A look around Darwin

Unlike Brisbane, Darwin City paid for the coaches from the ship to the tourist office in the city centre. The transport ran all day to and from the ship.

Maureen and I asked in the tourist office how to get to the Cyclone Tracy Museum. We were told that we could go by bus and the bus terminal was around the corner and it would leave in thirty minutes. Perfect for us as we wanted to buy a few things from the local shops.

The shopping area was quiet, but pleasant.

We soon found our way to the bus depot and looked around for a seat near the bus stop that we wanted – number 6. The stop that we wanted was not in the shelters shown above but in an unsheltered area, and it was hot. As we looked around an elderly Aboriginal lady called to Maureen to sit next to her on a park bench seat that was shaded a little by bushes. So, we took the lady’s advice and joined her. Maureen and the lady chatted about our visits to Darwin and Maureen confirmed that we were from Sydney and she asked if the lady managed to visit Sydney occasionally. The lady answered -‘Yes Dear, I managed a visit at least once a year when I exhibit my work.’ It turned out that this lady was a famous artist. As the bus pulled in the lady said to Maureen just wave your pension card and it’ll be free.

We asked if the ride was free even for none locals – follow me said the lady, so we did and as our artist friend boarded and waved her card at the driver we followed suite, as did a group of passengers off the Coral Princess cruise ship who had overheard our conversation with our artistic friend.