Our next home for the next few days was the Coolinga Tourist Park, situated on the outskirts of Darwin. It was within walking distance of Woolworths, Coles, and Kmart. We chose this location because we had a tour scheduled, a Corroboree boat trip on the Mary River to spot some wildlife. Additionally, we were looking forward to swimming at Berry Springs, an ideal spot to access both attractions.
Berry Springs is naturally heated by geothermal energy. The water is supplied by a natural spring and maintained at a temperature of around 28°. We arrived early in the morning, when the ambient temperature was cool and the water was warm. Highly recommend a swim here!
The Coroboree Tour was fantastic for observing local wildlife, and the detailed commentary provided us with a lot of valuable information. The Mary River Wetlands boast the largest concentration of saltwater crocodiles globally, with 11 to 15 crocodiles per kilometre, and even more in certain areas. During our short journey up the river, we spotted seven crocodiles. We also saw a black-necked stork, commonly known as the Jabiru, the only stork species found in Australia. This impressive bird has a black neck, measures about 1.5 meters tall, and has a wingspan of 2.3 meters, along with striking red legs.
In addition to the Jabiru, we observed Jacana birds, renowned for having the most significant footprint of any bird species. The Jacana birds were nesting along the grassy riverbank. We also spotted a huge nest belonging to a white-bellied sea eagle.
When it was time to move closer to town, we chose the Big 4 at Berimah. We needed to get the car serviced at Volkswagen and have the tyres rotated, and this was a convenient stopover close to the services we needed.
Sunday and Thursday are the Mingil Beach Sunset Market, famous for its food and sunsets. We found a great spot to base ourselves and booked online for the Sunset Lounge. They have tables and chairs, plus an esky for your BYO drinks, or you can buy something to drink there too. The best part? You can come and go as you please! Trust me, having a table to return to is a lifesaver, especially when the market gets busy. And oh my goodness, the variety of food vendors is fantastic—you’ll have difficulty choosing what to eat! Enjoy! We decided on three cuisines: BBQ Octopus, Mongolian Beef, and Sri Lankan Fish Curry made with Northern Territory caught Snapper. Our entrée was a spiral potato. It’s like you’re in heaven with all the food options. We meandered around the market stalls and purchased a couple of prints and a pair of slappa’s.
On our final day, we took our Amarok for servicing and rented a car from the dealer for the day.We kicked things off with a scrumptious breakfast at Fannie Bay, and then enjoyed a nice stroll along the beachfront. The ocean was such a beautiful shade of aqua blue—it looked so inviting for a swim, even though no one was in the water, for obvious reasons! After that, we drove over to East Point Reserve, where you can view Darwin looking across the water. It was the perfect way to wrap up our trip!
Croc facts:
When they are cold, crocodiles bask in the sun to regulate their temperature. As reptiles, crocodiles are cold-blooded (ectothermic), relying on external heat sources to warm their bodies. Their preferred range is around 30-33°C, crucial for their metabolism and digestion.
