DARWIN BEACHES
I didn't teach to Darwin for its beaches. You desire proficient beaches on Australia's northern facing coast, teach to the BROOME area. Unfortunately I visited BROOME good earlier this spider web log too inward my TRAVEL-LITE menstruum when I didn't comport a photographic telly camera - hence I can't practice a retrospective on that bang-up department of coast.
But naturally, equally a beaches fan, when inward DARWIN I checked out the silica.
BEST BEACH - CASUARINA
Part of CASUARINA BEACH is DARWIN’s official nude beach. And beingness a naturists since the ‘60s I naturally (groan!) wanted to banking enterprise represent it out.
But don’t scroll away if yous are non-nudist. CASUARINA is in all likelihood DARWIN’s best body of body of water beach too exclusively a central, fairly isolated 500m of over 6km is have on optional. You may detect some useful information below.
My official rating: equally a nude beach: large on infinite too privacy (nude department looking northward above) Not all that proficient for swimming on concern human relationship of croc too stinger alert signs (latter moisture flavor only). Overall – ii stars (below average).
As a beach inward general: bang-up if yous similar looong, broad (low tide at least) pretty featureless expanses of sand equally above. I similar to dive into or at to the lowest degree sit down inward the H2O every at nowadays too hence summation I favour pocket-size compact beaches book-ended yesteryear headlands too backed yesteryear to a greater extent than than depression scrubland (um, some CASUARINA sections are backed yesteryear depression dripstone cliffs – which obviously tin live on a turn-on for geology nerds).
Dripstone cliffs on due south Casuarina Beach (image WILIS'S WALKABOUTS
And I empathize the sunsets are pretty proficient – hell they are pretty proficient anywhere along DARWIN’s waterfront regardless of the beach quality.
Just subsequently sunset from DARWIN SKI CLUB - due south FANNIE BAY BEACH
When I finally reached the nude department at that spot were inward fact exclusively a handful of beach-goers – despite both my visits beingness on really sunny early on moisture flavor days too the 2nd on a weekend, at that spot were in all likelihood fewer than a dozen nudists too a duad of textiles inward the nude area. My opening comment on “privacy” is ensured yesteryear hence few people over such a large area.
Probably exclusively a dozen people elsewhere on my 1500m walk upwards the beach – some native Australian beach-combers, a few sunbathers, fishermen too windsurfers**
It was nearly depression tide on i of the month’s lowest tide days – the beach has a really apartment profile too was extremely broad (see flick three above), perchance 250m inward most places. I could catch the previous (very) high tide had exclusively left 10-15m of dry out sand. Behind the sand was a depression foredune – some trees were offering proficient shade over the dorsum of the beach at to the lowest degree until mid-afternoon.
**WINDSURFERS too CROCS/STINGERS? How does that work?
Well for a start I gauge the mantra is DON’T FALL OFF!!
And equally far equally crocs are concerned, I gained the catch that locals are non equally fazed equally visitors re crocs off beaches. Maybe this is because the “salties” proper squall is ESTUARINE CROCODILE. Their preferred habitat is river estuaries too of course of written report they receive got no objection to moving upwards current too fifty-fifty across to H2O holes if at that spot is the postulate chances of mugging some unsuspecting critter come upwards downward for a drink.
They are institute off beaches less oft – but some DO accept voyages along the coast (I recollect a lot may live on males who receive got lost a struggle for authorization too are looking for a novel habitat), too hence it pays to maintain an oculus out for cruising muggers whatsoever fourth dimension yous are at the beach. In this honor I recollect TOP ENDERS’ mental attitude to crocs is a fleck the same equally southerners’ to sharks – they tin live on around but less often than outsiders worry about.
A overnice upshot of the depression tide was that several shallow pools had been stranded. H5N1 textile downward close the SURF CLUB was sitting inward i piece she read. H5N1 proficient cool pick on this really hot too humid twenty-four hr menstruum – but banking enterprise represent whatsoever puddle closely: I empathize those stingers are a fleck difficult to see.
Outgoing tide starts to isolate lower areas (image ENJOY DARWIN)
LOCATION/GETTING THERE – CASUARINA BCH is inward the really northward of the rather spread out greater Darwin conurbation. Some of the easiest access is via the DARWIN SURF CLUB abt 15km northward of DARWIN CITY.
Fair stretch from Darwin Central. DARWIN CBD is genuinely exactly inward a higher house the B of "CBD"
This is a loooong strip of silica – it runs 6.5km from behind the UNIVERSITY inward the due south to LEE POINT inward the north. I recollect at that spot may live on local names for the southern too northern-most sections – I read somewhere that the latter is sometimes called LEE POINT BEACH (IMAGE - MODIFIED GOOGLE EARTH equally are all the "satellite maps" on this page).
BY CAR
If yous desire to access i of the improve non-nude sections, caput for DRIPSTONE PARK exactly due south of the SURF CLUB. Best access is off TROWER RD which separates the suburban areas of BRINKIN too TIWI. Plenty of parking hither – cross the commons too access the beach via the metallic stairway downward the 4m dripstone cliff-face.
The SURF CLUB is nearly 300m northward – accept the smaller route leading into the scrub from the near-beach roundabout on TROWER: parking at the club.
For the nude department proceed on the pocket-size route some other 800m northward to the parking lot. Take the bush rail the brusk distance across to the beach – the nude department starts nearly 500m farther north: aspect for the sign on the depression foredune dorsum of beach (SEE PIC BELOW).
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
I institute the quickest access was via bus#4 (runs every 40min or so) to the UNIVERSITY (abt 45min from downtown) – from the roundabout out front end I walked 900m northward along ELLENGOWAN DR, hung a left at the terminate onto TROWER too waked some other 750m to the beach park. Once on the beach I walked northward yesteryear the nearby pocket-size headland too continued on for some other 900-1000m to the plication of the beach to the correct - from where the start of the clothing-optional department is some other 500-600m.
Total walking fourth dimension abt 45mins – perchance one-half on the beach. I preferred to walk the beach for the in conclusion department – a overnice sea breeze was blowing too I catch the sight of a few nudists on the sand would locate me improve than walking around on the bush tracks behind.
Bus #1 from CASUARINA INTERCHANGE volition teach yous to inside 600m of the beach on TROWER but it runs less often. You tin remain on #4 to the interchange (only a few mins yesteryear the university) – jitney #10 from downtown is quicker too equally frequent. Timing connections amongst #1 are a thing of luck.
BTW – CASUARINA BUS INTERCHANGE is next the large CASUARINA SQUARE shopping mall, i of DARWIN’s biggest - has many outlets missing downtown – a proficient postal service beach excursion.
OTHER OKAY DARWIN BEACHES
For people who don’t postulate heed artificial beaches, CITY BEACH at the man-made lagoon inward the WHARF PRECINCT straight off due south of the CBD is pretty neat (and protected from crocs too stingers). Entry if free, at that spot are plenty of lawn, shade trees too picnic facilities. No shortage of restaurants too fast nutrient places inward the retail department of THE WHARF DEVELOPMENT behind camera.
Also piece of employment of the WHARF PRECINCT but amongst an admission accuse is the....
WAVE LAGOON
No existent beach here, but the household unit of measurement volition receive got a ton of fun. About a dozen dissimilar moving ridge types amongst a 10minute suspension between. Plenty of shade too some smaller withal pools for toddlers.
WHARF PRECINCT: A-CITY BEACH B-WAVE LAGOON C-CONVENTION CENTER D-SHOPS/RESTAURANT-BARS (ground), HOTELS AND CONDOS (upper) E-UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT (CRUISE TERMINAL out of ikon to south) F-SKYBRIDGE shortcut to urban heart too someone G-NT ADMINISTRATIVE QUARTER H-SOUTHERN CBD J-STOKES HILL WHARF (restaurants, tourist cruises, pocket-size ships).
There is paid parking inward the precinct. Bus #14 runs downward hither from CULLEN BAY via THE CITY.
You tin walk from the southern CBD via the SKYBRIDGE (onto grade v of VIBE HOTEL wing) inward abt 10min.
LAKE ALEXANDER
Another artificial beach lines the northern shores of LAKE ALEXANDER, a one-time marshy swamp which had been dredged, cleared of crocs too stingers (filters too traps ensure no farther encroachment) too improved yesteryear grassy surrounds, picnic too bbq facilities, a large kids' playground too of course of written report modify sheds. Water is constantly circulated from the bay exterior (image TripAdvisor)
ALEXANDER is kinda peanut shaped – max length northward due south abt 400m, Width varying from around 150m each terminate to 70m inward the middle. There’s plenty of sitting/wading depth H2O at the northern terminate unopen to the sand too it gets to nearly 2m deep 150m off the beach – a sign said it is upwards to 8m deep inward the southern watercraft zone. The H2O is refreshed too filtered constantly from the next bay.
LOCATION – LAKE ALEXANDER is inward the EAST POINT RESERVE (free entry) abt 6km northward of downtown DARWIN. Head 5km northward along the principal coastal route too plough left at the large sweeping correct mitt corner onto EAST POINT RD. Go some other km to the RESERVE ENTRANCE GATE. No entrance fee. The lake begins less than 200m yesteryear the gate on the right. Plenty of gratis parking, especially at the far end.
Without a car, the best bet is to bound on i of the fairly frequent (abt one-half hourly) BUS#4s too move 15-20m to the get-go halt yesteryear FANNIE BAY JAIL (the driver volition know where to set yous off). Walk dorsum 200m to the sweeping corner across from the jail, walk direct ahead thru i of Darwin’s to a greater extent than upmarket suburbs for nearly 1km to the Reserve entrance. Bus vi volition teach yous a fleck closer to the entrance gates but runs less frequently.
Once again: I've miss-placed the DARWIN CBD mark - should live on abt a cm inland from that waterfront expanse bottom correct of image.
When inward the EAST POINT RESERVE expanse don't immature adult woman the DEFENCE OF DARWIN MUSEUM close the northward terminate of the peninsula - in all likelihood the best three hours I spent inward Darwin.
OTHER RESERVE ATTRACTIONS include a mangrove boardwalk, a mangrove wood nature trail..... too next to LAKE ALEXANDER, the nicer northern department of FANNIE BAY BEACH....
NORTHERN FANNIE BAY BEACH
Northern most 500m of FANNIE BAY BCH was in all likelihood the 2nd best body of body of water beach expanse I saw inward DARWIN. Note width at depression tide - banking enterprise represent high tide score dorsum of beach:not also much sand left.
NFBB had the common croc alert signs. Low tide width too high H2O score seen good inward this image.
Most other areas of FANNIE BAY BCH are non equally attractive - this is abt 2500m south, next DARWIN SKI CLUB: the gild has a overnice long launching ramp to teach their ski boats into the H2O when the tide is down.
BEACHES AROUND DARWIN
I didn't teach searching for proficient DARWIN AREA beaches. I saw the next during other sightseeing activities....
WAGAIT BEACH
Across the other side of the large inlet from DARWIN, I catch this beach was equally proficient equally NORTH FANNIE BAY. Once in i trial again yous tin catch what dissimilar tide levels practice to beach width.
I didn't bother abt a dip despite the 40c temps - the ubiquitous croc too stinger warnings dissuaded me.
I didn't recollect to teach to WAGAIT BCH - ended upwards hither during my cut-rate "harbour cruise" on SEALINK's Mandorah Ferry.
Ferry at MANDORAH PIER - agency downward at that spot on concern human relationship of lowest tide of the YEAR (had to postpone arrival an hr to allow plenty H2O - website has details of normal times (fairly frequent because a lot of "EAST BAYERS" commute to DARWIN: the 6km forty min voyage is a lot less than the 125km drive around the due south of the bay) - too timetable variations due to tide.
SEALINK leaves from the CULLEN BAY terminal nearly 4km north-west of the CBD (marker inward correct seat here) - jitney fourteen runs betwixt frequently:timed to run across the ferry.
I got a daze on arrival at MANDORAH - the exclusively thing at that spot is the pier! Even the old tourist pub closed years ago. But a friendly local gave me a elevator 4 km to the nearest town - WAGAIT BCH.
I'll practice a page on my MANDORAH see when I teach a chance.
TIWI ISLAND BEACHES
This was some other SEALINK ferry trip - but a much longer i at 2.5 hours each way. I exactly took it to nation I'd been to the TIWI ISLANDS, a pretty well-known piece of employment of the TOP END.
I wasn't all that interested inward the beaches. Although I noticed some pretty proficient stretches of silica from the ferry on the agency into APSLEY STRAIT which separates TIWI's BATHURST AND MELVILLE ISLANDS.
Thing is I was a fair distance offshore too my elcheapo compact digital couldn't cop whatsoever proficient pix, hence I got these off the web:
Both aspect pretty overnice - makes sense:with a really depression population over a large expanse (DID YOU KNOW MELVILLE IS AUSTRARLIA'S SECOND BIGGEST ISLAND?) yous tin await much CLEANER beaches.
But of course of written report the beaches are plain of written report to the common crocs too moisture flavor stingers.
IMAGES - TRAVELLER
The residue of my TIWI see was a fleck of a hoot. I'll set a link to a dissever page when I teach a postulate chances to practice one.
THE REST OF THE TOP END
As mentioned, I didn't come upwards to DARWIN to banking enterprise represent the beaches. So what was I interested in?
Well naturally DARWIN itself was worth checking out IMHO.
Taking it piece of cake yesteryear the puddle at a DARWIN backpacker joint
And inward the expanse yous would naturally desire to do:
KAKADU
Dinner coming upwards on my overnight tour of KAKADU
LITCHFIELD NP
WANGI FALLS at LITCHFIELD
KATHERINE GORGE
Cruising GORGE TWO
and MATARANKA HOT SPRINGS.
This is MATARANKA's 2nd hot springs area, BITTER SPRINGS. Arguably improve than MATARANKA HOMESTEAD THERMAL POOL.
I'll practice a page on each of the inward a higher house too link them when I teach a chance.
Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/
I didn't teach to Darwin for its beaches. You desire proficient beaches on Australia's northern facing coast, teach to the BROOME area. Unfortunately I visited BROOME good earlier this spider web log too inward my TRAVEL-LITE menstruum when I didn't comport a photographic telly camera - hence I can't practice a retrospective on that bang-up department of coast.
But naturally, equally a beaches fan, when inward DARWIN I checked out the silica.
BEST BEACH - CASUARINA
Part of CASUARINA BEACH is DARWIN’s official nude beach. And beingness a naturists since the ‘60s I naturally (groan!) wanted to banking enterprise represent it out.
But don’t scroll away if yous are non-nudist. CASUARINA is in all likelihood DARWIN’s best body of body of water beach too exclusively a central, fairly isolated 500m of over 6km is have on optional. You may detect some useful information below.
And I empathize the sunsets are pretty proficient – hell they are pretty proficient anywhere along DARWIN’s waterfront regardless of the beach quality.
When I finally reached the nude department at that spot were inward fact exclusively a handful of beach-goers – despite both my visits beingness on really sunny early on moisture flavor days too the 2nd on a weekend, at that spot were in all likelihood fewer than a dozen nudists too a duad of textiles inward the nude area. My opening comment on “privacy” is ensured yesteryear hence few people over such a large area.
Probably exclusively a dozen people elsewhere on my 1500m walk upwards the beach – some native Australian beach-combers, a few sunbathers, fishermen too windsurfers**
It was nearly depression tide on i of the month’s lowest tide days – the beach has a really apartment profile too was extremely broad (see flick three above), perchance 250m inward most places. I could catch the previous (very) high tide had exclusively left 10-15m of dry out sand. Behind the sand was a depression foredune – some trees were offering proficient shade over the dorsum of the beach at to the lowest degree until mid-afternoon.
**WINDSURFERS too CROCS/STINGERS? How does that work?
Well for a start I gauge the mantra is DON’T FALL OFF!!
And equally far equally crocs are concerned, I gained the catch that locals are non equally fazed equally visitors re crocs off beaches. Maybe this is because the “salties” proper squall is ESTUARINE CROCODILE. Their preferred habitat is river estuaries too of course of written report they receive got no objection to moving upwards current too fifty-fifty across to H2O holes if at that spot is the postulate chances of mugging some unsuspecting critter come upwards downward for a drink.
They are institute off beaches less oft – but some DO accept voyages along the coast (I recollect a lot may live on males who receive got lost a struggle for authorization too are looking for a novel habitat), too hence it pays to maintain an oculus out for cruising muggers whatsoever fourth dimension yous are at the beach. In this honor I recollect TOP ENDERS’ mental attitude to crocs is a fleck the same equally southerners’ to sharks – they tin live on around but less often than outsiders worry about.
A overnice upshot of the depression tide was that several shallow pools had been stranded. H5N1 textile downward close the SURF CLUB was sitting inward i piece she read. H5N1 proficient cool pick on this really hot too humid twenty-four hr menstruum – but banking enterprise represent whatsoever puddle closely: I empathize those stingers are a fleck difficult to see.
LOCATION/GETTING THERE – CASUARINA BCH is inward the really northward of the rather spread out greater Darwin conurbation. Some of the easiest access is via the DARWIN SURF CLUB abt 15km northward of DARWIN CITY.
BY CAR
The SURF CLUB is nearly 300m northward – accept the smaller route leading into the scrub from the near-beach roundabout on TROWER: parking at the club.
For the nude department proceed on the pocket-size route some other 800m northward to the parking lot. Take the bush rail the brusk distance across to the beach – the nude department starts nearly 500m farther north: aspect for the sign on the depression foredune dorsum of beach (SEE PIC BELOW).
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Total walking fourth dimension abt 45mins – perchance one-half on the beach. I preferred to walk the beach for the in conclusion department – a overnice sea breeze was blowing too I catch the sight of a few nudists on the sand would locate me improve than walking around on the bush tracks behind.
Bus #1 from CASUARINA INTERCHANGE volition teach yous to inside 600m of the beach on TROWER but it runs less often. You tin remain on #4 to the interchange (only a few mins yesteryear the university) – jitney #10 from downtown is quicker too equally frequent. Timing connections amongst #1 are a thing of luck.
BTW – CASUARINA BUS INTERCHANGE is next the large CASUARINA SQUARE shopping mall, i of DARWIN’s biggest - has many outlets missing downtown – a proficient postal service beach excursion.
OTHER OKAY DARWIN BEACHES
CITY BEACH
Also piece of employment of the WHARF PRECINCT but amongst an admission accuse is the....
WAVE LAGOON
There is paid parking inward the precinct. Bus #14 runs downward hither from CULLEN BAY via THE CITY.
You tin walk from the southern CBD via the SKYBRIDGE (onto grade v of VIBE HOTEL wing) inward abt 10min.
LAKE ALEXANDER
Without a car, the best bet is to bound on i of the fairly frequent (abt one-half hourly) BUS#4s too move 15-20m to the get-go halt yesteryear FANNIE BAY JAIL (the driver volition know where to set yous off). Walk dorsum 200m to the sweeping corner across from the jail, walk direct ahead thru i of Darwin’s to a greater extent than upmarket suburbs for nearly 1km to the Reserve entrance. Bus vi volition teach yous a fleck closer to the entrance gates but runs less frequently.
Once again: I've miss-placed the DARWIN CBD mark - should live on abt a cm inland from that waterfront expanse bottom correct of image.
OTHER RESERVE ATTRACTIONS include a mangrove boardwalk, a mangrove wood nature trail..... too next to LAKE ALEXANDER, the nicer northern department of FANNIE BAY BEACH....
NORTHERN FANNIE BAY BEACH
BEACHES AROUND DARWIN
I didn't teach searching for proficient DARWIN AREA beaches. I saw the next during other sightseeing activities....
WAGAIT BEACH
I didn't bother abt a dip despite the 40c temps - the ubiquitous croc too stinger warnings dissuaded me.
I didn't recollect to teach to WAGAIT BCH - ended upwards hither during my cut-rate "harbour cruise" on SEALINK's Mandorah Ferry.
I got a daze on arrival at MANDORAH - the exclusively thing at that spot is the pier! Even the old tourist pub closed years ago. But a friendly local gave me a elevator 4 km to the nearest town - WAGAIT BCH.
I'll practice a page on my MANDORAH see when I teach a chance.
TIWI ISLAND BEACHES
Thing is I was a fair distance offshore too my elcheapo compact digital couldn't cop whatsoever proficient pix, hence I got these off the web:
But of course of written report the beaches are plain of written report to the common crocs too moisture flavor stingers.
IMAGES - TRAVELLER
The residue of my TIWI see was a fleck of a hoot. I'll set a link to a dissever page when I teach a postulate chances to practice one.
THE REST OF THE TOP END
As mentioned, I didn't come upwards to DARWIN to banking enterprise represent the beaches. So what was I interested in?
Well naturally DARWIN itself was worth checking out IMHO.
And inward the expanse yous would naturally desire to do:
KAKADU
LITCHFIELD NP
KATHERINE GORGE
and MATARANKA HOT SPRINGS.
I'll practice a page on each of the inward a higher house too link them when I teach a chance.
THE BEACH AND THE WEATHER
I visited inward the 2nd one-half of NOV/early DEC. This is EARLY WET SEASON. Already things had slowed downward - agency fewer visitors, grapple airfares etc. You would recollect it's non such a proficient fourth dimension to see - either beach wise or for doing those other places.
How incorrect - the conditions was great! Over my three weeks it rained on three days too abt 10 nights, all brusk abrupt stuff. Days were 80% sunshine. Locals told me this is normal for fourth dimension of year.
Blue heaven twenty-four hr menstruum i - off to a proficient start.
Our trip guides said tell all our friends how proficient early on moisture flavor conditions is - because equally before long equally THE DRY officially ends inward October, visitor numbers drib away too they receive got problem filling their tours. Point out that at that spot are often walk-in vacancies too discounts, they said. Popular places inward KAKADU too LITCHFIELD which endure serious overcrowding inward high flavor are uncrowded.
Our trip guides said tell all our friends how proficient early on moisture flavor conditions is - because equally before long equally THE DRY officially ends inward October, visitor numbers drib away too they receive got problem filling their tours. Point out that at that spot are often walk-in vacancies too discounts, they said. Popular places inward KAKADU too LITCHFIELD which endure serious overcrowding inward high flavor are uncrowded.
Downsides include some places of involvement closing (seem to run on the calendar rather than conditions), unfilled tours sometimes having to live on rescheduled too some tours exactly non running.
Note equally I write this inward early on January, the conditions has changed - the total moisture seems to receive got hit, amongst several days of prolonged heavy rain. However guides told me to a greater extent than normal total moisture flavor conditions has withal plenty of sunshine but amongst more/heavier rain. But if a monsoon trough moves inward (as it did these yesteryear few weeks) hence prolonged pelting tin feature.