7 Day Ultimate Arnhem Land Tour

Day 1

Darwin to Kakadu National Park

Your private safari begins with a pick-up from your Darwin accommodation between 6:45am and 7:00am. Head towards Kakadu, stopping along the way for a morning cruise on Corroboree Billabong.

Watch for saltwater crocodiles along the banks and birds amongst the water lilies as your cruise guide introduces you to the wildlife of these wetlands.

Continue along the old Jim Jim Road, pausing at White Lily Billabong before heading deeper into Kakadu National Park.

At Maguk, follow a scenic one-kilometre walking track along Barramundi Creek to a waterfall and its inviting plunge pool. Enjoy time swimming and snorkelling, looking for freshwater fish beneath the surface.

Later, make the short climb to Nawurlandja Lookout for views across Anbangbang Billabong to Nourlangie Rock and the Arnhem Land escarpment.

Finish the day in Jabiru, settling into your bush bungalow at Anbinik Kakadu Resort before dinner.

Day 2

Arnhem Land Rock Art & Cobourg Peninsula

After breakfast, travel north through Kakadu and cross the East Alligator River at Cahills Crossing into Arnhem Land. Follow the road towards Gunbalanya, with wetlands, water lilies and the Arnhem Land escarpment lining the drive.

Visit Injalak Arts, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet local artists and see their paintings, weavings and carvings. Then join a local Aboriginal guide to explore Injalak Hill’s extraordinary rock art galleries. Hear the stories behind the paintings and learn about the deep connections between people, culture and Country.

Continue towards the Cobourg Peninsula in Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. The three-to-four-hour drive takes you through remote bushland, with creek crossings and stops along the way.

Arrive at Cobourg Coastal Camp, your base for the next three nights. Perched above Port Essington, the camp combines comfortable safari tents with sweeping coastal views. Meet your camp hosts, settle in and enjoy sunset nibbles before dinner.

Day 3

Cobourg Marine Park, Victoria Settlement & Fishing

Enjoy a cooked breakfast at camp before heading out by boat to explore Cobourg Marine Park. Cruise through the sheltered waters of Port Essington, watching for turtles, dolphins and manta rays along the way.

Step ashore at Victoria Settlement, a remote British military outpost occupied between 1838 and 1849. Explore the weathered stone ruins with your guide and hear the stories of this short-lived settlement, established long before Darwin.

Cruise back towards camp, keeping an eye out for marine wildlife and stopping to drop a line in Port Essington.

This afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Wander the remote beach, explore the shoreline or settle into a hammock overlooking the water.

As evening falls, gather for a freshly prepared seafood dinner and another relaxed night at Cobourg Coastal Camp.

Day 4

Cobourg’s Coast, Rock Pools & Mud Crabbing

Today, explore the eastern side of the Cobourg Peninsula by 4WD. Follow the coast road through paperbark wetlands and bushland, where freshwater billabongs sit surprisingly close to the sea.

Make your way to Shell Beach, a nesting place for turtles and home to an extraordinary variety of shells. At low tide, explore the rock pools and exposed coral reefs, looking for the marine creatures left behind by the retreating water.

After lunch, try your hand at hunting for mud crabs using traditional Aboriginal methods. Learn what to look for and how these prized local delicacies are gathered before having a go yourself.

Later, visit the park’s Cultural and Information Centre to learn more about the peninsula’s cultural and natural history.

Return to Cobourg Coastal Camp for your final evening overlooking Port Essington. Enjoy dinner and time to unwind before tomorrow’s flight to Mount Borradaile.

Day 5

Fly to Mount Borradaile

After breakfast, farewell your Cobourg hosts and transfer to the airstrip for your 7:45am charter flight to Mount Borradaile.

Set against the Arnhem Land escarpment, Davidsons Arnhem Land Safaris will be your base for the next two nights. Settle into your deluxe cabin, then meet the lodge team to plan your activities. From guided rock art walks to creek cruises, fishing and birdwatching, there’s plenty to explore.

This afternoon, you may visit Mount Borradaile’s renowned Rainbow Serpent rock art site. A spectacular six-metre painting stretches across the shelter, surrounded by layers of artwork recording generations of stories and knowledge.

Spend time with your guide exploring the gallery and hearing about the significance of the paintings and the landscape around you.

Return to the lodge to relax on the deck or beside the pool before dinner.

Day 6

Mount Borradaile Rock Art & Sunset Cruise

Set out with the Davidsons team for a full day exploring Mount Borradaile. Travel by open-air 4WD through woodland and floodplains to the sandstone shelters of Major Art.

These extensive galleries hold layers of paintings spanning thousands of years. Alongside ancestral figures and hand stencils, look for depictions of Macassan boats and buffalo hunters’ rifles, recording encounters with visitors to Arnhem Land.

Explore with your guide, hearing the stories behind the artwork and learning about the people who have lived in this landscape for generations.

Return to the lodge for lunch and time to relax before heading to Cooper Creek Billabong for an afternoon cruise.

Watch for saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, along with brolgas, magpie geese and jacanas picking their way across the floating vegetation. With your guide helping you spot wildlife, settle into the quiet rhythm of the wetlands.

Enjoy sunset drinks as the light changes over Mount Borradaile, then return to the lodge for dinner and your final night in Arnhem Land.

Day 7

Mount Borradaile to Darwin

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before farewelling your hosts at Davidsons Arnhem Land Safaris. Transfer to the airstrip for your charter flight back to Darwin, taking in a final view of Arnhem Land from the air.

Arrive in Darwin at approximately 9:30am, bringing your seven-day safari to a close after a week of ancient rock art, remote coastlines and remarkable wildlife.