Three Day Kakadu & Arnhem Land

Day 1:

Guests will venture towards the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park via the magnificent Fogg Dam Reserve. These wetlands fringed by rainforest are a birdwatchers paradise, with year round water coverage assuring its position as an important feeding and roosting site for over 200 different bird species, water pythons and freshwater turtles. Forest Kingfishers, egrets, ibis, herons, Whistling Kites, Brown Falcons, Green Pygmy Geese, cormorants and monitor lizards are common sightings.

From here, the group will explore the Mary River wetlands, enjoying a 45 minute Airboat Safari. Travelling through the seemingly endless floodplains of the Mary River Wetlands, guests will have the opportunity to spot countless crocodiles and birds, hovering above a breathtaking blanket of lilies and reeds.

A short detour off the highway is the beautiful Leaning Tree Lagoon; this Billabong is often covered in flowering Blue Lillies making, it a popular quick stop for photographers. Lunch is at the Bark Hut Inn; this Aussie Roadhouse was built during the buffalo era and is a reminder of earlier, wilder times.

The last stop for the day is at Cooinda to experience one of Kakadu’s icons; a Yellow Water Cruise. This pristine environment supports a truly wonderful variety of plants, birds, crocodiles and Top End wildlife. The immense concentration of birds, especially in the dry season including Magpie Geese, Whistling Ducks, Great Egrets, Royal Spoonbills, Black-winged Stilts, Comb-crested Jacanas, Azure Kingfishers, Sacred Kingfishers, White Bellied Sea-Eagles, Brahminy Kites, Plumed Whistling Ducks, Nankeen Night-Heron and Little Bitterns make this one of the world’s greatest birdwatching sites.

Overnight Accommodation: Lords Private Tented Camp

Day 2:

Departing the Northern region of Kakadu National Park, guests will cross the East Alligator River and enter Arnhem Land. The scenic drive to the Gunbalanya Aboriginal community provides some of the best driving views in the Top End with floodplains, billabongs & the Arnhem Land escarpment. Upon arrival at Gunbalanya guests will visit the Injalak Arts and Craft Centre to meet and watch traditional local artists in action.

Gunbalanya is the Aboriginal name for the Oenpelli settlement (which was originally a mission). The area includes the flood plains of the East Alligator River that are covered by water from December to April and a rocky sandstone plateau rising up to 200 metres above the plains. The view from the top of the hill is simply breath-taking, looking out across the floodplains and around the Arnhemland escarpment while having lunch in the shade of one the many overhanging ledges. When travellers farewell the Aboriginal guide back at the Injalak Art & Craft Centre, there is an opportunity to browse or purchase goods from this non-profit Aboriginal organisation. 

Across the sandstone escarpments, visitors may spot the Brolga, Black Necked Stork (Jabirus), honeyeaters, Sandstone Thrush, Black Wallaroo, Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon, Short-eared Rock Wallaby, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal and the Red tailed skink.

Overnight Accommodation: Lords Private Tented Camp

Day 3:

Venturing out to the Southern end of Kakadu, visitors will enjoy one of the most beautiful and pristine waterfalls in the park named Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). A short walk through sub-monsoon rainforests of Paperbarks and a Pandanus lined creek leads to the base of a stunning plunge pool.

Located in stone country, water seeping from surrounding rock walls and alluvial soils provide an important micro-environment for plants and animals. Many animals rely on these areas for refuge during the drier months such as the Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon, Short-eared Rock Wallaby, Black Wallaroo, and Merten's Water Monitor. After exploring this incredible ecosystem, the group will return to Darwin at approximately 5:00pm.

Key Details

Private Group Size: Maximum 6 guests.
Pick-up and Drop Off Point: Darwin
Pick-up and Drop-off Time: Approximately 8:00am, returns at approximately 5:00pm.

Responsible Tourism

As part of our commitment to sustainability we have developed a code of practice relating to our wildlife interactions. We have also sought independent verification of our practices through Ecotourism Australia. Our Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation is awarded to a select number of Australia's leading and most innovative ecotourism products, providing an opportunity to learn about the environment with an operator who is committed to achieving best practice when using resources wisely, contributing to the conservation of the environment and helping local communities.

Recent Awards

WINNER Most Outstanding Interpretive Guide Brolga NT Tourism Awards - Dean Hoath 2012
WINNER Most Outstanding Interpretive Guide Brolga NT Tourism Awards - Sab Lord 2006
WINNER Heritage and Cultural Tourism 2009 • 2008 • 2005

Recent Testimonials

"Dean and Sab, with their deep understanding of Kakadu and Arnhem Land, were able to provide a unique experience for us. With their expertise, planning and their friendly approach we were able to share their understanding of Kakadu.  We enjoyed their private accommodation and were able to experience a diverse set of wonders. We would have been unable to do this in a much larger group. It was an immense privilege to experience Kakadu and Arnhem Land with them." - John, Sydney

"The five day four night trip through Kakadu and Arnhemland was superb. Sab Lord is an outstanding tour leader and guide. He is very knowledgeable and has some great stories to accompany his facts. The longer drives are enjoyable due to his interesting commentary. The main campsite used is very clean and comfortable. The attractions on this trip were memorable. The crocodile tour, the hike into spectacular swimming spots, the rock art stop, they were all first class. A memorable trip, Sab is a legend." - Stuart, Perth

We wanted to email you to say thank-you for the absolutely fantastic Kakadu safari we experienced with our two boys, George & Harry! We had a terrific time with our guide, Dean. As a family we had been looking forward to the safari for months and had spent many hours wondering what it might be like. Under Dean’s expert guidance the trip completely amazed us all! From lunching in the bush to waterboating across the Bamurru floodplains, from swimming at Maguk to crocodile-spotting at Cahill’s Crossing, Dean catered for our every need in his relaxed style, ensuring we were able to take in everything that Kakadu has to offer. We’ve never experienced such a wealth of wildlife previously and our time spent with Dean in the Top End will live long in our memories. Please accept our thanks for delivering such an amazing tour!" - Allister, Vicky, George & Harry