Kakadon't. A wet weekend in the top end.

[bPeteb]

We try to fill long weekends with short trips away. Might extend them a day where possible but this one was just two nights, flying up to Darwin on Jan 26, Friday, and home Sunday night.

The original plan was just two nights in Darwin. That morphed into one at Jabiru at the Mercure Crocodile Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel and one in Darwin at the Vibe Hotel at Darwin Waterfront Vibe Hotel Darwin - Official Website the idea being to see Kakadu in the wet. Be careful what you wish for.

We booked a mystery car through Budget. The Mercure Crocodile at Jabiru advised us to get a car with some clearance in case there was water across the highway out to Kakadu. Why did we continue with this after being given that advice? Instead, we changed the booking to a RAV4 sized SUV at a crazy cheap price.

Three weeks out from travel we booked a 60 minute Kakadu scenic flight with Kakadu Air Scenic flights | Kakadu Air Services | Kakadu , and paid the $500. Cancellation terms were more Covid based, with no mention of cancellation due to weather.

The stage is set.

At 8:31pm the night before our 7:10am flight to Darwin we both received an SMS telling us our flight to Darwin had been cancelled and that ‘we’re finding you a new flight and will send you details shortly, and other options, including a refund’. Wtf???

What the hell are we going to do? All we can cancel without penalty is the car and the night at the Vibe. We’re stuck with the Mercure and the scenic flight.

Bizarrely there was a 9:30 flight to Darwin showing in the app so I hit the ‘call us’ link in the sms and was answered by the premium team. The rep said straight away you’re calling about the cancelled flight and within five minutes had us both on the 9:30 flight. How very weird. Crisis averted.

 

[bPeteb]

The later flight meant a bit more of a sleep in, but also meant a later arrival in Jabiru. Swings and roundabouts. Got a park, as usual, down on level 5 of the domestic carpark where there's always lots of spaces (go down, don’t go up!)



and up in the J lounge within 10 minutes of parking.

At least our plane was at the gate, even if it was boarding by steps.



We were off on time with lots of sighs of relief. The guy in row 4 of our E190 was a big bloke who liked looking out the window behind him, meaning he kept pushing back into my legs to look out ‘my’ window. Bizarre. Problem solved by shutting the blind as soon as the seat belt sign went off!

An unusual late breakfast/very early lunch (?) served not really long into the flight. A noodle and mince mess in a box. It tasted ok but really, slop in a box?



Then the single loo at the rear of the plane ran out of water and you had to flush it, and wash your hands, using the little water bottles. Yikes!

 

[bPeteb]

Into Darwin a few minutes early and it was actually fine as we touched down. Hlo so straight to the Budget counter. I’d joined their loyalty programme the week before so I was literally handed the keys with a casual “I’ve upgraded you to a Toyota Fortuner. It’s in bay 55. Enjoy your weekend”. More water clearance! Yay!

The water clearance thing was actually important. bAlt had been watching the road reports and so far they were showing the Arnhem Highway as being open. It turned out we should have been looking at a different site.

The rain started getting heavier and got to a point we were very close to pulling over and waiting for it to, hopefully, clear a little. Luckily it improved a bit as we drove along the Arnhem Highway.

We’d already decided that we’d stop at Window on the Wetlands The Wetlands Tourist Information Centre - Window on the Wetlands to have a look out across the wet wetlands but we were actually given no choice. There were barriers across the highway just past the entrance, with a very wet policeman directing us up the driveway. There had been a serious accident just along the road. We could see the flashing lights of the emergency service vehicles. The policeman said it would be at least a couple of hours before the highway would reopen.

We waited a couple of hours, saw the helicopter and ambulance head back towards Darwin, and asked the people in the cafe if they’d heard anything about the highway reopening. They gave us the bad news that it would still be hours, and possibly not reopen at all.

I called the Mercure Crocodile and they really couldn’t have been more helpful. Two options offered - a longer drive (5 ½ hours) that would involve some definite crossings through flooded roads, or the possibility of transferring our booking to an Accor property back in Darwin. By this stage bAlt had found the govt site we should have been checking and the alternate route was not an option for us.

I called Kakadu Air and again, they couldn’t have been more helpful. The person I spoke to questioned if the highway would even be open for us to get to Jabiru that night if the rain continued as it was. She put our 9am flight on hold to give us time to decide on if we were going to wait and try to get to Jabiru, or go back to Darwin and then maybe drive across in the morning.

We decided to go back to the city. We stopped at the bottom of the drive and asked the police how the people in the accident were. He said one was critical and they had been flown out. Two more had been taken back to Darwin for observation. We were both very relieved for them all.

The news article we read yesterday morning said more people were involved, and helicopters. It was definitely just one unless one came much later. We're just glad they are all alive, however many people it was/is.

 

[bPeteb]

Our booking was transferred to the Novotel CBD on the Esplanade. We called Kakadu Air and let them know. They’d talk to the boss in the morning to let us know our options. We said a credit would be fine.

The rain pelted down the whole way back into Darwin and it was a relief to pull up at the hotel. We’d paid $255 for our night at Jabiru. A standard room at the Novotel was $179 without breakfast. We were given a king suite with breakfast and all was good with the world even if Accor status wasn’t recognised. We just couldn’t have cared less about a couple of free drinks. Saying that, although the room was huge, it has seen better days and it’s time for a lot of money to be spent on the rooms.



Changed out of our soggy clothes and had some drinks at the lobby bar. It sits in a beautiful multi-storey atrium with vines cascading down into the space.



lift door artwork


The intention was to walk up to Hanuman Hanuman | Darwin and Alice Springs restaurant but the torrential rain put paid to that. Instead we ate a very nice meal, accompanied by a decent wine, at the lobby bar while watching the tennis.



Crocodile


vege sphere


half of a well cooked and seasoned kangaroo

and some very nice barra

 

[bPeteb]

We woke up the next morning to a very moist room. Foolishly we’d turned off the aircon when we got back from dinner. We hate sleeping in an icebox. Unfortunately no aircon meant nowhere for the humidity to go. Water droplets on the ceiling!! Worst of all the aircon would not switch back on

Things were on the up though. At 7:30 we received an email advising the scenic flight had been cancelled and that we would receive a full refund within three days. Fantastic. We were out of pocket all of $50 for the national parks pass. It could have been much worse.

I let reception know when we went down to breakfast. They sent someone up but it would not fire up. Luckily we were checking out!

Lots of ‘war stuff’ to see in Darwin. With the rain having cleared, kind of, we first visited the Darwin AViation Museum Darwin Aviation Museum | Top rated museum in Darwin, Northern Territory and its star attraction, a B-52. Loved this museum. Forgetting the planes, so much interesting stuff, but the planes of course were terrific. I had no idea how huge a B-52 is and how small it is compared to a 747-400. As you enter the hanger they warn you it is hot in there and to have water with you. They were not wrong. Like a gigantic sauna.

Some plane photos






Then to the Darwin Military Museum Things to do in Darwin | Darwin Military Museum no.1 on trip advisor open 7 days nd the Defence of Darwin Experience. Another great museum with lots of exhibits outside, with more, including the DoDE inside in the newer air conditioned space.

spot the lizard

 

[bPeteb]

After a simple lunch in town



and a wander along Austin Lane to check out the amazing murals



we drove down to the Vibe/Adina at Darwin Waterfront. This was a ridiculous deal. $136 for a best available king room plus the Territorian package for $50 that included parking, 12pm checkout, a bottle of wine, breakfast, wifi and a $20 f&b credit. Parking was $15, breakfast for guests was $25pp, the wine about $15 (Pocketwatch sav blanc) plus $20 credit. $100 value for $50! We expected a view of the hill behind the hotel but instead looked out across the park to the wave pool and the bay from room 322. Fantastic!

 

[bPeteb]

We went for a walk around the Waterfront complex and stopped at Snapper Rocks Taste Fresh for happy hour



where we sampled some of the very acceptable in house gins.

Rosella and Natives G&Ts


Natives and The Local G&Ts


Very nice. Dinner was at Bannsang Waterfront | Bannsang Korean Restaurant Darwin | Darwin City



a Korean restaurant also in the Waterfront Darwin precinct. Good food and lots of fun.

Korean beer and soju. Yum!!

super chilled tankard


mini seafood pancakes and Korean takoyaki


Tteok bokki

 

[bPeteb]

Sunday morning we had a bit of a sleep in. Breakfast was a decent spread including some Asian dishes. I love rice and noodles for breakfast!

The rain was staying away so we went for another long walk around around the pool and lagoon



then along the breakwall that encloses the tidal ‘lagoon’. Regent Seven Seas Explorer Seven Seas Explorer - Cruise Ship Tour | Regent Seven Seas Cruises must have arrived just before we started our walk.



Quite a nice looking ship. Explorer was on its way from Sydney to Tokyo. 59 nights starting at approx $60,000pp. I’d imagine they’d had some interesting weather coming up the Queensland coast.



yes , I am a 60 boy

 

[bPeteb]

We checked out just before noon for our last few hours of exploring Darwin. We made a short stop at the botanical gardens



then went to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory MAGNT | Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

I’d completely forgotten that the NATSIAA finalists were on display Telstra NATSIAA Award Winners 2023 | Australia’s Longest Running and Most Prestigious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award NATSIAA is the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art Awards



They have been running, in various names, since the mid-80s. I have voted online for years so it was a great privilege to see the artworks in person. There was another gallery of previous winners that had been purchased by MAGNT.

We broke our wanderings for lunch at Saltwater@Bundilla, the onsite restaurant. An excellent barra burger and nasi goreng and an amusingly named beer.



We still had time to kill so drove into town to see the WWII tunnels, but they'd already closed



Ok, so what about Nightcliff Markets https://northernterritory.com/darwin-and-surrounds/see-and-do/nightcliff-markets so out we drove but they’d finished an hour before we even got out there!

Back into town for a coffee and a wander. It so happened that I chose a coffee shop pretty much across the road from SISTER7 Gallery sister7 Aboriginal Women's Gallery Studio - Darwin Northern Territory We’ve bought some art from them off the internet but I really wanted to go in. Sadly it was closed but my rattle of the door brought someone from out the back who asked if I wanted to go in. Of course!

I explained we’d bought some paintings from them and they looked us up and chatted about our pieces. This was about 4:35 with the car due back at 5. 10 minutes later we were in the car with two new paintings all cylindered up to add to our small but growing collection of aboriginal art.

 

[bPeteb]

And that’s nearly it. We dropped the car off right on time, and were in the nearly deserted Q Pub five minutes later. There were maybe half a dozen people in there. Weird. It might explain why I had an option to upgrade an hour before the flight.



maybe we should have partaken in the whiting and chips



We wandered out to the gate and wondered if we were at the right one. There was maybe 20 people there. The board had final call on it but the door to the aerobridge hadn’t even been opened and I thought uh oh. Then it opened and the flight attendant called for boarding.

Our E190


There was six in J and 24 in Y on an E190. The ex-captain of the Brisbane Lions Jonathan Brown was sat in 3A directly in front of us.

Very cool take-off down and around the coast before turning south east and home

Regent Seven Seas Explorer departing for more exploring




Dinner was described, with just a hint of sarcasm, as mince and potatoes. And that’s what it was. What on earth is Qantas thinking with these very ordinary meals? I’ll preempt the responses. They aren’t thinking.



At least the beer was cold.

10 minutes late into Brisbane and thankfully very little turbulence. Watched the final two episodes of The Last of Us The Last of Us (TV series) - Wikipedia, a series I’ve watched all of on our flights over the last few months. Good watch. Then I decided to go to Glastonbury. Elston John was surprisingly ok and Rick Astley a hoot.

We had a fab, if unexpected, weekend.

Do not go to the NT in January and expect to get to Kakadu. Just don’t. Also, check your credit card insurance to see if it covers weather events. I still haven’t. Maybe I should.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. I love Darwin ... in the dry season

 

[love_the_life]

Wow - that was an adventure. Glad you were flexible and things worked out (and with the bookings as well).

 

[VPS]

Interesting TR and I love how you always make the most of any situation

 

[Denali]

I was only thinking the other day about Darwin in the wet season.... but having seen the high water mark at Kakadu Yellow Water I would have stuck with Darwin and let hubby go crazy at storm photography

 

[jkbaus]

We checked out just before noon for our last few hours of exploring Darwin. We made a short stop at the botanical gardens

View attachment 369038View attachment 369039View attachment 369040

then went to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory MAGNT | Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

I’d completely forgotten that the NATSIAA finalists were on display Telstra NATSIAA Award Winners 2023 | Australia’s Longest Running and Most Prestigious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award NATSIAA is the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Art Awards

View attachment 369041

They have been running, in various names, since the mid-80s. I have voted online for years so it was a great privilege to see the artworks in person. There was another gallery of previous winners that had been purchased by MAGNT.

We broke our wanderings for lunch at Saltwater@Bundilla, the onsite restaurant. An excellent barra burger and nasi goreng and an amusingly named beer.

View attachment 369042View attachment 369043View attachment 369044View attachment 369045

We still had time to kill so drove into town to see the WWII tunnels, but they'd already closed

View attachment 369046View attachment 369047

Ok, so what about Nightcliff Markets https://northernterritory.com/darwin-and-surrounds/see-and-do/nightcliff-markets so out we drove but they’d finished an hour before we even got out there!

Back into town for a coffee and a wander. It so happened that I chose a coffee shop pretty much across the road from SISTER7 Gallery sister7 Aboriginal Women's Gallery Studio - Darwin Northern Territory We’ve bought some art from them off the internet but I really wanted to go in. Sadly it was closed but my rattle of the door brought someone from out the back who asked if I wanted to go in. Of course!

I explained we’d bought some paintings from them and they looked us up and chatted about our pieces. This was about 4:35 with the car due back at 5. 10 minutes later we were in the car with two new paintings all cylindered up to add to our small but growing collection of aboriginal art.

Sounds like a great trip even if not what you had planned.
i love Darwin.
If you like art it’s great to visit when the Art Fair is on although if you are like me your wallet may suffer.

And where are the pics of your new art works?

 

[OZDUCK]

Exactly as VPS said. Yourability to roll with the punches is always impressive.

 

[bPeteb]

Sounds like a great trip even if not what you had planned.
i love Darwin.
If you like art it’s great to visit when the Art Fair is on although if you are like me your wallet may suffer.

And where are the pics of your new art works?

 

[jkbaus]

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Love them both

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thanks for taking us along on your long weekend @bPeteb - good on you both for making the most of it

 

[Cessna 180]

That is all just part of Darwin and the Top End. Especially this time of year and that is why I love it.

I lived in Jabiru during the wet of 07/08. Absolutely amazing.