Tipperary & Darwin

We stayed at Tipperary Station 5 nights. We had hoped to get some work there but it did not happen, so we relaxed, caught up on a few chores (ie. cleaned out Bruce due to the 30 odd kms of red dusty road we travelled along Tipperary's driveway) & did a day trip to Litchfield National Park. We also visited a crossing over the Daly River. Didn't see a croc but in the Litchfield NP we saw a buffalo near a waterhole & a small 'freshie' on the bank of a rock pool we were about to swim in!
Tipperary is an incredible place & very difficult to explain. It was originally built as the private zoo of a billionaire Warren Anderson. He built an amazing 'town' or 'resort'- like facility - there are many homes, communal kitchen, single people quarters, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, recreation club, sheds, workshops, equestrian centre - school - you name it, the place has it. There are now approx 70 staff that work there (some on contract) but you hardly see anyone. The facilities seem to be slowly deteriorating. Tipperary is now leased by AAco who are only interested in making money! Our friends who have recently taken over as managers are still trying to 'get their heads around the place.
It was an interesting experience staying there!
John & Nic were able to spend a day in a road train - I don't think either will be taking up truck driving as a career - they found it rather tedious only being able to go slow on the dirt roads & didn't enjoy 10 hours of being shaken up by all the corrigations but they were glad to have experienced it!
We enjoyed Litchfield NP - stopped at Wongi Falls, had swims at the Cascades & Surprise Creek Falls - it is beautiful & so great to have these gorgeous, freshwater, SAFE swimming holes!
We stopped at Berry Springs (another lovely swimming hole & picnic area) on route to Darwin & got to Darwin Thursday afternoon - just in time to head to the famous Mindil Beach Markets - they were great! So much & such a variety of food stalls & art & crafts! The best part was eating your delicious food on the beach while watching the sun setting. It was spectacular! An amazing huge pinky-orange orb hanging in the sky that quickly disappeared once it got to the horizon. Ever since I read about that in the kids book "Are We There Yet?", I have wanted to watch the sunset at Mindil Beach - yay, I got to do it!
We are really enjoying Darwin - it is a groovy city!
We visited the 'Defence of Darwin' Military Museum which was a very informative experience about the WW11 bombing of Darwin - didn't know there were a total of 64 air raids by the Japanese!
Today (030 hours) we picked up my Mum from the airport & spent the day sightseeing, visiting the Darwin Museum (another great experience - no 'old stuff', rather info about Cyclone Tracey, fishing, aboriginal art & stories, 'Sweetheart' - the massive boat-eating croc & local fauna (the many poisonous creatures were morbidly fascinating) & to top the day off, we went back to the Mindil Markets to eat & watch the sunset again!
Tomorrow we're off to Kakadu!
Thanks for a great time Darwin!