BOTANICAL WANDERINGS

I'm not sure how I've overlooked talking about Darwin's beautiful Botanic Gardens yet, but I guess the delay in getting around to it now means I can also throw in a mention about the recently opened cafe that sits within the grounds.

HIP HAPPENINGS

So, I don't know quite how this has happened, but Darwin seems to be getting a little trendy these days. There's raw/paleo cafes popping up, cold drip filtered coffee, wheatgrass shots, drinks in jars, hipster beards - and I even recently read about a local microbrewery starting up.
Ok, so we don't have cat cafes yet, nor have I spotted anyone reading Haruki Murakami under a 70's shade umbrella on the beach. There's also a distinct lack of the types of venues, clothing, eco-friendly, retro-vintage, paper goods, sign writing and book stores that are simply de rigeur if you want to make the trendy town cut...

But still...

DOWN THE TRACK

I don't come down here nearly often enough.

Litchfield National Park is about 100km south of the city, just past the small township of Batchelor. I've been coming here for about as long as I've had a car (and once even came close to a nasty accident during the freewheeling days of my youth when I decided my tiny tinny car and lack of driving experience could totally handle a bit of off-road adventuring). It's a prime spot for a little weekend getaway or daytrip.

30 MINUTES

I'm taking a look at one of my daily activities with a new lens (haha) and have put together a little photo essay on one of my most common dog walk routes  that I often do of an evening. Rapid Creek is a gorgeous little natural oasis in the middle of Darwin's northern suburbs an is an area that's certainly a semi-regular feature in my photographic pursuits. It still amazes me how much variety there is to see in 30 short minutes; suburbs, parklands, a river, horses, cattle, playgrounds...not to mention some of the regular dog walkers I stop and chat with on the way.

DOWN BY THE WHARF

Once a year Darwin has a harbour clean up day, which I'm lucky enough to be allowed to get involved with through the organisation I work for (though 'lucky' might be a matter of opinion, in proper 'oh god I'm getting old' fashion, I managed to properly strain a thigh muscle during the course of my day).

POT SET PERFECTION

So, I got down to the make-or-break remains of my store bought yoghurt yesterday. Granted, it was one of those biodynamic, ABC culture brand of creations, but in the interests of sticking with my Plastic Free July commitment then I was really going to have to give this DIY yoghurt thing a go without further ado.

DE LA PLAGE

There's a newish cafe on the scene for us northern suburbanites, who tend to spend our leisure beachtime around the beaches of Nightcliff and Casuarina. Although there are a few pop up food and coffee shacks along the foreshore these days, on the whole there's been a long-standing dearth of places to grab a drink and a snack.

A self-proclaimed 'Turkish-Belgian inspired beach cafe', De La Plage is a laid-back beachside establishment whose casually ramshackle setup alongside the Surf Lifesaving Club belies its delicious and not-unreasonably priced menu. Sitting in the cool shade of the foreshores wispy casuarina trees, it's the perfect spot to wile away the hours over the weekend - and often puts on some juicy tunes to boot.

Mostly staffed by a crew of the fairly constant flow of cute European backpackers that Darwin attracts for most of the dry season, the service is....ok, well to be honest it's a little on the slow side but then again this is not an eat and run kind of space either. It's a lazy day kind of cafe, where you'll get the most enjoyment by relaxing on the grass; at a table, in a hammock, on a beanbag or on your own rug, and watch the waves and the gulls until your order arrives...