Getting to Darwin

Our passage from Gove to Darwin was pretty much all sailing except for a few overnight anchorages and about a week at Port Essington which was interesting. This large natural harbour could have been the capital of the Northern Territory. A settlement was established in the 1800's in an attempt to settle the north and establish trade with Asia but failed due to cyclones, remoteness and sickness. Today you can visit the ruins and wonder what it would have been like to live at that time in this place. Even today the whole area is uninhabited except for a small resort.

Image cooking in your house by fire in this heat

The hospital

Kiln used to cook coral to make cement

The resort was a welcome change to the remoteness and a chance to have a swim, our first since we were snorkeling on Lizard Island


We needed a swim so bad. It's torture not being able to swim in the sea for fear of crocs 

Using the resort facilities. He won of course.

The roos came down for a feed in the afternoons. This is Amy being a roo.

From Port Essington to Darwin there was one more stop at Alcaro Bay. There are strong currents between the two and we managed to stuff up the timing as to be pushing into it for half the way which made it a long passage for a small distance. Ashore we explored the beach and found these chairs which we assumed were off a ferry. We don't know who placed them there but it was a welcome relief after a long walk.

Don't how these chairs got here or who put them there but it was a welcome rest

waiting for the bus?

Beach combing

We are currently anchored in Fannie Bay, Darwin and are excited and getting ready for adventures in Indonesia. I'll let you know about our time here in a few days before we head off. Needless to say we are loving the weather as well as catching up with old friends and been very busy preparing for the passage there and back to Oz.

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