Cox Peninsula

Sunday 12 April……We are off to have another look at Darwin but this time from across the water of Darwin Sound from the Cox Peninsula. The weather is still very muggy which saps our energy and so it’s a slow start to the day. We join the holiday weekend traffic, the usual load of Boaties dragging their tinnies (aluminium boats) behind them, heading for the lakes and rivers. It’s quite busy by Aussie standards.
Our first stop, which was not where we intended to be, turned out to be a really nice beach called Wagait and we had it to ourselves. There were a few young boys playing there in a stream that flowed into the sea. Once again we cannot go into the sea because of the box jellyfish, though we were told later that they are rarely about at this time of the year. The tide was too far out anyway. We took photos of some incredibly colourful rock formations before driving on to the top of the Peninsula where the ferry leaves for Darwin Harbour. It takes 15 mins, it took us 1 and half hour to drive round. There are lots of people fishing from the jetty, but again no-one swimming. This time for fear of jellyfish and crocodiles. Another 1 and half hours drive back, just in time for afternoon tea and a swim in our pool that closes tomorrow.
Mon 13 April Not much on today except to pack up and leave Boomerang (Probably won’t come back) Drove into Darwin by a different route to have a look at the Port of Darwin. Not a lot to see as it’s quite small and fenced off so we sat around watching a small pod of dolphins playing around the jetty. There are a lot of people fishing, it’s an Ozzie thing that every one fishes or races about in boats or both! We saw a gang of Asian blokes fishing off the rocks no doubt everything caught will be on the restaurant menu tonight. Just along from the wharf we are intrigued to see a deck chair open air cinema. We wonder where the screen will be if reclining in a deck chair. To the other end of town now to see where there is a world famous fish feeding frenzy, every day times according to the tides. We missed it of course, it was 8 30 to 11 30 Apparently thousands of fish turn up to the same spot to be hand fed , and they do this of their own volition. Trouble is some smart okker has built a wall round it and charges $11 for the privilege of feeding the fish! We don’t think so! Up into town to find an internet café to check our emails (one follower suggests sacking the Navigator!) then after lunch in the park off to find a new camp site. We hit on a big site just out of town that has 3 pools!!!!! And an office that books trips and excursions. It says it has WiFi but again you can only access it in a very small area. It also has a bar which we think needs some investigation. OH and it’s under the flight path of Darwin Airport!
Tues 14 April We had a look bar last night. Happy hour 5 til 6 gets us 50 cents off a pint! If you are quick you can save $2! It was very humid again last night, humidity well over 90% now. It’s a struggle to pull the ring tab on your stubby without breaking into a sweat. Our poor old fridge is so overworked that unless we are plugged into the mains it doesn’t work, so we spend the morning looking for an Auto-electrician to wave a magic mega at it or whatever they do. Any way it’s booked in for repair in the morning. Business done we went off to look at a beach north of Darwin and the Dripstone Cliffs. Some more very nice colourful rock formations and a huge sandy beach. Nobody on it except a bunch of Aborigines under the mangroves with their stash of booze. No one is allowed to drink in public places, but they do! We moved up the coast a bit further to Casuarina Beach and found ourselves on a nudist beach, we only know this because we read the sign! There was nobody there either, Peter had a good look! We would have liked to have walked along the beach but at 2 in the afternoon it’s so hot and humid we just want to slump. The swimming pool seems a good place to do it so we drive back and throw ourselves in it! A swim and a few nearly cold beers is about it for today