Darwin Museum, the Harbour & Litchfield National Park

We visited the museum/ art gallery yesterday, where there were very interesting displays of many kinds. In particular it was interesting to see the section dedicated to Cyclone Tracy, the tropical storm that flattened Darwin in 1974.  As well as the visual presentation including models and photographs, there was a sound room where you can sit in the dark and listen to a recording of the storm raging. 
The section the children liked best was the discovery room, where they could play with all sorts of interesting toys, books, puzzles and activities.  We spent quite a lot of time there while Philip went and picked up a few wheel nuts he'd orderd.

In the evening we took Helen out for a dinner cruise on the harbour.  We have been staying free of charge at her place and she has been so good to us; we wanted to do something special in return.  The restored schooner, the Alfred Nobel, is a lovely vessel.  The dinner was very special and the service was friendly.  The captain even invited Esther and Arthur (the only children on board) to come and help him steer the boat for a while!

Today Helen took us to Litchfield National Park, about 100 km south of Darwin.  We stopped to have a look at the magnetic termite mounds- thin structures all facing in a north-south direction. Biologists believe they are built this way to maximise the amount of sunlight they get.

From there we drove to Florence Falls, where we climbed down 135 steps and had a swim before walking back to the carpark via the "Shady Creek Trail". 

The most popular destination in Litchfield Park is Wangi Falls, where we went next.  A ranger came and sat with us while we were having lunch.  He explained that the water here is so clear and clean because the rocks it flows through are predominantly made of dolomite which acts as a filter. 
The swimming vests we bought for the children last week have proved to be a very good in-vest-ment.  It gives them so much freedom to enjoy the places we visit- and makes it possible for us to swim properly, too!