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Darwin in July

on September 16, 2013

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Darwin and the Top End - Mindil Beach sunset and Croc at Corroboree Billabong

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Vanuatu - Nambawan

At midnight on Friday night, having flown out of Brisbane at 7 pm, we made it to our apartment overlooking Erakor Lagoon. John, our transfer driver in a 'well-used' Landcruiser, took us through to the main street of Port Vila before showing us the shortcut to the main shopping precinct past the Asutralian Commission building. I had a chuckle to myself as we passed a large number of local kids out and about in the streets, considering it a late night for our two children. The landing at Bauerfield Airport went well with disembarkation reminiscent of the good old days at the old Adelaide Airport. You get a good view of the terminal from the tarmac. First impressions tell us that road infrastructure here is rough, the locals love to get out and about on a Friday night, and many buildings seem to have suffered from the cyclone earlier in the year. Breakfast is provided at the restaurant so we wondered down at 8 am to make our selection and enjoy the local fare - for Sue and I it wa

Big Day Out - Coongoola Boat Cruise to Moso Island

This is the trip I had in mind to do right from the very beginning. Melanesian Tours had a presence at Mangoes Restaurant each morning, usually in the form of Glenda, who would cheerily greet us as we walked into breakfast. It was on the Monday morning that we decided to book something. After a 10 minute chat, we were on the tour. On the Wednesday morning we sat in the lobby area and waited for our bus to arrive and we headed to Port Havannah on north of the island. The snorkelling gear made available was a cut above ours contrary to the online advice available, so we made good use of it. The dinghy was used to ferry us to shore and and if we wished, to take us out to coral reefs further offshore. There was still plenty of coral and good snorkelling close in.

Vanuatu - First Taste

After getting in so late the previous evening we chilled in the apartment and room for the afternoon, had tea in the resort restaurant and made plans to make our way to the main part of town in the morning. Thanks to the photocopied map I found in Reception we found ourselves next to the main Post Office. Being Sunday there was nothing much happening and the advice we received from the resort was that Hideaway Island was worth the trip to get started on our snorkelling. A local bus driver came and asked if we would like to go anywhere so we said Hideaway and jumped in. We chatted on the way out of town, receiving much advice on what to see and do. Eventually, Wilson dropped us off with the promise of picking us up at 2 pm. To get to Hideaway you wait for the ferry, a flat bottomed tinny, to come from the island. Once you disembark after a 5 minute journey, the signs direct you to a small building where you pay to enter the island. From there its find a table or beach lounge to set up,

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Darwin in July

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