Rosie was keen to see Darwin CBD and pick up some souvenirs so they headed off, planning to meet up with us for lunch and a visit to the Darwin Art Gallery and Museum.

We drove out to Charles Darwin National Park. The park was originally part of the Darwin military bases and has 11 bunkers built into it for storage of ammunition. The bunkers were cleverly camouflaged as hills.

Darwin was a key area for defense of Australia an WWII and was bombed severly by the Japanese a number of times…in the first day of bombing 13 ships in Darwin Harbour were sunk and many more damaged. Hundreds were killed or injured – it was worse than Pearl Harbour. In one of the bunkers there was a display that outlined Darwin’s role in WWII – very interesting!

We all caught up for lunch at the boat trailer club at Vestey’s Beach….Rose and Trev went looking for crocodiles on the beach and Trev dipped his toes in as bait….no crocs to be seen….

On to the Art Gallery and Museum where there was a very interesting display on the 1974 Cyclone Tracey which devastated Darwin.

The famous crocodile “Sweetheart ” was on display …

As well as great exhibits of marine life, fossils, native art etc….

The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets were on so we went for a browse and grabbed some dinner at the many takeway stalls….all sorts of foods and unique articles to buy!

Trev found the stall with the cure for his cracked feet…and had a great head and neck massage as his neck had been giving him grief.

Gordie bought a crocodile skin band for his Akubra…now he really looks part of the Outback!

We farewelled Rose and Dave that night..they were leaving us at 530 tomorrow morning to start their trek home….we were all sad that the group part of the trip was coming to an end as we had had such a great time of fellowship and laughs!!