5 Day Wander the Top End

Day One

You will be collected from your Darwin accommodation at 0800. We head down "the Track" (Stuart Highway) until we reach our turn off at the Arnhem Highway. Firstly we join a boat cruise on the famous Adelaide River to witness the famous jumping saltwater crocodiles propel themselves out of the water. This is a magnificent sight as these animals are surprisingly powerful and you will gain a good understanding of these creatures and why they have survived for two hundred million years. This serves as a great introduction to how wild the Top End still is today.

Lunch is at the Bark Hut Inn, this Aussie Roadhouse was built during the buffalo era and is well worth a visit.

By special arrangement we have access to a working cattle Station - Carmor Plains. The station is situated around the Mary River system. The station is 250 square miles and runs approx. 2500 head of cattle alongside one of the largest concentrations of saltwater crocodiles in the world. The floodplains abound with waterfowl, olive pythons, wild buffalo and wallabys in their thousands.

Overnight Carmor Plains.

Day Two

This morning we will further explore this unique area, visit a rainforest, and enjoy the opportunity to explore one of the few remaining stations close to Kakadu National Park, as the majority are owned by local Aboriginal people. After a late lunch we will head along the Kakadu Highway into Kakadu National Park. After checking in to our accommodation we will experience one of Kakadus icons - a Yellow Water Cruise. At this land locked billabong witness stunning displays of flora and fauna, reptiles and abundant birdlife. The wildlife on this pristine billabong is too numerous to mention, you may see a saltwater crocodile eating a wriggling barramundi, a sea eagle swoop on a fish, a Jacana walking on water or any one of the many other 270 species.

Overnight Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru.

Day Three

An early start this morning, but it is well worth it as today we visit two of Kakadus icons - Jim Jim and Twin Falls. Both areas are set in the magnificent Arnhemland escarpment. The only access to these two magical areas is by our air-conditioned 4WD.

Access to Jim Jim is by a 900 metre walk over rocks through the sub-tropical rainforest. As we walk, take time to marvel at the inspiring 200 metre high cliffs towering on both sides of the track. At the base of the falls, (the falls can run up to August if there has been a reasonable 'Wet'), we take time to enjoy a swim in the magnificent plunge pool.

After a further 12km of 4WD, access to Twin Falls is by a short stroll to the edge of the water, then an easy paddle upstream using your boogie board and flippers while enjoying the marvelous views of the escarpment. We spend more time here at Twin Falls that Jim Jim Gorge, as it is a magnificent place.

Overnight Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru.

Day Four

A real treat today, we have access to areas in Arnhem Land (Aboriginal Lands) where a local Aboriginal guide will show you excellent examples of rock art and explain the stories they tell.

Lord's are pioneers of this area, and fortunate in that, we have a mutual respect and understanding with the local Aboriginal people. Our first stop in Arnhem Land is Gunbalanya, where we collect our Aboriginal guide who will accompany you on your walk up Injalak Hill. The hill has excellent examples of art sites, and the view from the top is truly breathtaking, looking out across the floodplains and across to the escarpment. This walk will be one of the many highlights of your day in Arnhem Land.

The rock art here is acknowledged as being the best in Western Arnhemland. And seeing it is half the fun - there are times you need to slide along rock lying down, to view the art. The rock is shiny from tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal people doing exactly that !

When we farewell the Aboriginal guide at the Injalak Art & Craft Centre in Gunbalanya, there is time to view the artists working and to also browse or purchase from the many fine examples of work on display.

From here we push deeper into Aboriginal Land to Mount Borradaile where we will overnight in an award winning safari camp. Visitor numbers to this area are strictly limited and the scenery is spectacular. Enjoy wine and nibblies on your cruise on the billabong.

Overnight safari camp.

Day Five

As numbers are limited in the area, visitors are assured a unique experience. Activities in this protected area include bird watching, billabong cruises, barramundi fishing, visiting rock art galleries, swimming in crocodile free rockholes, bushwalking, 4 wheel drive adventure, bush tucker appreciation, photography, exploring catacombs, investigating paperbark swamps and rainforest, wildlife spotting and viewing the exotic flora in this fascinating ecosystem. Or you can just lay back and relax in the tranquility of a remote, pristine wilderness environment that is unmatched in its beauty and diversity. There is no set itinerary, you decide your own.

After a late lunch we drive out of Arnhemland back to your Darwin accommodation.

Inclusions:

- 5 Days Air Conditioned Toyota Luxury 4WD with experienced local guide
- Jumping Crocodile Cruise
- 1 night Carmor Plains Cattle Station
- Yellow Water Cruise
- 2 nights Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru
- Royalties & permits to enter Aboriginal lands
- Davidsons Arnhemland Safari Camp
- Lunch each day, and all meals while at Carmor Plains and Safari Camp

Not included:

- Personal requirements