Dry season in Darwin is the perfect time to walk through George Brown Botanic Gardens, and then finish with refreshments at Eva's Cafe.
Eva's Botanical Cafe
The gardens date back to 1886 but suffered considerable damage during Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Curator, George Brown, tirelessly restored the gardens before becoming Darwin's Mayor in the early nineties. The Botanic Gardens are now named after him.
Entrance to the George Brown Botanical Gardens
Just inside the garden gates is a delightful, nature-inspired, children's playground with a sandpit, climbing rocks and a creek for water play.
Children's Playground
Further on you'll find waterfalls, fountains, ponds, palms, pandanus trees and a selection of walks. You can follow a trail of markers to take you through the Tree Walk, Cycad Walk or Aboriginal Plant Walk.
Lily Pond
There are seats and benches under large, shady trees where you can sit for a while and enjoy the serenity. Or check emails on your phone. The gardens offer half hour free wifi. I suggest a device free time here though, it's too special a place to allow distraction from the moment.
There are information boards and plaques identifying plants and bush tucker as well as those telling stories about Darwin folk from the past.
Stories among the fan palms
You'll need refreshments after your walk, especially if the day is steamy. Eva's Cafe is strategically placed near the entrance to (or exit from) the gardens, in an old Wesleyan church building.
The building is a bit special to locals, having been built in Adelaide and then transported to Darwin in 1897. It is recognised as Darwin's oldest building and to a select few older residents it still holds treasured memories of weddings, christenings, funerals and social events. It survived numerous cyclones as well as the bombing of Darwin and sat neglected for a number of years before being restored and transported to the Gardens in 2001.
A Darwin Treasure
The cafe continues the botanic theme with posters and prints adorning the walls and terrariums here and there. There are whirring fans, louvres and wrought iron or wicker chairs and tables.
Eva's Botanical Cafe
Outside is a sprawling deck and garden with tables under shady trees.
Table in the garden
The atmosphere is tranquil, quiet music plays in the background and the occasional bush chook call can be heard.
Bush chook
The cafe serves Botanica Coffee, aptly named and Fair Trade. Choose from various styles including iced and pour over. The menu lists several tea varieties, home-made iced tea, shakes and frappes.
Botanica Coffee
The lunch menu includes sandwiches, wraps and delicious-sounding salads. I walked during the early morning so treated myself to a 'second breakfast' of coffee and a Chia Pot with almond milk, seasonal fruits and bee pollen. The three different types of melon and grapes were sweet and juicy and the slices of starfruit were, as is usual, bland, but they do decorate a dish. And they are tropical.
Chia Pot with fresh seasonal fruits and bee pollen
Eva's Cafe is open longer hours during the dry season for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.
