A 6 Day, 5 Star Adventure of the Top End

Lux Touring from Darwin, Northern Territory 

Depart Darwin and experience the VERY BEST parts of NT's Top End on this private safari. Travel by luxury 4WD, airboat, helicopter and light-plane as we explore tropical Kakadu, coastal Arnhem Land as well as an NT cattle station, staying in a range of remote and luxury accommodation. 

Note, tour duration and activities can be adjusted on request.

DAY 1 - DARWIN TO KAKADU TOURING 

At 7am depart your hotel with your Venture North guide on a private safari of the Northern Territory’s Top End.

Today we will make our way by 4WD to the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park. Covering an area, the size of Wales, the park is known for its exceptional natural beauty, biodiversity and Indigenous culture, dating back 60,000 years.

En route to Kakadu we’ll make a stop at the picturesque Corroboree Billabong. This classic Top End billabong is home to the largest density of saltwater crocodiles in the world. Here, we will join an exhilarating 45-minute private air boat tour.

Continue on to Kakadu via the old Jim Jim Road visiting White Lily Billabong before arriving at Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). Enjoy a scenic 1km walk along the edge of Barramundi Creek before arriving at the base of Barramundi Falls. Here you have the opportunity to swim or snorkel in the large plunge pool below the falls and discover an array of aquatic life.

Depart Maguk late-afternoon to your luxury accommodation in the heart of Kakadu, Cooinda. Enjoy nibbles or an outdoor bath on the deck of your villa as the sun sets over the Kakadu bush.

Overnight: Yellow Water Villas (villa)

DAY 2 - Kakadu & Arnhem Land Touring

First up this morning we will embark on a private 3hr boat charter on the iconic Yellow Water Billabong. On this scenic waterway you will have the opportunity to fish for the iconic barramundi while viewing a large variety of birdlife as well as saltwater crocodiles in their natural environment. Learn more about the wildlife on the billabong from your knowledgeable guides who will make the trip both fascinating and informative.

Next, we will travel north through Kakadu and into Arnhem Land, a spectacular region of Indigenous land where access is strictly regulated through a permit system. Today we enter the area via a river crossing, called Cahills Crossing on the East Alligator River; the border between Kakadu and Arnhem Land.

After crossing into Arnhem Land, a 15 km scenic drive to the Indigenous community of Gunbalanya provides some of the best driving views in the Top End with floodplains covered in bird life and water lilies running up alongside the Arnhem Land escarpment.

Once reaching Gunbalanya our first stop is the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre where you have the opportunity to meet and see traditional local artists in action. This art centre has a reputation for producing fine quality Aboriginal works with many displayed in galleries around Australia and overseas.

Next, we will be joined by a local Aboriginal guide for a hike around the Injalak Hill rock art sites. A moderate climb takes us up into one of the most spectacular Aboriginal rock art sites in Australia. It’s here where we will spend several hours exploring the many rock shelters which are covered in Aboriginal x-ray art dating back over 20,000 years. Relax under the shelters as your guide shares and interprets the stories of their ancestors and helps you to understand the meaning behind this ancient tradition.

Mid-afternoon we will travel deeper into Arnhem Land, this time by helicopter 

Travel by helicopter to Venture North’s remote, coastal camp on the most northern tip of the NT mainland; the Cobourg Peninsula. Marvel at the aerial views of this pristine wilderness, crossing rivers and floodplains to land on the white sand beaches of Cobourg (tides permitting). Upon touching down at Cobourg Coastal Camp you’ll be greeted by resident camp hosts before checking in to your seaside safari tent, relax with a cool drink as the sun sets over Port Essington.

Overnight: Cobourg Coastal Camp (safari tent)

DAY 3 - Cobourg Marine Park Touring

Today will be spent exploring the Northern Territory’s most impressive Marine Park by boat. Cobourg is abundant in some amazing marine life including six of the seven species of marine turtle, manta rays, dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, mud crabs and plenty of fish.

As we cruise the Marine Park we will stop and visit the Victoria Settlement ruins. Established prior to Darwin as a military outpost by the British, this site represents the third failed attempt at settlement in Northern Australia. After surviving for 11 years between 1838 and 1849 it was abandoned. Stone ruins still stand on the shoreline of Port Essington and serve as a reminder of the hardships faced by the early colonists.

Depart the settlement and try your luck at fishing. With more than 250 species of fish and over 2000sq km of Marine Park to explore, this place is an idyllic fishing destination.

At low tide you will have an opportunity to shuck fresh oysters from the rocks as well as go hunting for mud crabs using traditional Aboriginal methods. Learn how to hunt and gather these local delicacies before having a go yourself. Choose from hundreds of empty white sand beaches to enjoy a picnic lunch including champagne and oysters.

Return to camp late-afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a freshly caught seafood dinner.

Once the sun goes down there will be an opportunity to go for a night spotlight around camp to look for small mammals which call this area home.

Overnight: Cobourg Coastal Camp (safari tent)

DAY 4 - Cobourg & Cattle Station Touring 

Awake to the sound of birds and enjoy a special ‘Cobourg-style’ cooked breakfast. This morning we explore the eastern side of the Park by 4WD.

Cobourg is home to the first Ramsar wetland (wetlands of international importance) in the world with freshwater paperbark swamps and billabongs 100m from the coastline.

Continue on via the northern beaches, commonly used as turtle nesting areas and covered in a wide range of shells. Low tide provides opportunities to explore exposed coral reefs and rock pools which are home to a variety of marine life.

After a picnic lunch we will travel back to Cobourg Airstrip for your fixed-wing charter flight to your final destination, Finniss River Lodge.

Finniss River Lodge is the NT’s latest luxury offering

The lodge is located just south of Darwin on Finniss River Station, a working cattle property and features 6 luxury suites, pool and high-end restaurant, all overlooking the nearby wetlands. Enjoy morning and afternoon guided activities with time to simply relax at the lodge during the heat of the day.

This afternoon we’ll embark on a walk throughout the property with opportunities to photograph and observe the local wildlife and diverse environments of the station.

Overnight: Finniss River Lodge (lodge room)

DAY 5 - Finniss River Lodge Touring

This morning join your guide on a ‘buggy’ tour of the station. The tour is conducted in a 6-seater all-terrain vehicle (ATV), travel along bush tracks throughout the cattle property viewing a myriad of flora and fauna that call Finniss River Station home. Travel through paper bark forests, floodplains, coastline, savannah woodlands and rainforest.

Travel back to the lodge late-morning where you can enjoy the facilities. Lunch will be served on the deck overlooking the pool and wetland.

This afternoon we’ll embark on the lodge’s signature experience 'Cows and Canapes'

Sip sundowners in an open sided buggy or jump out and take a selfie with the curious Brahman cattle that surround you. Spend time with the station owners and ringers, hear their stories, learn about high quality Brahman beef production and life on a Top End pastoral lease. Taste the flavours of the Territory as you indulge in the exquisite canapes on offer.

Overnight: Finniss River Lodge (lodge room)

DAY 6 - Return to Darwin

After this morning’s activity we will say goodbye to our hosts at Finniss River Lodge and transfer back to Darwin by 4WD, arriving around midday.

This ends your Venture North luxury journey. 

To find out more about this or other private luxury tours from Darwin please email us or call us on (08) 89275500.