{"id":1952,"date":"2010-09-03T13:41:33","date_gmt":"2010-09-03T03:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=1952"},"modified":"2015-03-23T17:19:27","modified_gmt":"2015-03-23T07:19:27","slug":"the-lastminute-lovelies-in-darwin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/the-lastminute-lovelies-in-darwin\/","title":{"rendered":"The lastminute lovelies in Darwin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Like many Australians, I\u2019ve always planned to visit the Northern Territory on a big road trip around Australia when I retire, caravan in tow and grey hair blowing in the dusty breeze. NT just seemed so exotic, so distant\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I assumed it was the kind of place that you would need weeks to see.Now, however, I realise that a weekend in Darwin is not only accessible and affordable, it\u2019s BRILLIANT!<\/p>\n

Landing in the wee hours of the morning after a four hour flight from Sydney, the lastminute Lovelies stumble out into the Darwin night, and the heat hits us like a blast of steam from the oven door. It\u2019s the middle of the night, it\u2019s August, and it\u2019s balmy \u2013 woo hoo!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Darwin’s Crowne Plaza<\/p><\/div>\n

We hail a cab, head for the Crowne Plaza Hotel and crash, before waking up the next morning relaxed, refreshed, and ready to explore. First stop: mingling with the locals over a spot of brekkie at Parap Markets. An essential Saturday morning experience, here you\u2019ll find dozens of stalls selling fruit and vegies, Asian food, arts and crafts, clothing and our personal favourite, fresh tropical fruit juices and smoothies. My mango smoothie is hands down the most delicious I\u2019ve ever had, and I can\u2019t stop exclaiming about how good it is. If this is Darwin, I\u2019m sold.<\/p>\n

\"Fruit<\/a>

Darwin’s Parap Markets<\/p><\/div>\n

While we\u2019re in the \u2018hood, we stop in to browse at some of the Parap Village art galleries. There are quite a few in the area, and we wander happily from one to another, ogling the gorgeous Indigenous art and coveting pieces for our own walls.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s heating up, so we make our way to Darwin\u2019s Waterfront Precinct to cool down with a dip. You have the choice of a lagoon or a wave pool, and we opt for the latter \u2013 who needs Dubai when you\u2019ve got Darwin! It\u2019s lots of fun, and we happily splash around for a lovely, leisurely few hours, before making our way back to the Crowne Plaza and freshening up for drinks before dinner.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no better way to soak in the famed Darwin sunset than with a beer on the lawn at Darwin Ski Club in Fannie Bay. A true institution, this is THE place to shoot the breeze with locals and tourists alike, with everyone from businessmen to backpackers pulling up stumps on the lawn. We have such a great time that we\u2019re reluctant to leave \u2013 but Hanuman and its amazing Asian food awaits.<\/p>\n

Regarded as the best restaurant in Darwin, Hanuman doesn\u2019t disappoint. We start with the signature dish, oysters with lemongrass, sweet basil, ginger, chilli and fresh coriander, and immediately know that we\u2019re in for a treat. From the naan and pakoras to the toew chiu style pork belly and prawns tossed in a delicate coconut, wild ginger and curry sauce, everything is absolutely divine.<\/p>\n

\"Wangi<\/a>

Wangi Falls at Litchfield National Park<\/p><\/div>\n

Next morning, we\u2019re up early to meet our AAT Kings guide for a tour of Litchfield National Park. We stop to discover giant termite mounds of unfathomable heights, have lunch at a restaurant in the middle of nowhere, discover gorgeous waterfalls and the undisputed highlight of the day, a swim in the lush waterhole at the base of Wangi Falls. It\u2019s just like the ads.<\/p>\n

Back in Darwin, we get dropped off for dinner and a wander around the famous Mindil Beach Markets. Stall after stall offer cuisines from across the Asia Pacific region, from Thai, Indonesian and Indian to good old fish and chips, and we grab a plate, take a seat and settle in for another glorious sunset. Perfection.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re up and at \u2018em again early the next morning, this time for a walking tour of Darwin city. Our guide, Steve, has us enthralled with tales of Darwin\u2019s history and culture, including the bombings of World War II and devastation of Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day in 1974. It\u2019s a fantastic introduction to this fantastic city, and very highly recommended.<\/p>\n

After all that walking we\u2019re ready for a swim, so we hit the lounges back at the Crowne Plaza. We still can\u2019t believe that we\u2019re in bikinis and it’s August, and while away a few hours before it\u2019s time to make our way to the airport.<\/p>\n

Darwin has been wonderful \u2013 interesting, exotic, and full of life. We can\u2019t believe it\u2019s taken us this long to discover the Northern Territory, and vow to return. Vibrant Darwin indeed!<\/p>\n

The lastminute lovelies xox<\/p>\n

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