Northern Territory Eco Tour

Destination: Kakadu, Arnhem Land and Cobourg Peninsula

Tour Operator: Multi-award-winning guide service who we regard as the best in the territory. They have special permission to visit a number of otherwise inaccessible areas with the blessing of the traditional owners.

Season: May to October

Trip Duration: 5 Days, 4 Nights

Activities: Sacred rock art tours, snorkelling and swimming under waterfalls, boat cruises, flora and fauna tours, fishing, croc spotting, bird watching, collecting oysters, mud crabbing, beach walking,

Pricing: $4,190pp twin share based on 6 guests.

Guides
Highly trained, knowledgeable, attentive and professional individuals who will make sure you get the most from the tour as possible. Their knowledge of the local culture and environment makes all the difference. Attention to safety is imperative to in remote locations which is where their extensive training delivers “peace of mind”.

The Difference
The commitment to culture and the environment has provided Venture North special permits from the traditional land owners to access protected areas that have an abundance of wildlife and cultural values that others can’t access. This includes the opportunity to visit a sacred rock art site accompanied by an indigenous guide.
The unique safari style camp in Northern Arnhem Land on the Cobourg Peninsula has stunning views overlooking the bay of Port Essington. This is a high-end bush camp experience providing great food, home comforts and a close to nature experience.. The location delivers the chance to explore the largest marine park in the Northern
Territory.

Highlights
Wetland Cruise, Barramundi Gorge, Ubir, indigenous rock art tours, Nawalandja Lookout, Mamukala Wetlands, Cobourg Marine Park, Victoria Settlement and Cobourg Coastal Camp.

Comfort
High quality equipment and top model Toyota Landcruisers which are air-conditioned front and back with leather upholstery are the best tour vehicles with exceptional off-road capabilities and safety features. At the camp you’ll also ride in modern custom designed boats with all the required safety equipment and the latest fish finding
technology.

Itinerary

Day 1 – An early pick up from your Darwin hotel will see you heading towards the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

First stop is the stunningly beautiful Corrobboree Billabong which is part of the Maty River wetlands. These wetlands have the largest congregation of saltwater crocodiles in the world and is an important breeding ground for magpie geese and has over 280 species of birds.

You could see buffalo and wild horses roaming the edges of the billabong which stretches 40kms after the wet season run-off has subsided.

Next stop is Barramundi Gorge where there is a leisurely 1km walk along the waterway before you reach the falls where you can swim or snorkel in the freshwater pools at the base.
Last unique experience of the day is the spectacular sunset at Nawurlandja Lookout before you head to the aboriginal owned Anbinik Kakadu Resort for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 2 – Today you’re heading towards Arnhem Land. Part of the trip includes 15kms of the best scenic drive in the whole territory as you head into the Gunbacanya Aboriginal Community with amazing birdlife and water lilies running along the edge of the escarpment.

Here you’ll visit the Art and Craft Centre including meeting the traditional artists as they create their amazing works using traditional methods.
A real highlight is being guided by one of the local indigenous community to arguably the country’s best aboriginal art site at Injalak Hill.

From here it’s off to your home for the next 3 nights, the environmentally friendly but extremely comfortable Cobourg Coastal Camp.

Day 3 – Awake to the sounds of birds and enjoy your first Cobourg Coastal Camp cooked breakfast.

Today you’re on the water to explore the Northern Territory’s biggest marine park. The marine life is amazing including six different species of turtle, dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, stingrays, mud crabs and a huge variety of fish species.

After a leisurely lunch break, you’ll head to the ruins of Victoria Settlement which was occupied between 1838 to 1849 and was the third failed attempt to create a settlement in Australia’s Top End. It was eventually abandoned because of the hardships faced in the harsh environment.

They’ll be the chance to catch some excellent table fish during the day and when you get back to the camp, stretch your legs on a beach walk or chill and soak up the fantastic views.

Day 4 – After breakfast you’ll head off in 4WD’s to explore the eastern side of Cobourg National Park.

You’ll visit the first RAMSAR wetland (wetland of international importance) in the world.
The amazing scenery and terrain doesn’t stop there as you cover freshwater paperbark swamps and billabongs and the extensive coastline.

Then there is a fascinating visit to beaches which are the nesting grounds of marine turtles and witness the marine life around the edges of coral reefs and rock pools that are exposed at low tide.

Post lunch you’ll hunt mud crabs with the locals using traditional methods where they’ll teach you to have a go yourselves.

On the way home you’ll visit the Park’s cultural and information centre.

Day 5 – The last day of your tour as you head back to Darwin still has some highlights in store.
As you travel towards Kakadu you’ll have lunch on the banks of the mighty East Alligator River and then head to Ubir Rock where you’ll witness some of the best rock art in all of Kakadu.
The last stop is the Mamukala Wetlands which has fantastic bird and reptile life including literally thousands of magpie geese. You’ll arrive back in Darwin at about 7pm.

Inclusions:
• A fully guided trip with highly trained guides with access to otherwise protected areas
• Fully guided tours of sacred rock art sites
• Transfers in top model Toyota Landcruiser
• All land-based tours outlined in the itinerary
• On water tours in Cobourg Coastal Camps purpose-built boats
• Fishing expeditions (you can add a bit of extra time fishing if you’d prefer)
• Mud crabbing (traditional method)
• Boat cruise on Corrobboree billabong which gives some of the best croc spotting and bird watching possible
• Visits to Cultural and Art Centres
• Chef prepared meals
• 1 night’s accommodation at Anbinik Kakadu Resort
• 3 night’s accommodation at Cobourg Coastal Camp

Exclusions:
• Breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on Day 5
• Alcohol (needs to be pre-ordered)
• Any accommodation or costs in Darwin

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