Arnhem Land & Cobourg Peninsula

Wildman Wilderness Lodge - Exploring Mary River Wetlands

Departing Darwin this morning we travel south before turning east along the Arnhem Highway. Our destination today is the new Wildman Wilderness Lodge. Situated in the Mary River Wetlands half way between Darwin and Kakadu, this nature based luxury safari lodge was first opened in 2011. Surrounded by beautiful wetlands and floodplains, the area is world renowned for its incredible wildlife, history and indigenous culture. After lunch at the Lodge we enjoy a tour down the Wildman Track. Travel through open woodland and paper bark forests, past palm fringed swamps and across the floodplain to the Mary River. Enjoy a one hour wilderness cruise and view prolific birdlife including brolga, magpie geese and sea eagle nesting sites. Crocodiles and buffalo are also common sightings! We return to the Lodge late afternoon and prepare for dinner.

Davidson's Arnhem Land Safari's - Arnhem Land

This morning we depart Wildman River and trek on to Kakadu National Park. Our first stop today is at Ubirr Rock for a spectacular view across the Arnhem Flood Plains, a taste of what's ahead at Mt. Borradaile. Enjoy lunch before crossing the East Alligator River into Arnhem Land, an Aboriginal Land Trust established in 1931. This country is extremely remote and has a completely different feel to Kakadu or any other land in the Top End. It was first named by explorer Matthew Flinders after the Dutch ship 'Arnhem', which explored this coast line in 1623.

En route to Mount Borradaile we visit Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) for a visit to the Injalak Arts and Crafts centre. Admire the techniques of local artists as they create exquisite pieces of work. (Artwork can be purchased).

Late this afternoon we arrive at Davidson's Arnhem Land Safaris at Mt. Borradaile for our exclusive 3 night stay. Enjoy the newly built facilities including a lovely restaurant and 16 ensuited safari cabins.

Borradaile activities

Over the next two days the highly trained staff at Mount Borradaile will take you through 50,000 years of Aboriginal heritage and culture in a landscape so diverse that it is truly awe inspiring. Mt. Borradaile contains some of the most stunning rock art paintings not just in Australia, but the world over. In terms of artistic quality, quantity, colourfulness and state of preservation, this body of rock art is unrivalled. The walls of the many rock shelters are decorated with innumerable pictures documenting traditional Aboriginal life over many thousands of years. Some subjects range from now extinct animals to twentieth century sailing ships. We will visit a number of sensational rock art galleries over the next few days.

While at Mount Borradaile we'll also take several stunning boat cruises. Depending on your interests, you may wish to take a wildlife cruise or split into smaller groups and head off for an afternoon of Barramundi Fishing (fishing groups kept to a small size to maximise your experience). We'll also take a sunset lagoon cruise on one evening.

Another thing you'll enjoy at Mount Borradaile is simply travelling around this remote country in open-air safari vehicles, stopping at points of interest with your guides or taking a walk around an escarpment. One thing we'll assure you of is that you won't run out of things to do! On each of the three evenings we enjoy sumptuous cuisine in the new dining room. Outback Spirit guests will be the only guests in the camp each night. There's also a fully licensed bar for you to enjoy a drink around the evening campfire.

Borradaile activities

An Overview of Mount Borradile

Situated in the north West corner of Arnhem land between kakadu and the Cobourg Peninsula, Davidson's Arnhem Land Safaris' 'Mount Borradaile' is an exclusively leased and incredibly remote 700 square kilometre reserve nestled against the dramatic Arnhem Land escarpment. This registered Aboriginal sacred site has been described as a national treasure trove depicting ancient human occupation. Valleys, overhangs and caves have been occupied for over 50,000 years and offer magnificent galleries of rock art as well as occupation and burial sites. It's a landscape of rugged ranges fringed by idyllic billabongs, flood plains, paper bark swamps and monsoonal rainforests.

Davidson's Arnhem Land Safaris began operating 25 years ago when the traditional owners of the area approached Max and Philippa Davidson in regards to the possibility of a tourism venture at Mt Borradaile. The lodge has evolved over the years to now be able to offer a high level of accommodation and facilities that add to this unique wilderness experience.

Intense media interest has resulted in television documentaries and magazine articles featuring the Mt Borradaile region of Arnhem Land reaching a worldwide audience. Entry to this area of Australia is heavily restricted and is by permit only, something arranged by Outback Spirit Tours for every tour group.
Outback Spirit has exclusive use of Mount Borradaile for the 3 nights.

Cobourg Peninsula - Garig Gunak Barlu National Park

This morning we depart Mt. Borradaile and travel through Murgenella to the Cobourg Peninsula in the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. While sparsely populated today, it was once the site of an early attempt at British settlement.

This afternoon we arrive at Black Point, on the end of the Cobourg Peninsula. We are then transferred by boat to the Seven Spirit Bay Eco-Wilderness Resort where we spend the next two nights. The resort has recently been taken over by new owners and significant money has been spent refurbishing the property. New activities are also on offer. We're certain you'll enjoy your stay in this iconic and remote location.

History of Victoria Settlement / Port Essington

In the early 19th century, the British government became interested in establishing a settlement on Australia's northern coastline in order to facilitate trade with Asia. In 1824, Port Essington was proposed as the first such settlement. Officially named Victoria Settlement after the young Queen Victoria, but popularly known as Port Essington, the area was surveyed by Charles Tyers in 1838 and consisted of 24 houses and a hospital.

While the British government intended to establish Port Essington as a major trading port, along the lines of Singapore, the new settlement suffered from the same adverse conditions that had previously plagued Fort Dundas and Fort Wellington. The settlement lacked resources and supplies and skilled labour. While some prefabricated buildings were brought from Sydney, many had to be built with what materials could be found in the area, and due to the unskilled nature of the builders many of these were of poor quality. Disease was also rampant among the small population, and living conditions were poor. Consequently, it struggled to attract settlers, and the post was much-disliked by the troops stationed there. Despite these setbacks, there was still widespread hope that Port Essington may be able to break the curse, as evidenced by Ludwig Leichhardt's 1844/1845 expedition. The New South Wales government had hoped to establish a direct line of communication with Asia, India and the Pacific, and supported Leichhardt's journey which successfully charted an overland route between Moreton Bay (now Brisbane) and Port Essington. In 1849 Port Essington was abandoned. The ruins of Port Essington still exist today and are incredibly interesting.

Port Essington Cruise and historical tour of Victoria Settlement

Today we enjoy a cruise that will retrace the course of the early mariner's square riggers, passing landmarks like Gunners Quoin, Low Point, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff and Record Point. Upon arriving at Victoria Settlement we take an informative and fascinating tour of the old buildings and ruins and learn about the lifestyle of the early British occupation. An optional extension walk will lead to lonely gravestones in the forest, almost forgotten by history.

Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach before heading for home under the setting afternoon sun.

Scenic Flight - Darwin

This morning we enjoy a Four Wheel Drive tour to Kennedy Bay. After lunch at the resort we board our scenic flight over Van Diemen Gulf back to Darwin, arriving late afternoon. Upon our arrival we check-in once again to the Mantra on the Esplanade for our overnight stay. This evening we enjoy our final dinner together at Crustaceans, situated at the end of Stokes Hill Wharf.

Home Ports

This morning take a stroll down the city centre before being transferred to the airport for your flight home.