Arnhem Land Culture & Wilderness Adventure - 13 Days

We arrive in Arnhem Land, one of Australia's last untouched regions, on an included flight from Cairns, meeting our Tour Director in Nhulunbuy.

Please note: a passenger weight limit of 120kg applies to flights included in this tour; please contact us in advance if your weight exceeds this amount. Maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights throughout.

After settling in, we explore this remote frontier township, taking in sweeping views from Roy (Malpi) Marika Lookout, the Gayngaru Wetlands, and Gove Harbour, a hub for local fishing and boating, for a 2-night stay.

Our introduction to Yolngu culture begins with a Welcome to Country ceremony at Wirrwawuy Beach, learning firsthand about community and kinship. We continue with a visit to the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka art centre, before a bush medicine and women's healing demonstration.

Adventure continues as we head into the heart of Arnhem Land aboard our custom all-terrain 4WD coach, travelling the Central Arnhem Road south-west to the Goyder River, the main tributary feeding the Arafura Swamp - known locally as Murwangi. We arrive at our exclusive tented safari camp on the swamp's banks, for a 2-night stay.

The Arafura Swamp is one of Australia's largest wooded wetlands, both culturally sacred and ecologically significant to the Yolngu people. We take in the morning light on a cruise through the main lagoon, followed by a 4WD adventure around its edge, both accompanied by Indigenous guides sharing the area's significance.

Please note: today's tour splits into two groups, with one group following the day's activities in reverse order.

This morning, we visit the Bula'Bula Art Centre in Ramingining for a lesson in Indigenous art.Travelling west, we venture deeper into Arnhem Land, crossing the Blyth and Cadell Rivers on the way to Maningrida, arriving at our exclusive lodge by early afternoon, offering premium suites and a fine sunset vantage point from the restaurant deck, for a 2-night stay.

We embark on a guided fishing adventure along the Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers, with the chance to catch barramundi amid remote riverine scenery - equally rewarding for non-anglers, given the guides' rich cultural insights along the way.Later, we visit the Maningrida Arts and Culture Centre and the Djomi Museum for a deeper look into local stories and creative traditions.

Departing Maningrida, we travel through the stone country of west Arnhem Land, crossing the Goomadeer and Liverpool Rivers on the way to our Advanced Ecotourism-certified lodge, set on a remote 700-square-kilometre holding at Mount Borradaile. A 40-kilometre bush track brings us to the lodge in time for lunch.This afternoon, our highly trained guides introduce us to 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture across this striking landscape, for a 2-night stay.

We set off in open-back safari vehicles to explore Mount Borradaile's ancient and sacred landscape, discovering remarkable rock art galleries and occupation sites spanning tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal history, with expert guides sharing insights into traditional life and artefacts.The day continues with a short scenic drive before we board a boat for an immersive cruise through the wetlands of Cooper Creek.

Leaving Mount Borradaile early, we head north into Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula, travelling up the eastern side of Port Essington to Black Point, where we meet the marine crew for a short transfer across the water.We settle in for three nights at this remote and exclusive coastal retreat.

We embark on a marine exploration across Port Essington, retracing the route of early seafarers past Gunners Quoin, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff and other landmarks. We disembark for a guided walk through the evocative ruins of Victoria Settlement, a short-lived British outpost from the 1830s.

Please note: an optional guided walk continues further into the forest to isolated headstones, a quiet reminder of the settlement's hardship.

We begin with an exclusive half-day fishing adventure aboard one of the lodge's vessels, casting in the rich waters surrounding the Cobourg Peninsula.Later, we set off on a 4WD safari through Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, visiting the striking Nypa palm gallery, the upper reaches of Trepang Creek, and sweeping savannah woodlands, with a scenic stop at Gunners Quoin Lookout. We return to the lodge in time for sunset cocktails and canapés to celebrate our final night here.

We bid farewell to the wild beauty of the Cobourg Peninsula with a 45-minute scenic flight across Van Diemen Gulf to Darwin.

Please note: maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights.

The afternoon is free to relax, before we board a vessel this evening for a Territory-style sunset dinner cruise - a fitting way to toast an unforgettable journey.

We enjoy a slow morning before saying goodbye, until the next outback adventure.