Arnhem Land Wilderness Adventure

The Gove Peninsula has been home to Yolngu people for over 60,000 years and is one of the most culturally significant regions in Australia. You'll get a true sense of this with a special ‘Welcome to Country' ceremony at Wirrwawuy Beach, where we'll learn about Yolngu culture and kinship first hand.

We then visit the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka art centre, which boasts many renowned Aboriginal artists whose work can be found in galleries all over the world. Yirrkala is also where the Aboriginal Land Rights movement started, when the ‘bark petition' was sent to federal parliament in 1963. From the art centre it's a short drive to Shady Beach for lunch and a special Bush Medicine and Women's Healing demonstration. Experience traditional healing ways and hear stories of how Yolngu live and heal on their land.

This afternoon we visit Macassan Beach for an interpretive walk and learn about the fascinating trade relations between the Yolngu and Macassans, who negotiated the right to fish for native Trepang in Australian waters. This trade relationship dates back to the 1400's and lasted until the beginning of last century. We return to Nhulunbuy and the Walkabout Lodge late this afternoon. Stay: Walkabout Lodge, Nhulunbuy (B/L/D)

The Arafura Swamp is one of the largest wooded swamps in Australia and covers approximately 1,300 square kilometres. This incredibly diverse wetland can support up to 300,000 water birds at any one time, including Magpie Geese, Egrets, Black-necked Stork and Brolgas. The swamp is of great cultural significance to Yolngu People & was also the location for the 2006 film ‘Ten Canoes'.

Today enjoy a tranquil cruise on the main lagoon, followed by a 4WD adventure around the edge of the swamp. For both activities, we'll be accompanied by Indigenous guides who'll explain why this spectacular area is so significant to them. Later this afternoon we return to camp, with a little free time before dinner. Note: Today the tour splits into two groups for activities. Group 1 will follow the itinerary shown above, while Group 2 will do the activities in reverse. Stay: Murwangi Safari Camp, Murwangi (B/L/D)

This morning we head into Ramingining for a visit to Bula'bula Art Centre. Chat to local artists and watch them paint right in front of you. You can also purchase artwork if so desired. After morning tea at the centre we head further west towards Maningrida. To get there we'll cross the Blyth and Cadell Rivers, arriving at the Barramundi Lodge early this afternoon. Acquired by Outback Spirit in 2015, the lodge is one of the most recognised fishing destinations in Australia.

With special permission from traditional owners, the lodge enjoys exclusive fishing licenses for numerous remote waterways, including the Tomkinson and Liverpool Rivers. The lodge was fully redeveloped in early 2016 and now features 12 beautiful safari suites and a restaurant overlooking the floodplains below. After lunch on the front deck, we'll enjoy a familiarisation talk from the lodge's managers. You're then free to settle in to your safari suite, with the remainder of the afternoon yours to relax, catch up on some washing or simply soak up the stunning view of the floodplains. We spend the next two nights here to explore the local area. Stay: Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge, Maningrida (B/L/D)

This morning we enjoy an exclusive fishing adventure on the Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers - pristine waterways teeming with Barramundi. Our expert fishing guides will take you to where the fish are biting aboard our sturdy Ocean Master vessels, the pinnacle for remote marine adventures featuring an onboard restroom and shade canopy. Today's fishing adventure is also a wilderness tour, so even if fishing isn't your thing you'll still enjoy the amazing scenery and informative commentary.

This afternoon we visit the Maningrida Arts and Cultural Centre and the Djomi Museum for an immersion in the culture and spiritual richness of the area. Later this afternoon we'll enjoy a sunset drink on the deck before dinner and tell everyone about the one that got away! ;Meals ;NOTE: Entry to the Arts and Cultural Centre is subject to NLC approval regarding Covid protocol and is closed at present due to the low vaccination rate in the community Stay: Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge, Maningrida (B/L/D)

Departing Maningrida after breakfast, our travels take us through the stone country of west Arnhem Land. Cross the Liverpool and Goomadeer Rivers before arriving at the turnoff to Davidson's Arnhem Land Safaris, Mount Borradaile. From here we travel along a 40km bush track into the safari lodge, arriving in time for lunch. We'll then check in to our cabins, our home for the next two nights.

This afternoon the highly trained staff at Mount Borradaile will take you through 40,000 years of Aboriginal culture in a truly awe-inspiring landscape. The area contains some of the most stunning rock art galleries in the world, and in terms of artistic quality, quantity, colour and state of preservation it is virtually unrivalled. The walls of the many rock shelters are decorated with innumerable pictures documenting traditional Aboriginal life over many thousands of years. Subjects range from now extinct animals to twentieth century sailing ships and the iconic rainbow serpent. This afternoon we return to the lodge for dinner Stay: Mount Borradaile, Mount Borradaile (B/L/D)

Today we jump into the open-back Toyota's and continue exploring the wonderland that is Mount Borradaile. Visit the ancient ‘catacombs', where the sandstone has been eroded by wind and water over 600 million years resulting in a massive cave system that is full of incredible Aboriginal Art. Learn about the variety of techniques used in rock paintings as the styles changed over thousands of years of occupation and storytelling. We'll also view ancient occupation sites and a range of artefacts from when these areas were lived in.

After lunch, it's time to explore the incredible wetlands of the Cooper Creek. Admire the prolific birdlife and massive crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks as you discover lagoons that seem more from a story book than from real life. As the sun seeks the horizon and sets over the floodplain, enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles before returning to the lodge for our final night with Davidson's Arnhem Land Safaris. Stay: Mount Borradaile, Mount Borradaile (B/L/D)

Today we enjoy a marine adventure down Port Essington aboard the lodge's specially designed vessel 'MV Arafura'. Designed by NAIAD in New Zealand and built in Australia, these amazing vessels are the ultimate marine sightseeing craft. Departing Seven Spirit Bay, we retrace the course of the early mariner's square riggers, passing landmarks like Gunners Quoin, Low Point, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff and Record Point on our way to the historic Victoria Settlement. Surveyed in 1838, Victoria Settlement was the third attempt by the British at a northern settlement, after Fort Dundas on Melville Island and Fort Wellington at Raffles Bay. Conceived to facilitate trade with Asia, the settlement consisted of 24 houses and a hospital. Disease was rampant and living conditions poor, leading to its abandonment in 1849.

Upon our arrival at Victoria Settlement, we'll take an informative and fascinating tour of the old buildings and ruins and learn about life in the early British occupation. An optional extension walk will also lead to lonely gravestones in the forest, almost forgotten by history. After a picnic lunch on the beach we'll get back on the water again and enjoy a leisurely cruise back to Seven Spirit Bay. The waters of the Cobourg Marine Park are alive, so keep your eyes out for dolphins, dugong, manta rays and crocodiles. We return to Seven Spirit Bay where the remainder of the afternoon can be spent at your leisure. Perhaps take a dip in the palm fringed swimming pool, or just relax in your luxurious habitat before enjoying sunset drinks on the veranda before dinner in the restaurant. Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge, Seven Spirit Bay (B/L/D)

The Cobourg Marine Park is teaming with barramundi, Spanish mackerel, golden trevally and coral trout to name just a few. After breakfast, we board the lodge's state-of-the-art fishing vessels for an exclusive half-day fishing adventure to Trepang Bay. Featuring an onboard restroom, shade canopy and comfortable seating, each boat takes only 6 people so everyone will have the chance to reel something in!

Seven Spirit Bay's fishing guides are true professionals with intimate knowledge of the marine park. They'll take you to the best fishing spots and share their knowledge of this stunning marine sanctuary en route to Trepang Bay. Once we enter the mouth of Trepang Creek, it's time to land a Barramundi! Your guide will pick out the best spots to land this iconic Australian fish as we slowly meander up stream. The creek narrows and vegetation closes in as we approach our private landing. We then disembark and rendezvous with the lodge's sous chef for a delicious BBQ bush lunch.

After lunch we enjoy a 4WD safari to appreciate the wonders of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. First up is a visit to the stunning Nipa Palm gallery (Nypa Fruticans), one of only three locations in Australia where they can be found (the others are Melville Island and the Wenlock River in far north QLD). Next, we'll explore the savannah lands of Vashon Head, spotting banteng and buffalo before a visit to Gunners Quoin.

We return to the lodge late afternoon for our third and final evening at Seven Spirit Bay. Note: The timings for the Port Essington fishing adventure are dependent upon tidal movements. As such, lunch arrangements are subject to change to suit the itinerary set by the Seven Spirit Bay marine managers. Note: Today the tour splits into two groups for activities. Group 1 will follow the itinerary shown above, while Group 2 will do the activities in reverse. Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge, Seven Spirit Bay (B/L/D)