The Top End - Australia 2004 - page 401

A Jacuzzi in the jungly garden is great for cooling off on hot nights. Gay and les-
bian guests and children are welcome. No smoking indoors.
3 Quarry Crescent, Stuart Park (P.O. Box 104, Parap, NT 0820). & 08/8981 9992. www.interbed.com.
au/summerhouse.htm. 3 units (all shower only). A$120 (US$78) double; A$160 (US$104) 2-bedroom apt
(sleeps 4). Rates include continental breakfast. AE, MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 5, 6, 8, or 10. From the airport,
take the Stuart Hwy. 5km (3 miles) to Stuart Park; turn left onto Woolner Rd., right onto Iliffe St., right onto
Armidale St., and left onto Quarry Crescent. Amenities: Jacuzzi; coin-op laundry; dry cleaning by arrange-
ment. In room:A/C,TV (apt only) kitchenette, hair dryer, iron, no phone.
INEXPENSIVE
Top End Hotel This two-story hotel has a quiet ambience, despite the trendy
complex of bars, restaurant, sports-betting outlets, and a liquor store on one side.
Most of the rooms face a rectangular saltwater swimming pool surrounded by
an inviting lawn, sun lounges, and tall palms rather than the bar complex. The
front desk sells breakfast and dinner meat packs for you to cook up on the bar-
bie. Rooms were renovated in 2000, and each is a good size, with quality fittings
and a furnished patio or balcony. You're just across the road from the Esplanade
(where fish come in to shore at high tide to be hand-fed by visitors), close to
restaurants, and a 1km ( 1 ⁄ 2 -mile) stroll from Smith Street Mall.
Mitchell St. at Daly St., Darwin, NT 0801. & 1800/626 151 in Australia, or 08/8981 6511. Fax [phone].
www.bestwestern.com.au/topend. 40 units (all with shower only). Dry season A$132 (US$86) double. Wet
season A$115 (US$75) double. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10. Amenities: Restaurant;
3 bars; outdoor saltwater pool; tour desk; room service; babysitting; coin-laundry; same-day dry cleaning/
laundry service. In room:A/C, TV w/free movies, fridge, coffeemaker.
Value Inn The cheerful rooms at this neat little hotel in the Mitchell
Street Tourist Precinct are extremely compact but tidy, and have colorful mod-
ern fittings. Each room is just big enough to hold both a queen-size and a sin-
gle bed, and a small writing table. The views aren't much, but you'll probably
spend your time in the cafes along the street. Smith Street Mall and the
Esplanade walking path are 2 blocks away. There is a public pay phone, cold
drink and coffee vending machines, and an iron on each floor, and a very small
garden swimming pool off the parking lot.
50 Mitchell St., Darwin, NT 0800. & 08/8981 4733. Fax [phone]. www.valueinn.com.au. 93 units (all
with shower only). Dry season A$75-A$89 (US$49-US$58) double. Wet season A$65-A$69 (US$42-US$45)
double. No charge for extra person. AE, MC, V. Limited free parking. Amenities: Outdoor pool; tour desk; dry
cleaning; coin-op laundry. In room:A/C, TV, fridge, no phone.
WHERE TO DINE
Cullen Bay Marina, a 25-minute walk from town or a short cab ride, is packed
with trendy restaurants and cafes. If it's Thursday, don't even think about eating
anywhere other than the Mindil Beach Sunset Market . And on Saturdays
head to the suburban Parap markets for Asian goodies (see the box, “Cheap Eats
& More!” below). The cool crowd hangs at Roma Bar, 30 Cavenagh St. ( & 08/
8981 6729 ), for good coffee and cheap nosh; it's open from 7am to 5pm Mon-
day through Friday, from 8am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday.
EXPENSIVE
Buzz Café MODERN AUSTRALIAN This smart, busy waterfront cafe
is as well known for its loo-with-a-view as it is for its terrific food and relaxed
atmosphere. The men's bathroom just nudges out the women's for interest
value—ladies, get a man to take you in there to see what I mean—everybody
does! The food is flavorsome East-meets-West fare like jungle curry of chicken
with snake beans and green peppercorns, or pan-fried barramundi on potato

Value