Arnhem Land has been occupied by Aboriginal people for over 35,000 years and is the location of the oldest known stone axe.

The area itself extends from Port Roper on the Gulf of Carpentaria around the coast to the East Alligator River. Declared an Aboriginal reserve in 1931, it remains one of the largest Aboriginal Reserves in Australia and is perhaps best known for its isolation, incredible rock art and strong continuing traditions of its indigenous inhabitants. It is a landscape of rugged ranges fringed by idyllic billabongs, flood plains, paper bark swamps and monsoonal rainforests, an amazingly beautiful wilderness.

To the north of Arnhem Land lies the Cobourg Peninsula. While still only sparsely inhabited today, the peninsula is home to some truly incredible Australian history. In the early 19th century the British Government became interested in establishing a settlement on Australia's northern coastline to facilitate trade with Asia. As a result a settlement officially named Victoria Settlement, but commonly known as Port Essington, was surveyed in 1838 and consisted of 24 houses and a hospital. After many setbacks the settlement was abandoned in 1849 with only ruins left today. Due to many of the settlers being trained masons and quarry men, the ruins are a fascinating insight into some of very Australia's early history.

Ludwig Leichhardt (1813-1848)

A German explorer and scientist who came to Australia in 1842, Leichhardt explored large tracts of Queensland and the Northern Territory. Then, in 1848, he led an expedition attempting to travel from Moreton Bay (Brisbane) to Perth. It was during this fateful expedition that he and his party completely vanished without a trace. His disappearance remains a mystery to this day.