Going Tropo

Winter in Melbourne is a generally mild affair, no snow or below zero temperatures to contend with. Yet it's still wonderful to get away to somewhere warm and relaxing. I've had the fortune to visit two such places over winter in a short space of time - Noumea, New Caledonia and Darwin, Northern Territory, also known as Australia's 'top end'.

Thinking of the tropics brings to mind beaches, coconut palms, bougainvillea, frangipani and lots of green vegetation. And that's what you get with Noumea and Darwin, or pretty much anywhere tropical for that matter. However, the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens really opened my eyes to the diverse variety of tropical plants, both native and imported.

The gardens feature plants from various tropical terrains such as rain forest, savannah and woodlands. It's also right next to Mindil Beach famous for its sunset market every Thursday and Sunday during the dry season. The Fairweather Coastal Walk section of gardens was particularly informative about the uses of indigenous plants by local Aborigines for bush tucker, medicine and for making everyday items like baskets. OK, we're getting into Bear Grylls territory here but without biting the head off a foul tasting grub.

I couldn't think of two better places to visit than Noumea and Darwin, relatively close flying time but so different to Melbourne. Noumea felt like a piece of France transplanted to this island so far away from Europe, relaxed and friendly and the food was sensational. Darwin was laid back and yet surprisingly vibrant for such a small city. I'd love in particular to go back to the top end and spend more time exploring the landscapes there.

Back to reality - Spring is here, so much to do, so little time! I sowed some coriander and also planted out in the garden a small potted rhubarb plant given to me by a work colleague. The Vietnamese hot mint went wild over winter and has been seriously chopped back. There's work to do to get the garden beds ready soon for planting. And I look forward to the warmth I had a taste of in Noumea and Darwin.

Why knock down the palms to make way for the pool when you can have them in the pool? Parc Hotel Noumea.

Ansa Vata Beach Noumea. How could I resist the silhouette of a palm against a tropical sunset?

Government House Darwin.

A neatly clipped hedge of bougainvillea, Government House, Darwin.

Some enormous Mahogany trees in Smith Street 'downtown' Darwin. They were planted as part of a re-vegetation program in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy which devastated Darwin in December 1974.

A stand of palms, George Brown Botanic Gardens Darwin.

The Darwin Botanic Gardens also has a thriving community garden. Regular vegetables are grown along with tropical fruits. The yellow strappy leafed plants at the front are young pineapples.

Recycling to the max in the community garden. Scarecrow or 'crowbot'? 

Cheers.