Darwin (Territory Wildlife Park)

Having read the reviews at Tripadvisor, we decided to give TWP a visit. We wanted to catch the first show at 9am but couldn't wake up on time. This is the low season and we were like the first visitors at the park on that day (about 9am then). It was only later in the morning that we saw more visitors. The advantage in visiting such places during the low season is that you have almost the whole park to yourself literally. There is no need to fight with the crowds, to jostle for a good view ... it was a very good feeling indeed. According to one ranger, this is the wet season so the park's coming alive with lots of green, unlike the dry season when there's more brown than green.

The entrance fee is A$26/adult. I was flipping though some tourist magazine and found a 10% discount voucher. Happy! The ticketing counter is co-located with the giftshop and a small cafe. 400 hectares is huge indeed and you're in for a day of exercise if you choose to walk. Fortunately for us, there's a free tram service ... thank goodness. We missed the 9am Tuckertime@Billabong and started with the Nocturnal House - it was dark inside as they tried to simulate night-time in there. It was interesting and I wished we had more time to examine the exhibits but it was time to move on to the Oolloo Sandbar for the feeding of the barramundis and whiprays at 10.10am. This was the most interesting station for me as I got to feed the whiprays. As I said earlier, visiting during the low season has its advantages.There will probably be too many volunteers for the feeding during the high tourist season but for us, it was a breeze. The ranger even had to coax for volunteers. It was terrifying for some to see a huge whipray "flying" through the water towards them (Think "Jaws" and you get the picture less the music!!). Someone fell into the water out of excitement and fear!! Actually it's the bait that the rays are aiming for. Me ... I had fun - the rays sort of sucked the fish from your hand. You need to put your hand and the bait under it as the mouth is located below. The whiprays felt rough on the top but silky smooth at the bottom. We also had a go at trying to get the archer fishes to shoot the worms off our hands. Again, everyone could have a go at it as there were only 10 odd visitors there.

Next up was showtime at the Flight Deck - Top End Birds of Prey (11am) - where we got to see various birds of prey up close. Very entertaining and informative show. I must say that the rangers at TWP are very professional and knowledgeable. There was some time to kill before the next presentation at the Walk-through Aviary. So we visited the Aquarium and the Wetlands Walk. We also walked through the Monsoon Forest Walk where we saw lots of flying foxes roosting in the trees. The presentation at the Aviary was mild compared with the other 2 shows but I loved the free-flying birds and had one helluva time snapping away. Have a look at the birds here. The sky became downcast and it looked like the normal afternoon showers will start soon. We decided to call it a day and made our way back, thus missing a few attractions. It poured just as we drove out of the carpark.

Berry Springs is right next to TWP but it was closed for swimming and it was raining too. We just took an obligatory scan of the park - nothing to see from the car park - and that was it. A pity.

It would be good to set aside a whole day for TWP if one intends to explore all that they have to show.

The entrance to TWP

Entry is A$26 per adult

A very friendly and curious wallaby examining my cam

Entrance to the Nocturnal House

A resident at the Nocturnal House

Another creepy-crawlie resident

The tram that goes around the park

Directional signs

Two strange creatures outside the Nocturnal House

Interesting view (Tunnel at the Aquarium)

A sawfish

Most exciting station for me - the Oolloo Sandbar

Ranger feeding the whiprays ... they're huge

Then we had a chance at feeding the whipray

Ready ... steady ... don't lose your nerves

goodbye, dear right hand!!

Trying hard to get the archer fish's attention

Itchy wallaby

...so many flying foxes up on the trees

Berry Springs - an obligatory visit

Darwin (Litchfield National Park)

After Fogg Dam, we headed off to Litchfield National Park. It didn't seem like a long way on the map, but it was certainly long when driving. We drove back from Arnhem to the split at Stuart Highway, and then to the turnoff from Stuart to Batchelor Town. Batchelor is a very sleepy and peaceful town ... looks like time left it behind for us to savour. We drove around looking for the Visitor Info Centre. Found it unmanned opposite the town centre - a sign says to help ourselves to the brochures. Then we thought we'd head off to the town centre which isn't really much to talk about as the photos show. There was a general store there but nothing much. It was a good thing we bought our stuff at Coles before we came here. You can grab a bite at the neighbouring shop - fish n chips, I think.

The big signboard/map just before Batchelor

Lots of accommodation to choose from

Quiet lonely streets all over

Almost missed the Town Centre sign - so inconspicuous!

Visitor Information Centre at Batchelor - good!

Love the ancient gas pumps

So we headed off, excitedly, for our first destination, the Magnetic Termite Mounds. 18km seems like such a short distance on the map, but it isn't. Guess I'm not used to the distances here. When we finally reached the Termite Mounds, we were quite sorely disappointed. First, I think we went there at the wrong time - almost noon...and it was hot, hot, hot!! The joke was that this was the best part (as rain would have been worse), and given what came next. Only 2 mounds are open to the public...TWO!! And they're really old, maybe even dead? I think the termites fled or died long long ago. I would if I were them - can you imagine your home being molested and photographed by thousands of tourists every year? I thought we could come up close and personal with many other mounds ... man, was I ever so wrong!!

There is a boardwalk around a shelter with some information inside. You walk along the boardwalk and try to make out the hundreds of mounds out there, far away. You squint in the sunlight, and that's all you do. You can't walk out to them as it is out-of-bounds. So we travelled all this distance to see 2 mounds and squint at the hundreds more that look really like ant mounds because they look so small. It's not polite but I can't help agreeing with one lady there who told her boyfriend it was a waste of time. My research failed miserably!

On hindsight, I should have reached there early morning or late afternoon. It wouldn't have been so hot and we could have spent more time there. Bring along your bino for a good look. The flies there bite - so be forewarned. There are also numerous termite mounds as you drive around - I think they are more authentic, although not as big as the Cathedral. I regretted not stopping to check them out. Wonder if there is any Australian law against doing that?

Good signages all over

The distances

Must take photo!! And so hot, hot hot!!

The first termite mound open to public

The scene from the boardwalk - you can't wander off from here.
So what can you see?

Need zoom lens to zoom to this distance

The second so-called Cathedral Termite Mound
open to public

Toilets there look like this one at the Termite Mounds

And since we were already at Litchfield, might as well see some of the rest of the attractions. So we drove on and came upon Buley Rockhole. What's a rockhole? A rock in a hole or a hole in a rock? It's a small stream - I'm not the water kind but I guess many Aussies are so they'll enjoy soaking in the water. We just walked around, came upon a local inhabitant looking for lunch and then went on our way as it started to drizzle.

Signboard for ignorants

Hungry water monitor looking for lunch

Excited waiters and waitresses

Not exactly our cup of tea but they like it

Next on the list, Florence Falls. Lady Rain, not Luck, was with us and it started to pour. We hibernated in the carpark for 20 min but the rain got heavier. And that signalled the end of our Litchfield trip ... truly unimaginative trip. The drive back was bad as visibility was very poor because of the heavy rain. Haven't driven in such wet conditions for a long, long time. My sympathies to those who drove out 2 hours from Darwin to see the Termite Mounds on this the late afternoon.

My take on Litchfield - very generally speaking, Asians are kind of different from Aussies and their perspective of the outdoors couldn't be more different. So Litchfield, and Darwin in general, will appeal to those who are fond of the outdoors. The shopping kind, typical of many Singaporeans, will not be so thrilled with the attractions in and around Darwin. Distances between attractions can be quite far apart by SG standards, eg driving to and from Tuas to Changi just to see a waterfall may not be so appealing. If like me, you find that part of the fun is in the getting there and not the reaching there, then perhaps it might be more worthwhile. If you like checking out the little towns as part of the "getting there" (we like doing that), then make more allowances in your planning so that your trip will be more leisurely.

Darwin (Paravista Motel & Fogg Dam)

For visitors who pop by, please understand this post is for my own personal keepsake and for those wanting to find out more about Darwin. It is not intended to show the world where I've been or I would have blasted it on Facebook with tons of photos.

I'm posting this from a Singaporean point-of-view which is quite quite different from an Australian perspective, and it's also just my personal view.

Darwin is a small city with a huge hinterland. Life is slow and easy here. Traffic is light and it's a breeze to drive around in such conditions. However, distances between attractions out of the city are long (by SG standards) and from a strictly personal point of view, sometimes not worth the drive. The cost of living is quite high in Darwin, and food is expensive in all sense of the word. Soft drinks are like A$2-3 (A$4 at the airport), Chinese food comes in small (A$8), medium (A$10) and large (A$12) portions, donuts are closer to A$4 and mind you, not big at all, coffee A$4 upwards. Fast food seems to be the more economical (but deadly) meals around - a McDonald's meal hovers around A$10. T-shirts are easily A$15 for the normal ones that we pay S$10 at home. Again, this is all from a SG tourist perspective. Australians will probably look upon these as normal since they grew up in such an environment.

Prices of food at Stokes Hill Wharf

Another restaurant on Stokes Hill Wharf

Accommodation at Paravista Motel

We stayed at Paravista Motel which was not far from the city. The motel is rather dated but neat and tidy. The room is simple and clean. If all you need is a decent and clean place to sleep in, this is it. Anyway, from the photos that we saw, even the more expensive hotels are also nothing much to talk about in terms of the rooms. The boss, Nelson (resembles a slightly overweight Vin Diesel!), is a very friendly and down to earth person who loves SG (been here 25 times already, he said). The cicadas outside can be very noisy but with the doors closed, it's quite ok. The motel staff leaves by 7pm and you do your own locking of the motel door (every guest is given a motel door key). It is expected of all who stay here.

Parap Village is a short 10-minute walk away and that's where the famous Parap Market is held every Sat from 8am (more on that later). Other than Parap Village, there is nothing much within walking distance. We drove and the city is quite near. But if you don't drive, don't think of walking to the city centre unless you're in desperate need of exercise in which case, I have better options for you.

The entrance

5 levels

Small but clean swimming pool

Reception (on the left) is closed after 7pm

Almost 40 years old

Corridor leading to the rooms

Fogg Dam

This was our first stop after picking up the car. Actually, it was our second stop - the first being Coles where we bought our supplies of water, food etc and had a nice time checking out the new stuff at the supermarket. Coles open early - 6am!

Back to Fogg Dam. It's about 64km from the airport which is roughly an hour's drive. So it's not exactly near. The dam was supposed to have a lot of birds for me to photograph. We were the only ones there and had the whole place to ourselves. Happy! But very few birds around.  I think we came at the wrong time. Sad! Could only catch a few shots - see here for bird pix. And Fogg Dam is not a real dam in the true sense of the word. It is just an elevated narrow road above the wetlands - that's all. You can take walks around the area but proper attire is needed to keep away the biting insects and such. It was hot when we were there, so we skipped the walks.

Another 10km to go (this is the turnoff on Arnhem Highway)

Welcome to Fogg Dam

Hoping no tortoise decided to cross the road

You risk been eaten if you walk on the dam wall.

Shaded bird viewing platforms