Darwin - Noonamah Rodeo

On Saturday evening the rodeo came to town and I am so pleased we made the effort to go!  We watched man and beast go head to head with some of Australia's toughest bull riders taking on some of NT's toughest bucking bulls.

The boys managed to get seats on the fence (literally) and it was really quite terrifying being that close.  One poor rider got stomped on and we watched his convulsing body collapse in a heap.  His unconscious form was unceremoniously whisked away to the waiting ambulance.  We watched a couple of the rodeo clowns get tossed metres in the air like ragdolls by these angry bovines, only to jump back up and get right on with their antagonising antics!

Of course if we were game, we could have paid the bargain basement price of $80 for the privilege of having a go on one of these crazy bulls ourselves!  There was no shortage of volunteers and I was impressed that there was even one lady bull rider!

And who can go to a rodeo without having a go on the mechanical bull?  Not us!  Even Fletcher rode the wild one!

 

 

 As with any good rodeo, there were also bucking broncos, free style motocross riders and the obligatory bogan burnouts (which the boys loved!)  We had such a fun night.  Thanks to Dave & Theresa, James & Sarah for your great company! 

 



 

 

Darwin - Deckchair Cinema

Our vomit free run ended again on Thursday with Jarrah doing a PB (x4) and I'm not even going to mention the diarrhoea tally (oops, I just did!).  Still can't believe that the Bransbys travelled in a caravan for three months with NO vomiting and NO diarrhoea!!!

Jarrah made a good enough recovery by early afternoon for us to head out to see our friends Aunty Jenny and Uncle Wayne at their beautiful Marrara home away from home!  Thanks for the swim in the pool and the impromptu sundowner!

At long last it was off to the Deck Chair Cinema to watch the double feature - Shaun The Sheep followed by the unusual What We Did On Our Holiday. 

 

Shaun The Sheep was really sweet and funny.  Amazing, really, how enjoyable a 90 minute movie without any talking can be!  What We Did On Our Holiday was unusual to say the least - the rating was PG but I think that's pretty lenient!  It perhaps wasn't the best parenting/movie decision we've ever made, but nevertheless, Jack said it was "sik"!  Yup, it actually made me feel sick, but I don't think that's what he meant!

 

Darwin - Wave Lagoon

On Thursday we visited Darwin's Wave Lagoon.  Jack, Jarrah and Bruce caught some waves on the boogie boards and Fletch and I got smashed on the tubes. 

 

The weather was perfect and the water was warm enough for even me to stay in all afternoon!  A great family day out with 10 different wave types and really cool shallow pools for Fletch to enjoy too!





Late in the afternoon we headed back to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets where the kids bought some great marionette puppets.

We got home just in time to meet Deb's partner, Buck.  Buck is a long distance truck driver, and he was home for a short two hours before he hit the road again.

Long enough, though, for the boys to get a ride in the 53 metre road train, which carries up to 190 head of cattle, weighs 120 tonne and has 52 wheels!

Darwin - Pizza in the Park

The weather was perfect on Wednesday evening for enjoying pizza in the park with our great friend and talented bird whisperer Verna Shannon and her nomad friends Bernie and Kelvin.

I loved the Italian style tablecloths, the shared tables, the mood lighting and the authentic wood fired pizza on Nightcliff Beach!  Thank you Kelvin for supplying Verna, Bernie and I with our much needed THIRD bottle of wine!!!  We were having such a lovely time that all too soon the staff were packing up around us and we realise we were the only ones left!

Darwin - Crocs, Crocs and more Crocs!

The Jumping Croc Tour - where do I start?  It was one of the few things on our 'bucket list' for this trip.  We weren't disappointed.  It was just as good as I remember it when I first did it 26 years ago!

Ohhh they're so cute when they're little...

 

 

But don't be taken in by his friendly grin...meet the Dominator.

  He's over 5 metres long and should not be messed with!

Now meet him up close!

 

 

Yup, I nearly dropped the camera!

This one is Rocket  - a younger, smaller, more agile chap...

 

 

And here's Grandma - a bit older and slower, but still not to be messed with!

 

 

Now after seeing these incredible, terrifying beasts, you'd think the kids would be frightened, right?

 

 

We ended the morning on a more peaceful note, with an interesting and informative experience at the Wetlands Visitors Centre.

 

 

 

Darwin - Fun with the NT News, NT friends and NT Water Parks

On Monday we all really enjoyed the time we spent at the Darwin Museum and Art Gallery.  There were fantastic, informative exhibitions of all types of local wildlife.

The boys loved the Cyclone Tracy exhibit - particularly the sound booth.  They also enjoyed the true story of local croc Sweetheart, who took a fancy to chasing and chomping on outboard motors!

We loved the NT News exhibition, which highlighted some of the best front page headlines which have been published over the years!  Hilarious!!

 

Then it was off for a BBQ and a beautifully relaxing afternoon with friends Dave, Theresa, James & Sarah at Leanyer Water Park.

 

 

This amazing public space is free for all to use!

  Great shaded, grassy picnic area, BBQs, swimming pool and water playground...

  

  

 and some pretty awesome tube slides!

  

 



 The fun, however, did not stop there!  On Tuesday it was off to another free, local water park.  I caned them on the water slides, of course!

 

 

There was something for everyone at Palmerston Water Park!  It is all free of charge and we were practically the only ones there!  No waiting in lines.  The boys thought they were in heaven!

 

 

Darwin - Three Wise Monkeys

Perhaps we should have seen this as a sign.  Fletcher seems to be vomiting his way around Australia!
Jack & Jarrah were pleased that this time Mum & Dad had to sleep up the 'vomit end' of the caravan!