AUSTRALIA: CMJ’s Australia 2026 Hunt Report

[Nyati]

Interesting hunt, congrats !

 

[10.75x68]

Looks like a fantastic time, great stuff

 

[CamoManJ]

Furthermore, more city of Darwin experience…

I ate at the famous “Tim’s Surf & Turf” on Litchfield street. Fantastic seafood & the owner was very hospitable. Tim told me his story of opening the restaurant 32 years ago & now only open for 3 hrs, dinner 5:30 to 8:30pm. Tim was hilarious & showed me his famous magic tricks, very entertaining. This was my favorite dining experience by far, it’s my highest recommendation…Go.


Barramundi is a popular local Australian fish, that I had twice while in town. Once in a traditional Fish & Chips Aussie Top End style & another at The Thai Spice restaurant prepared in an Asian fusion style that was highly recommended by my hotel manager, both of them were damn good dishes. It’s a white fish fillet, that is quite delicious, definitely in my top 5 favorite fish, behind Halibut & Chilean Sea Bass. I’d encourage and recommend anyone to try it at least once or twice. Australia is required to list where the fish came from marked next to the menu item, super cool, I really like that.
For example: Fish & Chips (A).

There were many very good Chinese and Thai places to eat for lunch. Homemade spring rolls, dumplings and dim sum were just about everywhere.

I also noticed at most restaurants and bars, that you walk to their counter, order with your table number, pay and they bring your food to you. Some require you to get your own food when order number is ready. Their tipping structure is different as well, never did quite fully understand it, because it didn’t seem consistent.

Mitchell street was entertaining with bars, restaurants, sports bars and live entertainment at night, just be careful on Smith street at night due to the problem local drunks.

I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard as a BonVoy member. It was ok, good enough, just not the luxury that I enjoy at their JW/Marquis/Westin properties. It’s a hunting trip. Their restaurant for dinner was exceptional, the Thai Spice experience that I’ve read about and was recommended. The location was excellent, one block from the Mitchell action and the safe daytime shopping & breakfast/lunch places on Smith street. Litchfield street can be safely walked while avoiding Smith at night.

I’d recommend at least staying 2 nights before a safari and possibly a night before flying out, why not enjoy your time a bit more not being in hurry.

I got this Koozie at Tim’s Surf & Turf $7.50 AUD, cheap for such a quality & proper neoprene Koozie. I have looked for years for proper Koozie in the USA, the ones available here are absolute junk, the cheap & useless stamped & sewn profit over quality. The pic below shows what I am talking about.

 

[CamoManJ]

Darwin continued…

During my 2 days enjoying the sights of Darwin, adjusting for jet lag and 15 hr time difference…I walked most of the north side of town. The weather was nearly perfect, 60’s F in the morning, upper 80’s to low 90’s during the afternoon and 70’s F at night, with a slight breeze. I toured the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels, the free Water Front lagoon/wave pool and got some good exercise at the shoreline park. Truly a nice town.

I liked this…no dog sh!t anywhere!

For lunch I had the Australian dish, Chicken Schnitzel Parmigiana @ The Tap on Mitchell.

I was impressed with Darwin’s pride in their quality Tap water, available everywhere, some of the best tasting Tap water I’ve had in the World. Restaurants keep a glass paned refrigerator stocked with sealed jars of cold Tap Water self served for customers, which I really enjoyed. No need to buy bottled water while in Darwin.

 

[CamoManJ]

That's a great write up and good photos, I was there last year with my son for a large cull hunt, Alex delivers. I'm sure like you, going back is on your list, it's certainly on mine. Thanks for sharing.

He sure does deliver…
I will hunt with Alex very soon, it’s an addictive and quality experience!
YW, thanks for reading.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks for the report. It was a pleasure to read.

 

[deewayne2003]

Darwin continued…

During my 2 days enjoying the sights of Darwin, adjusting for jet lag and 15 hr time difference…I walked most of the north side of town. The weather was nearly perfect, 60’s F in the morning, upper 80’s to low 90’s during the afternoon and 70’s F at night, with a slight breeze. I toured the WWII Oil Storage Tunnels, the free Water Front lagoon/wave pool and got some good exercise at the shoreline park. Truly a nice town.

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I liked this…no dog sh!t anywhere!
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For lunch I had the Australian dish, Chicken Schnitzel Parmigiana @ The Tap on Mitchell.

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I was impressed with Darwin’s pride in their quality Tap water, available everywhere, some of the best tasting Tap water I’ve had in the World. Restaurants keep a glass paned refrigerator stocked with sealed jars of cold Tap Water self served for customers, which I really enjoyed. No need to buy bottled water while in Darwin.

Well said about the food, OZ has the USA beat hands down with food quality.... you don't see Sysco trucks dropping off the same frozen boxes at every restaurant!

I can go to OZ and be there a month, eating non stop with no consideration of calories, still loose weight and genuinely feel better; return to DFW and stop at a restaurant on the way home and I feel like hell almost immediately!

 

[CamoManJ]

Thanks for the report. It was a pleasure to read.

YW, Sir.

Well said about the food, OZ has the USA beat hands down with food quality.... you don't see Sysco trucks dropping off the same frozen boxes at every restaurant!

I can go to OZ and be there a month, eating non stop with no consideration of calories, still loose weight and genuinely feel better; return to DFW and stop at a restaurant on the way home and I feel like hell almost immediately!

Agree 100%

 

[JPbowhunter]

Tipping culture is easy to understand, we don’t have it and there’s no obligation or expectation to tip.

Some restaurants have started giving the option to tip when you pay by card in recent years but bear in mind that restaurant staff are probably getting $25/hr or better anyway. They’re not relying on tips to make a wage like in the states.

Glad you enjoyed the stay in Aus and the local Tucker. Up north is my favourite part but if you get the opportunity to come down south east for deer hunting it’s a whole other experience. Melbourne is a shithole but going to an AFL game and eating out at some good restaurants there would be worthwhile too.

 

[deewayne2003]

Tipping culture is easy to understand, we don’t have it and there’s no obligation or expectation to tip.

Some restaurants have started giving the option to tip when you pay by card in recent years but bear in mind that restaurant staff are probably getting $25/hr or better anyway. They’re not relying on tips to make a wage like in the states.

Glad you enjoyed the stay in Aus and the local Tucker. Up north is my favourite part but if you get the opportunity to come down south east for deer hunting it’s a whole other experience. Melbourne is a shithole but going to an AFL game and eating out at some good restaurants there would be worthwhile too.

@CamoManJ - not to high jack your post but I’m a native Texan and my god honest favorite BBQ spot is Blue Bonnet BBQ in Melbourne and the MCG or Melbourne Cricket grounds is a sight to behold and the old stadium used to have a rifle range underneath it.

I’m trying to say….. the top end is different Thant the bottom end ;-)

 

[CBH Australia]

Congratulations on a successful hunt.

I hope to hunt Buffalo at some point and explore Darwin myself.

Big sky and Alex have been recommended by others a few times so I’m glad you enjoyed your Aussie experience.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Good to read your positive impressions of Darwin. We love it as well, as Southern Australians we also book a couple of nights after the hunt to wind down. The Tap on Mitchell is a favourite, as is the Trailer Boat Club on the beach front.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

@CamoManJ

How did you find the heat and humidity in that area?

In Oct 2023 we hunted the backcountry blocks outside Adelaide River, best way I can describe it is like being in Big Bend desert area in July + humidity of the Houston ship channel.

October is very different to August, and a tough time to hunt. Extremely hot and humid in the "build up" season. On the flipside, if you can handle the heat, it can be very productive as the game is concentrated on the last remaining water before the summer wet season hits.

 

[PaulT]

October is very different to August, and a tough time to hunt. Extremely hot and humid in the "build up" season. On the flipside, if you can handle the heat, it can be very productive as the game is concentrated on the last remaining water before the summer wet season hits.

Accurate description.

I found few visitors comfortable in the conditions that prevail in October.
Unless you're from Texas or Florida, of-course !!

September being about the pick of tolerable, as well as being extremely good hunting.

Lone, old bulls living in remote, rarely visited areas are forced to travel further for permanent water and feed later in the season and are encountered where they are never seen previously.

I got to become familiar with several extra large bulls that would only ever be seen at the very end of my season in October, walking passed my camp that was built beside permanent water.

If you can handle the conditions later season hunts can result in some very large bulls taken.