Evolving in Darwin - 9 July

Jetlag still a factor - Ellie in particular did not sleep too well, hence had to push (not literally!) kids out of bed in the morning with the "you're only here once" line, which eventually had some change.

Jim up with a spring in his step and passport in hand to get an Australian SIM card for his mobile phone and a data card for the laptop.

So some good news and bad news on this front.

Loads of security questions to get SIM cards in Oz, passports, driving licences, passcodes and credit cards.

Once you have them you then have to phone to activate them - and once again give passport details, driving licence, credit card, details etc etc.

Anyway the news is we now have an Aussie mobile of needed. The phone number within Australia is 0437252347

Not such good news on the data card, try and I might I can not get it to connect - so I guess I will have to trek back to the shop tomorrow which is a shame as its a waste of time. So its you skype us , not we skype you until fixed!

Then it was out and about exploring in Darwin. Its just $2 (1 pound) for 3 hrs unlimited bus travel in Darwin, so I got on the bus with my $10 note to find out that kids go free.

Off past the harbour and the botanical gardens to Darwin museum (Liz says what part of Darwin's Art and History Museum, Admission FREE) attracted you to that as part of the itinerary?

Fantastic museum, loads of aboriginal history and art, stuffed Aussie animals and an interesting display on the devastating effects of a cyclone that hot Darwin in 1974 and raised it pretty much to the ground.

Then a walk along the beach to the gaol - and finally back to the hostel for a swim and sunbathe. Its been about 27 degrees today, with a fantastic cooling wind and NO humidity - absolutely perfect temperatures.

The kids were then adventurous enough to walk on their own the half mile into Darwin centre to buy a small boomerang that had caught their eye earlier - while I once again swore at the computer.

We went to Church at the cathedral in the evening, taken by the Bishop - he was about the only one not in shorts!

Then a little walk around, ate the left over kangaroo, failed again with the computer (despite enlisting help of other technical looking backpackers) and found the gin in the fridge.

Complication was that the tonic water had frozen - but where there's a will there's a way.

Tomorrow plan is to pick up campervan, and perhaps go back to the mobile phone shop. We hope to be camping in Litchfield national park and there will be no mobile phone signal there anyway!

Hopefully kids fully time orientated by tomorrow as we have plenty of plans....