TRAVEL Kakadu and

Injalak Hill Tour, Arnhem Land.

Kakadu and Arnhem Land

EE SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPES and Sexperience the world’s oldest living culture firsthand as we take you on a remote journey into the ’s Top End. Our exclusive itinerary provides Kak travellers with an intimate glimpse into the lives of Arn Aboriginal people and offers the opportunity to meet and interact on their home soil. You’ll also experience AG TRAVEL some of the most picturesque scenery in Australia as we travel through Kakadu and off the beaten track Dates: 1-11 june 2021 into Arnhem Land. On this 4WD safari you’ll be 4-14 september 2021 encouraged to really experience ‘country’ and go email: beyond just looking by smelling, listening, touching [email protected] and even tasting things along the way. This will be a phone: 0413 560 210 true, authentic Northern Territory experience. Itinerary

PICTURE: TOURISM AUSTRALIA 1 TRAVEL Kakadu and Arnhem Land

The spectacular view from Baruwei Lookout into Katherine Gorge.

Itinerary

Day 1 1 June Arrival in Darwin photography and swimming opportunities. swimming hole and gorge. In the late (domestic airfare not included) After a picnic lunch we’ll travel into Kather- afternoon we will visit the community-run ine and stop at the Katherine Hot Springs Ghunmarn Culture Centre and Gallery. Make your way to the hotel, Doubletree by for a quick dip. Here, you can meet some of the local artists Hilton Darwin or similar (transfers can be We’ll next travel to the southern edge of and view artwork made by people in the arranged at extra cost). Arnhem Land to Wugularr (also known as community. Beswick), our home for the next two nights. Accomm: Wugularr (cabins) After reaching Wugularr we’ll embark on Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided a local history walk around the community Day 2 2 June Darwin–Wugularr billabong. Continental-style breakfast Accomm: Wugularr (cabins) (Due to COVID-19, breakfast options may Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided change depending on hotel restaurant hours)

Depart your Darwin accommodation at Day 3 3 June – Wugularr 7am for the beginning of your nine-day Top End safari. Our journey today takes us After breakfast, we’ll be joined by some of three hours south to Katherine and then the local Jawoyn ladies and head out bush. another hour east to the Aboriginal Each trip is different and will depend on the community of Wugularr. time of year. One other common activity is En route to Katherine our first stop this to try to find some ‘sugarbag’, which is the morning will be at Edith Falls in Nitmiluk honey from the native stingless bees, it’s a National Park. The sandstone and riverine favourite food out here and delicious! Local artists weaving traditional communities of Edith Falls provide a habitat Learn how to weave traditional baskets pandanus baskets. for a diverse range of flora and fauna. from pandanus and coloured with natural Here we’ll embark on the 2.7km loop walk bush dyes. We will also do some more to the top of the falls, which offers great scenic touring including a visit to the local Itinerary cont.

PICTURE: TOURISM AUSTRALIA 2 TRAVEL Kakadu and Arnhem Land

A local Indigenous guide interprets Day 4 4 June Wugularr – Katherine Gorge the stories of the ancestors at the Injalak Hill rock art sites. This morning we’ll say goodbye to our hosts and head back to Katherine. Once in Katherine we’ll visit the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Art & Cultural Centre. This important community Centre showcases an array of Northern Territory art, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Next, we’ll travel out to Katherine Gorge and check into our accommodation. After a picnic lunch, we will collect some canoes for a

leisurely afternoon exploring Katherine Gorge PICTURE: TOURISM AUSTRALIA by canoe. Canoeing through this pristine wilderness area enables you to experience the A moderate climb takes us up into one of the most Katherine Gorge at its best. All canoeing trips begin with a scenic journey by boat through spectacular Aboriginal rock art sites in Australia. Nitmiluk’s first gorge before canoeists take to the waters to explore the second gorge and beyond. from Arnhem Land. Arnhem Land is Accommodation: Nitmiluk Cabins famous Yellow Water Billabong. On this comprised of vast amounts of Aboriginal- Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided picturesque waterway you will have the opportunity to view a large variety of birdlife owned land (approximately 100,000sq.km) as well as saltwater crocodiles in their natural where many local people still practice their 5 environment. Learn more about the wildlife traditional ways. Access is strictly regulated Day 5 June Katherine Gorge – Kakadu on the billabong from your knowledgeable through a permit system. National Park guides who will make the cruise both After crossing the river into Arnhem Land, fascinating and informative. a 15km scenic drive to Gunbalanya (also After a full breakfast we’ll make our way to the Next, we will travel into Barramundi Gorge known as Oenpelli) Aboriginal community World Heritage-listed . (also known as Maguk). Enjoy a scenic 1km provides some of the best driving views in the Covering almost 20,000sq.km of exceptional walk along the edge of Barramundi Creek Top End with floodplains covered in birdlife natural beauty and unique biodiversity, before arriving at the base of Barramundi and water lilies running up alongside the Kakadu is one of few places listed for both its Falls. Here you’ll have the opportunity to Arnhem Land escarpment. cultural and natural values. Kakadu is home to swim or snorkel in the large plunge pool On reaching Gunbalanya our first stop is the Bininj and Mungguy Aboriginal peoples below the falls and discover an array of the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre where you who have lived here for thousands of years. aquatic life. have the opportunity to meet and see tradi- Our first stop in Kakadu will be Moline We’ll then continue further north to tional local artists in action. This art centre Rockhole, a special permit area that only a few Nourlangie Rock, one of Kakadu’s oldest has a reputation for producing fine quality select operators are permitted to access; guar- Aboriginal occupation sights open to the Aboriginal works with many displayed in anteeing minimal crowds. The small waterfall public. Enjoy a walk around this impressive galleries around Australia and overseas. and waterhole below it are great for cooling rock, through ancient rock-art sites and Next, we’ll be joined by a local Aboriginal off in. Your guide will give you goggles and savannah bushland, which is home to a guide for a hike around the Injalak Hill rock a snorkel so you can explore the underwater variety of wildlife. art sites. A moderate climb takes us to one of world, home to a variety of fish and turtles. Just down the road from Nourlangie is the most spectacular Aboriginal rock art sites Our next destination is Gunlom Falls, Nawurlandja Lookout. A short climb takes us in Australia. It’s here where we spend several another great swimming hole. For the more up the sloping sandstone to provide views of hours exploring the many rock shelters that adventurous, a 20-minute climb to the the sun setting across Anbangbang Billabong, are covered in Aboriginal x-ray art dating rockpools above the falls leads to a naturally Nourlangie Rock and the Arnhem Land back more than 20,000 years. We’ll then con- occurring infinity pool with sweeping views. escarpment. tinue our journey to the most northern tip of We then continue north along the Kakadu Accommodation: Cooinda Lodge Arnhem Land; the , part of Highway to our accommodation at Cooinda. (safari tent). the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. Accommodation: Cooinda Lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided The drive takes about four hours. (safari tent) Upon arriving we’ll head straight to a Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided private camp where you’ll be served nibbles Day 7 7 June on the cliff top. Relax as the sun sets over Port Kakadu National Park– Essington. Day 6 6 June Arnhem Land Accommodation: Cobourg Coastal Kakadu National Park Full breakfast at the lodge Camp (safari tent) Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided At dawn, after a full breakfast at the lodge, Today we’ll travel to Cahill’s Crossing where we’ll join a 2-hour a sunrise cruise on the the East Alligator River separates Kakadu Itinerary cont. 3 TRAVEL Kakadu and Arnhem Land

Tour guide at the ruins of Victoria Settlement.

9 June 8 June Day 9 Day 10 June Day 8 Arnhem Land Arnhem Land 10 Arnhem Land–Darwin

Awake to the sound of birds and enjoy a After another camp-style cooked breakfast, After a cooked breakfast at the Coastal Camp special ‘Cobourg-style’ cooked breakfast. we explore the eastern side of the park, this and a relaxing morning at Cobourg we’ll This morning will be spent exploring the time by 4WD. depart at 10am and travel to the local airstrip Northern Territory’s largest marine park by Cobourg is home to the world’s first for your scenic charter flight back to Darwin. boat. Cobourg is abundant in some amazing Ramsar wetland (wetlands of international Arrive into Darwin at approximately noon marine life including six of the seven species importance), and features freshwater paper- where you will be transferred to your hotel. of marine turtle, as well as manta rays, bark swamps and billabongs 100m from the Accommodation: Doubletree by Hilton dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, mud crabs coastline. We will continue on via the Darwin or similar and plenty of fish. northern beaches, commonly used as turtle Breakfast provided As we cruise the marine park we’ll stop nesting areas and covered in a wide range to visit the Victoria Settlement ruins. of shells. Low tide provides opportunities to Established before Darwin as a military explore exposed coral reefs and rockpools Day 11 June – Darwin – outpost by the British, this site represents that are home to a variety of marine life. 11 Home or extend your stay the third failed attempt at settlement in After a picnic lunch you’ll have an oppor- Northern Australia. After surviving for tunity to go hunting for mud crabs using After a full breakfast at the hotel, the tour 11 years between 1838 and 1849 it was traditional Aboriginal methods. Learn how concludes. abandoned. Stone ruins still stand on the to hunt and gather these local delicacies shoreline of Port Essington and serve as a before having a go yourself. reminder of the hardships faced by the This afternoon we will also visit the ‘grind- early colonists. ing holes’. This cultural site is not open to the Depart the settlement and try your luck public, however we have been granted special at fishing. With more than 250 species of permission to access. Here you’ll see ancient fish and over 2000sq.km of marine park grinding holes that have been created by to explore, this place is an idyllic fishing Indigenous people grinding foods and ochres destination. into the exposed rockface. Return to camp late afternoon. Tonight, Once the sun goes down there’ll be an enjoy a freshly caught seafood dinner. opportunity to go spotlighting around camp Accommodation: Cobourg Coastal to look for small mammals that call this Camp (safari tent) area home. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided Accommodation: Cobourg Coastal Camp (safari tent) Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided Itinerary/ cost. 4 TRAVEL Kakadu and Arnhem Land

Spectacular sunsets are par for the course on this extraordinary Northern Territory adventure.

cost $5715/person twin share. min 4 pax–max 6 pax

Costs include the Katherine Gorge Cruise through Pre-registration, late check-out otherwise specified. Beverages following services the first gorge, Kakadu National or day use at hotels other than are to be purchased by the as per itinerary Park – 2-hour Yellow Water specified above client. In some areas where Lagoon Cruise Guide services other than alcohol restrictions apply, 10 nights’ accommodation in Canoe hire at Nitmiluk Gorge specified alcohol cannot be purchased specified cabins/lodges/tents/ Permit and admission fees Meals/beverages other than or consumed. We suggest you rooms where applicable, including specified, alcohol purchase alcohol before Local professional driver/guide Nitmiluk National Tips and gratuities departing Darwin. from days 2–10 Park, Kakadu National Optional tours/services Park, Arnhem Land Transport: Luxury Sightseeing as per itinerary by late-model Toyota Landcruiser private air-conditioned charter and Cobourg Peninsula, Other information Arnhem Land royalties 4WD (subject to change) – luxury Toyota Landcruiser, 6 pax max. per vehicle. Charter flight Cobourg to All accommodation in twin including purpose-built 4WD Purpose-built trailer and Darwin (single engine) share rooms/cabins/tents. trailer and equipment equipment. Triple rooms are available Meals as per itinerary: Costs do not include 10 x breakfast, 8 x lunch and Beverages: Alcoholic beverages 8 x dinner Domestic or international are not included during Seat in boat cruises on regular lunches or dinners unless scheduled departures: airfares

Coburg Peninsula Coburg Coastal Camp Tiwi Islands COVID-19 Garig Gunak Maningrida Barlu NP Nhulunbuy Darwin Gunbalanya Ramingiring the nt government Jabiru Gapuwiyah Bawaka Arnhem land Bukudal approved covid-19 Litchfield Adelaide NP Kakadu safety plan is River NP Baniyala Pine Creek Bagetti Nitmulik in place and the NP Kalumburu Katherine operator is covid WA Beswick Mitchell clean accredited. Palteau Mataranka Wyndham Timber creek Gregory Kununurra NP Gregory Manning Gorge El Questro Lake NP Argyle

Windjana NT Gorge NP Gibb River KimberleyRoad Purnulu Derby NP Tunnel Bungle Creek NP Halls Bungle Broome Creek

email: [email protected] phone: 0413 560 210 5