Leaving Zadar, I travelled south, calling into a little Dalmatian town some Melburnian friends had recently visited and enjoyed – Tisno. It’s on Murter Island, located at the narrow strait separating it from the mainland. Tisno was first mentioned in 1474 during the Turkish invasion and during the war against the Venetians when refugees fled to Tisno to seek shelter.

It has a memorial-site dedicated to the several hundred Croatian civilians killed and dropped into a local pit in the aftermath of World War II by the communist Yugoslav regime.

Sibenik was the next stop, known as a gateway to the Kornati islands and the oldest city on the Adriatic. I believe the series “Game of Thrones”, used the narrow cobblestone alleyways in  a number of episodes. The 15thC stone Cathedral of St James is decorated with 71 sculpted faces.

Sibenik is especially known for its charming, car-free old town, which was built up a hill and with more than 2,800 steps, is also known as the “City of Stairs”. I let my drone do my walking on this 36 degree day!! 

Onwards to the tiny village of Skradin, with its pastel-coloured houses on the waterfront – it lies on the Krka River and is the gateway to the Krka National Park. I planned to take the 25 minute ferry ride upstream to access Slapovi Krke, a beautiful cluster of waterfalls. Unfortunately by mid afternoon, there was no-where to park the car to access the ferry, so I continued on to Split.