Need tour advice for Darwin

Hello,

2 of us are going to be in Darwin in late August. Am trying to figure
out if it's best to book a tour (looking for a guided 2-day Kakadu)
from abroad or to wait till we get to Darwin and just walk around the
central touristy area.
Do all of the tours fill up ahead of time?
Can you get better deals if you wait until the last minute?
Also, can anyone recommend a tour operator? We're both pretty outdoorsy
and would rather focus more on hiking and swimming etc and less on the
historical/cultural stuff.
Finally, any recommendations for a moderately priced but clean/comfy
place to stay in Darwin for our first night?

Thanks,
Aaron

wrote:
[deleted]

Finally, any recommendations for a moderately priced but clean/comfy
place to stay in Darwin for our first night?

We stayed at the Holiday Inn and that was quite OK. We booked through
AccomLine [1], but their site says the Holiday Inn Darwin is currently
unavailable, but I take it that means unavailable through AccomLine, not
generally unavailable. You can find the hotel direct via this site [2].

A few years earlier we stayed at the Value Inn [3], but that was a
little too basic for our taste, and the Holiday Inn was not much more
expensive (IIRC, only 20 AUD$ or some such).

[1] http://www.accomline.com/DirectCity.asp?id=186&HotelID=1627

[2] http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

[3] http://www.valueinn.com.au

"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message
...
wrote:
[deleted]

Finally, any recommendations for a moderately priced but clean/comfy
place to stay in Darwin for our first night?

We stayed at the Holiday Inn and that was quite OK. We booked through
AccomLine [1], but their site says the Holiday Inn Darwin is currently
unavailable, but I take it that means unavailable through AccomLine, not
generally unavailable. You can find the hotel direct via this site [2].

A few years earlier we stayed at the Value Inn [3], but that was a
little too basic for our taste, and the Holiday Inn was not much more
expensive (IIRC, only 20 AUD$ or some such).

[1] http://www.accomline.com/DirectCity.asp?id=186&HotelID=1627

[2] http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

[3] http://www.valueinn.com.au

I know what you mean about the Value Inn. I stayed there a few years back.
It wasn't great value for the money. But it did have a central location.

Last time I was in Darwin (last September) I stayed at the Cherry Blossum
Inn, 108 Esplanade. A Standard Room was somewhere around the $80 a night. It
had telephone, TV, airco and a comfortable bed.

Late August is at the end of the season. Tourists are starting to become
less and less as the days and nights get hotter (temp. wise). I'd say you'd
have no problem booking a tour from the street.

Have a great trip!

Kerry
Images from a group tour from Broome to Darwin along the Gibb River Road
http://broome-darwin.capebyron.com/