A varied trio of nature sites within an hour of Darwin, offering quite different landscapes and wildlife. To start with Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, which was quite a surreal place. It started with a typical looking bush walk, only to quickly realise that there were giant spiders webs (and equally large spiders) literally just above head height all the way along the path…

A couple of wallabies bounced by…

The bush then gave way to impressive boardwalks built out over the wetlands.

And plenty of birdlife.

In the middle of the reserve is Fogg Dam, an earth structure built in 1956, on the other side of which was possibly the greatest concentration of birdlife I’ve ever seen in one small area other than seabirds.

Howard Springs Nature Park is a great place for seeing turtles and fish in their ponds.

There is also a water feature area, though it is more suited to children than adults.

Finally Berry Springs Nature Park is an incredible place to go for a swim, in refreshing natural spring waters, which apparently are crocodile free. Even if you don’t go in the water it is a lovely place to hang out and relax.