once more.



 

 

Mokuy or spirits progress on an eternal cycle through the landscape



 

Town Hall Ruins

 

 

Town Hall Ruins

 

 

Since we stayed just right infront of Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon, we should at least go for a swim and enjoy ourself there. So, we bought the ticket - $7 per person and enjoyed a relaxing sunbathing in the lagoon. The only main attraction is the wave pool. Personal boogies boards and tubes are allowed into the Lagoon at the discretion of Management. No surf boards are allowed.

 

Wave Lagoon Entry Fees

Children under 2 years - Free of charge

Children under 15 years - $5

Adults 15 years + - $7

Family (max 2 adults & 3 children) - $18

Seniors Concession - $5

Opening hours: 7 days 10am - 6pm

 

 

 

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

 

 

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

 

 

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

 

 

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

 

 

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

 

 

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

 

Address:

Darwin Waterfront Wave Lagoon

Kitchener Drive,

Darwin NT 0800,

Australia

 

 

End of the day we had our dinner at Il Lido. The restaurant was dimly lit and the staff were friendly. However, our food came 50 minutes after we placed our order. We were starving by the time our food arrived. We ordered a small starter - roasted pork bun that comes with shredded pork, cucumber and kewpie mayonnaise. We shared a main meal, 500gm peppered rump that comes with onion rings and pepper sauce. Overall the food was ok.

 

Cold water

 

 

Candle light dinner

 

 

Roasted pork bun, cucumber and kewpie - $6

 

 

500g peppered rump (medium rare) - $40

 

Address:

Il Lido Waterfront Kitchen

F3 Wharf One,

19 Kitchener Drive,

Darwin Waterfront NT 0800

Operation hours: Monday - Saturday 12pm - 3pm (lunch), 6pm - late (dinner)

                            Sunday 9.30am - 3pm (brunch)



  

Our dessert of the night was crepe. Crepe is a type of thin pancake, usually made from wheat flour and the word originated from French. We ordered Mexican crepe, comes with gouda cheese, minced meat, white onion, chilly, bacon, red beans, green pepper, tomato and guacamole sauce. It was very filling and glad that we shared our dinner earlier on. Overall the crepe was ok.

 

 

Crepe Escape

 

 

Icy cold water

 

 

Mexican - $13.50

 

Address:

Crepe Escape

19 Kitchener Drive,

Darwin NT 0800,

Australia

 

We need to catch a flight in the wee hours of the morning out of Darwin. Luckily we managed to sleep for a few hours before checking out from Vibe Hotel. Our flight back to KL has been scheduled at 4.35am (Darwin time) and pick up from hotel has been arranged at 1.30am (Darwin time). It was raining quite heavily when we left the hotel. Glad that it didn't rain during our day trip in Darwin.

I just love holidays. Well, who doesn't love holidays? Especially when it's FREE! Besides, you get to learn, see and taste new things. Good times always come to an end. So, bye bye Darwin and hello KL...

P/S: I saw different types of clouds on my way back to KL. It reminds me of my school days where we learnt list of clouds types. Hope I managed to get the below clouds type correctly. :)

 

Altocumulus clouds

 

 

Cumulous clouds

 

 

Cumulonimbus clouds