An Exciting and Informative Tour to Litchfield National ParkDay1

We’ll pick you up for your Litchfield tour in a comfortable, air-conditioned 4 Wheel Drive vehicle from your Darwin accommodation between 7:15 and 7:30 am (a bit later for suburban and outlying accommodation). We’ll return you to Darwin about 4:30 pm.  Today’s photo image is Tess your driver guide introducing you to family.

Litchfield Tour Highlights

• Our personable Aboriginal guide, Tess Atie, will give you the real story of the area, with fun and laughter.
• We’ll pick you up from your accommodation in a safe, comfortable, air-conditioned tour vehicle.
• You’ll discover magnificent scenery, fascinating pioneer heritage and a rich Aboriginal tradition.
• We’ll show you spiritually important waterfalls and stone country, ancient rainforest and unspoilt woodland, and their places in Aboriginal culture.
• In the dry season you’ll be exclusive visitors to our private land at beautiful Woolaning Spring.
• We’ll present beautifully prepared and freshly cooked wild-caught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo for lunch.
• You’ll be refreshed swimming in clear, natural pools—out of the reach of crocodiles.
• You’ll take away a deeper understanding of Aboriginal life, its relationship to country and its place in modern society.
• You’ll be enriched by this unforgettable experience.

Finniss River Crossing Back roads from Darwin take you to the Finniss River and beyond, into Tess’s family’s country. Stretch your legs at this shady riverside stop and discover the resources available from this riverine environment.

* During our tropical summer, from about December to May, road authorities often close the back road into Litchfield due to flooding at this crossing. When this occurs we will enter and leave Litchfield by the main road through the pretty town of Batchelor.

Bush resources At various places we’ll demonstrate seasonal bush resources used by local Aboriginal people for thousands of years, and describe the relationship of Litchfield’s landscape features to local indigenous culture.

Termite mounds You’ll learn about the many termites, primary herbivores of the Northern Territory, and the huge housing complexes they build. You’ll be amazed at how indigenous people use these industrious creatures and their homes.

Bamboo Creek Tin Mine We know the Bamboo Creek* area as Marchinbar, an important place for our people. You’ll find out why and learn about the pioneering efforts of our ancestors at the old tin mine here.

* During our tropical summer, from about December to May, road authorities close the road into Bamboo Creek Tin Mine due to flooding. When this occurs we will instead visit Tolmer Falls, which is spectacular at this time of year.

Tolmer Falls During our tropical summer we’ll take a short walk through Litchfield’s stone country to Tolmer Falls. The stone country comes alive at this time of year with a profusion of life and a gushing of water into Tolmer’s deep chasms.

* During the dry season the stone country around Tolmer Falls is very dry and hot. At this time of year we’ll instead visit the heritage-listed Bamboo Creek Tin Mine.

Woolaning Spring You’ll be exclusive visitors to Tess’s family’s private land at beautiful Woolaning Spring*. Enjoy a morning tea stop here in our little patch of rainforest by a crystal clear stream. You can take a therapeutic dip in the warm spring waters or explore the remains of Tess’s family’s sawmill camp.

* During our tropical summer, from about December to May, the track into Woolaning Spring is often too boggy to use. When this occurs we will have morning tea at a more accessible spot.

Lunch – a fresh lunch of wild caught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo, in beautiful surroundings will be provided.

Wangi Falls You’ll visit iconic Wangi Falls, its plunge pool a popular dry season swimming spot and a special place for indigenous women. Cool off with a swim* or explore the nearby lush rainforest, home to a variety of birds and restless fruit bats. For the keen there may be an opportunity for a more strenuous walk around and over the falls.

* When water levels rise to a pre-determined point during our tropical summer, from about December to May, park authorities close the Wangi Falls plunge pool to swimming due to strong currents and the potential for saltwater crocodiles to enter the plunge pool. Viewing the falls, however, and doing the walk around and over them, is safe and especially spectacular at this time of year.

Florence Falls You’ll see stunning Florence Falls from the plateau-top lookout, a short walk from the car park. Keen swimmers can tackle the 135 stairs that lead down to the clear, refreshing waters of Florence’s stone-walled gorge and plunge pool. Easier walks allow swimming too, in the warmer waters above Florence Falls. Travel on to Mary River Wilderness Lodge for overnight accommodation.

Meals:

Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner

Accommodation:

Mary River Wilderness Lodge

Kakadu National Park, Ubirr Rock Art, Guluyambi Cultural Cruise and more….Day2

• Depart Mary River Wilderness Lodge at 8am to begin this exciting and memorable adventure to Kakadu.
• Visit Fog Dam; a wildlife haven for birds and animals and superb photographs
• Stop for morning tea at a typical Northern Territory Road House – ‘Bark Hut Inn’ which was the noted centre for buffalo hunting in the early days
• Your first off the sealed road experience is to follow the Old Jim Jim Road which was the pioneering tracks of the explorers, the fishermen and hunters of the last century.
• Visit to Maguk Gorge (Barramundi Gorge) noted for its regular water flow. Enjoy a picnic lunch and short walks and maybe a swim.
• An afternoon wilderness cruise on the Yellow Waters Billabong. Here you cruise the beautiful wetlands where you’ll see up close and personal, crocodiles, abundant bird life, tropical vegetation – a photographer’s delight. Afternoon tea and snacks included. Late afternoon and evening return to Darwin for pre dinner drink and evening meal.       Today’s photo image is your guide catching lunch!

• Kakadu National Park Aboriginal traditional owners have occupied the Kakadu area continuously for at least 40,000 years and the park is renowned for the richness of its Aboriginal cultural sites. There are more than 5,000 recorded art sites illustrating Aboriginal culture over thousands of years. The cultural and natural values of Kakadu National Park were recognised internationally when the park was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List; an international register of properties recognised as having outstanding cultural or natural values of international significance. Kakadu is home to 68 mammals (almost 1/5 of Australia’s mammals); more than 120 reptiles, 26 frogs; over 300 tidal and freshwater fish species; more than 2,000 plants and over 10,000 species of insects. It provides habitat for more than 290 bird species (over 1/3 of Australia’s birds). Its internationally important wetlands are a major staging point for migratory birds.
• Landscapes & Habitats Within the vast landscapes of Kakadu there are 6 main landforms. Each landform and the habitat it contains has a range of plants and animals. As you move through Kakadu look out for savanna woodlands, monsoon vine forests, stone country, tidal flats, mangroves, floodplains, rivers and billabongs.
• The Rainbow Serpent The Rainbow Serpent was a major creator being. She created passages through rocks and formed waterholes in the Kakadu landscape. She split rock faces and created ranges of hills helping form the habitat for all beings.
• Rock Art Mimi spirits were the first of the Creation Ancestors to paint on rock. They taught some Bininj how to paint and other Bininj learned by copying Mimi art. At the end of the journeys, some Creation Ancestors put themselves on rock walls as paintings and became djang (dreaming places).
• Six Seasons of Kakadu Throughout the year Kakadu landscapes undergo spectacular changes. Bininj/ Mungguy recognise up to six different seasons as well as subtle variations that signpost the transition from one season to another. This knowledge of nature is fundamental to the culture of Kakadu and its people. Bininj/Mungguy have lived with the changing landscape for tens of thousands of years, adapting and using the land for food, shelter and general well-being.

Meals:

Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner

Accommodation:

Darwin Doubletree Hilton

A Memorable Visit to the Tiwi IslandsDay3

• Personal transfer to Darwin Airport by your Austour guide, for a 30 minute flight, who will provide that additional personal service for the duration of the day.
• You’ll see the famous Tiwi art and burial poles, witness a traditional smoking ceremony and drink billy tea with the locals.
• Take this rare opportunity to interact with a modern-day Aboriginal community, and gain unique insights into the complex cultural rituals of Australia’s Tiwi Islands.
• Scenic drive through the wilderness of Bathurst Island
• On your tour of Bathurst Island, you will share Tiwi rituals and history during a scenic walk and visit attractions.
• Visit the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga and learn
• Visit the museum, and site of the early Catholic Mission
• Morning and afternoon tea and a wholesome lunch will be provided
• Throughout your trip, keep an eye out for wildlife such as seabirds and turtles. The Tiwi Islands are the breeding grounds for a variety of indigenous animals.

Today’s photo image a Tiwi Welcome

 Museum

Your guide accompanies you to the local museum, and provides commentary on the displays of traditional art and the depictions of Tiwi dreamtime stories.

Art Centres

Next you’ll stop by an arts and crafts centre to get a glimpse of artists at work. You can purchase Tiwi arts and screen-printed fabrics at island prices (own expense).

Tiwi burial site.

Learn about the rituals of the Pukamani ceremony that includes placing funerary poles, decorated with painted mythological figures, around a grave. Your guide can answer any questions you may have about the burial process.

Note: today’s itinerary has the ability to be flexible to meet your specific needs just ask your guide, he will make it as interesting and informative as you request.

At the end of the tour, your guide will take you to the airport for a short flight to Darwin and then he will transfer you to your accommodation concluding your 3 day tour.

Meals:

Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Tea

Accommodation:

Nil