This tour has so many highlights it’s hard to pick just one.
Starting in Darwin with a visit to visit the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, a great opportunity to try street cuisine from all over the world. Or meet the artisans who come to sell their wares.
From here the real adventure begins as we fly to Nhulunbuy to take a 4WD to one of the remote Yolŋu Homelands in North East Arnhem Land. The actual destination will not be disclosed beforehand. You will stay with Yolŋu families and experience the traditional way of life which has been lived on country for over 40,000 years.
This is such a rare and exclusive opportunity. This tour works in consultation with many homelands to ensure that all have the opportunity to participate, learn and earn from tourism. Most importantly, this means that tourism does not dominate the cultural life of homelands allowing them flexibility for cultural commitments.
We head back to Darwin to discover the highlights of the city and the national parks of the Top End. We’ll finish our trip with a sunset dinner cruise out on the harbour as we kick back and reminisce on the experiences and learnings from our time in the NT.
Darwin
1600hrs
From her starting position as tea lady, a job she took way too seriously (trust us, tea is something of an obsession with her), she wins the gold star for giving everything a go.
As a former police officer, Suzanne joined the ICON team with not only a can-do attitude but also a bloody-well-will-do attitude too. If she’s in charge of a tour or helping to organise independent travel for you, you can be rest-assured it will be like her tea, done to the highest and most meticulous standard.
Arrive in Darwin early afternoon. If arriving with the group, transfers are included from the airport to the accommodation. Meet the group at the hotel lobby at 4.00pm and we’ll head to the Mindil Beach Markets.
Mindil Beach Sunset Market is the heart of Darwin’s cultural melting pot and truly epitomises the multicultural nature of the city! Darwin’s largest market runs along the foreshore of Mindil Beach, famous for its stunning sunset over the Timor Sea.
Purchase your takeaway dinner from one of the stall holders from cuisine inspired from every corner of the globe and wander onto the beach to watch the sunset over the sea. A novelty experience for those living on the east coast of Australia.
Meet the group at 8.00pm for the transfer back to the accommodation.
We’ll rise early for a transfer back to the airport to fly to Nhulumbuy. We’ll be taking a 90 minute flight rather than a 28hour drive (if the roads are passable) – this place is remote!
On arrival we’ll be met at the airport by our guide, and we’re off. We’ll spend three nights on a Yolŋu Homeland with simple, shared indoor or outdoor accommodation with shared showers and toilets. The last night will be in Nhulunbuy township at a basic hotel.
Each Yolŋu homeland has its own creation story, personality and landscapes. The Yolŋu are widely regarded as the most culturally intact Aboriginal nation in Australia therefore being culturally sensitive is vital. The aim of this tour is to participate in the unstructured and less regimented Yolŋu daily life. Nothing is set in stone, and each Yolŋu homeland is different, and offers different activities. Be prepared to not follow the itinerary precisely.
Some of the experiences and topics which MAY be covered depending on the homeland visited:
Some of the experiences and topics which MAY be covered depending on the homeland visited: Leave your life behind you for a few days. You will interact with the Yolŋu people and their traditional lands on a much deeper level without any digital distractions.
We have the morning to do a lovely walk around Gayŋaru Wetlands. It’s a beautiful 3 km walk that winds through stunning paperbark forests with an abundance of native birds including the northern fantail, blue-faced honeyeater, white-bellied cuckoo-shrike and brown falcon. Watch for crocs though!
If we haven’t had time before we will definitely visit the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Art Centre, one of Australia’s premier Aboriginal art centres. The Yolŋu artists from this region have established a worldwide reputation for excellence and are well known for their bark paintings, memorial poles, woodcarvings and yidaki (didjeridu).
We’ll fly back to Darwin arriving late afternoon. The rest of the day is free. Optional visit the Deckchair Cinema, an iconic Darwin venue. Check out what is showing as every night has a different movie.
Sorry no lie-in today, it’s up and at ’em to meet our guide who will take us for a full day (12 hours) wander through Litchfield National Park. Depending on how energetic we’re feeling as to how much we’ll get done, the things which will get ticked off the list will be Wangi and Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole and a crocodile cruise. Fresh lunch will be provided as well as snacks and water. Bring your swimmers to cool off (not in croc-infested waters though).
Today is yours to discover Darwin for yourself. There is plenty to see and do, from museums to art galleries, from street walks to top-notch eateries. Whatever you do, be back at the hotel by 5.00pm as we head down to the wharf for a sunset dinner cruise to top off our time in the Top End.
Tour finishes after breakfast. If you are returning to the airport with the group the transfer to the airport is included. If you want more, speak with us to see what you can add-on to your tour.
