Day 54 Darwin

Today we started our "Darwin" experience.  We drove along Tiger Brennan Drive which skirts along the southern  suburbs of Coonawarra, Winnilie, Woolner, Bayview and Stuart Park and then in to Darwin.  Our first stop was the Hidden Valley car racing circuit.  We could not get on the track proper but cautiously drove around the tracks outskirts.  The place was a beehive of activity as they are setting up for the V8 races in June.  

Next we stopped at the Charles Darwin National Park at Winnilie.  This park contains many of the reinforced concrete bunkers which stored WW2 munitions.  From the park and overlooking the mangrove habitats of Darwin Harbour, we could see the sea for the first time since we left home and as well, Darwin in all her sun drenched glory.  

We "dropped" in to Bayview, which in some respects resembles Twin Waters - canals and private dwellings but more multi storey units.  We then went along some of the wharf areas but the tide was out - sadly.  Lunch was taken at Darwin's Fisherman's Wharf.  The barra and chips lunch was great but the environment was not the most salubrious and was not a patch on the real "Fisherman's Wharf".  

After lunch found us at the Convention Centre and the nearby Fort Hill Wharf, and we passed by the Deckchair Cinema down on the foreshore.  

Our final assault for the day was a walk into the WW2 Oil Storage Tunnels.  The six tunnels, the longest of which was184m long, were built to protect the navy's oil supplies from bombardment. They extend from the wharf and run under the city.  The one we walked through was 172m long and the steel lining was still evident although a little rusty.  The tunnel stored 135 million litres.  We found our way back to our base with no trouble at all.  We will try for the Darwin CBD tomorrow.

Today's trivia - Though the oil storage tunnels cost 1.2 million pounds to build in 1942/3, they were never used to store oil.

300514 The entrance sign to Hidden Valley racing circuit in Darwin

300514 The main straight at Hidden Valley - looks like it is being resurfaced

300514 Darwin from Charles Darwin National Park - across Darwin Harbour's mangroves

300514 One of the munitions bunkers in Charles Darwin National Park

300514 One of the oil storage tunnels under Darwin

300514 The Deckchair Cinema on Darwin's foreshore