Home > Tours > Australia Tours > East Arnhem Land Adventure

East Arnhem Land Adventure

No Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Travel Advisor
Sold Out
 Trip Length
6 Days
 Trip Starts
Gove
 Trip Finishes
Gove
6 Day East Arnhem Land Adventure Itinerary (Intrepid)
Countries Explored: Australia
Trip Style
Original
Budget
Affordable
Max. Group Size
12
Pace
Leisurely
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
PLSA

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Intrepid's 6 Day East Arnhem Land Adventure. In the farthest reaches of remote Northern Australia lies East Arnhem Land. This vast and rugged wilderness is where the Yolngu people have lived for millennia. Today you’ll still find clans fishing, sailing and enjoying the homeland of their ancestors. Discover this beautiful stretch of traditional land in the Bawaka Homeland, and learn how to hunt and gather, paint, weave, and hear stories of the area and history of the region, all under the guidance of Yolngu leaders. Then depart the mainland for nearby Dhambaliya...read more (Bremer Island) and feel like castaways marooned on this spectacular oasis, devoid of human development and interference. Don’t pass up this unique opportunity to witness the close cultural connection between the land and The First Peoples of Australia, the oldest civilization on Earth.

Itinerary

Welcome to your East Arnhem Land adventure. After you land at Gove airport, you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to your accommodation in the town of Nhulunbuy. Take some time to relax before a Welcome Meeting at 6:30 pm this evening, where you’ll meet your fellow travellers and your guide will provide an overview of the upcoming days. The rest of the evening is free – maybe get your new friends together for a first group dinner in the hotel, or in one of the restaurants here in Nhulunbuy.

After breakfast this morning head for the community of Yirrkala for a visit to its world-famous art gallery. The Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre presents artworks created by men and women of the many Aboriginal groups in the area, with paintings, sculptures, wood crafts, and cross-hatching techniques on display. You can also see bark petitions which symbolise the beginning of the Indigenous Lands Rights movement. There is also an opportunity to learn about how this establishment serves as a learning centre for the local children of the surrounding communities, and only if you wish, to purchase unique artwork from the gallery. Afterwards head south to the eastern edge of East Arnhem Land and Bawaka Homeland, which looks out into the Gulf of Carpentaria. Enjoy a packed lunch at Lonely Beach. Then you’ll be greeted with a traditional smoking ceremony Welcome to Country and general orientation to the homeland. A family elder will lead a Yolngu cultural class, sharing and telling the story of the homeland. Over the next two days, enjoy cultural activities with the Bawaka traditional owners. At the end of each day, sit with the traditional owners around the fire and make the most of this unique opportunity to learn about their culture, to hear the songs, music and stories of the land. (B/L/D)

Today is a full day for you to enjoy the area and a variety of Bawaka cultural activities. These could include making spears and Yidaki (Didgeridoos) for men, collecting materials and dyes for weaving, or creating necklaces and other jewellery from locally gathered shells and seeds. There will also be an opportunity to witness the hunting and gathering methods that have fed the Yolngu for generations, and to try some of the food that has been caught or collected, like mud crabs or bush honey. You might also learn about bush medicine, the Yolngu kinship system and language, and how the Yolngu people lived on their traditional lands. In the evening sit around the fire for more story telling. (B/L/D)

Make the most of your last morning here in Bawaka with any cultural activities you haven’t had the chance to participate in yet. Then it’s time to say farewell to your Yolngu hosts and make your way to the Nhulunbuy jetty. From here you’ll jump in a speedboat for the trip across to Dhambaliya (Bremer Island) (approximately 1 hour). You’ll be staying in an eco-sensitive beach retreat built in partnership with the Yolgnu people at the northern tip of the island. This is glamping right next to world-class beaches in rooms that overlook the sand, with decks from which to watch the sun disappear behind the ocean and a pool overlooking the Arafura Sea. The day is free for a number of activities or simply relaxing. Perhaps set out on one of the many walking trails through the dunes and along untouched beaches, or you may even have the privilege of seeing turtles nesting if the time of year is right. Of the six species in the world, four of these lay their eggs right here. If this is sounding too active to you, then just sit back, relax, and experience the remote solitude and a chance to recharge, or take advantage of the library available with an array of Arnhem Land and Macassan history books available. (B/L/D)

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at this calm waterside retreat and relax some more this morning. Alternatively use the cool part of the morning for some more bush walking. There are four marked walking trails on Bremer Island ranging from one kilometre to five kilometres in length. The trails take you through sand dunes and along the untouched beaches of the island. There are several view points along the trails showcasing spectacular views of the Arafura Sea and Gulf of Carpentaria. In the early afternoon catch a boat back to the mainland. Check back into your accommodation in Nhulunbuy and enjoy dinner together with the group. Then it’s time to meet up with your guides again and share stories of your stay at Bawaka and Bremer Island. (B/L/D)

After a final breakfast at your lodge, your adventure comes to an end. Transfer to Gove airport for your farewell to East Arnhem Land and your outbound flight. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Join us for a privileged adventure to East Arnhem Land. Be welcomed to Country by the Yolngu people and learn about their traditional methods of living, from hunting and gathering, to painting and weaving.
  • Learn about gender roles and responsibilities, kinship and moiety, stories about the area and the history of the region.
  • Sit around the campfire with East Arnhem Land’s Traditional Owners and listen to the stories and songs of their people.
  • Travel to remote Dhambaliya (Bremer Island) and enjoy time to relax and soak up the remoteness of this beautiful oasis.
  • Visit the Yirrkala community and its world-famous art gallery featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork.

  • Hotel (2 nights)
  • Multi-share bunkhouse (2 nights)
  • Beach bungalow (1 night)

  • 5 Breakfasts included
  • 4 Lunches included
  • 4 Dinners included

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Play Youtube Video

Brochure

Australia & New Zealand

Intrepid Australia & New Zealand (2022-24)

Explore Intrepid's Australia and New Zealand brochure, your gateway to antipodean adventures. From Australia's rugged outback and iconic coasts to New Zealand's majestic landscapes and Maori traditions, our curated journeys promise authentic experiences in these spellbinding lands. Delve into the heart of Oceania with Intrepid's expertly crafted it...moreineraries.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Intrepid. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

Similar Tours

7 Day Premium Tasmania (Intrepid)

7 Days Launceston Hobart

Operated By: Intrepid

From 4,138
Save 556
7 Day Trek the Larapinta Trail (Intrepid)

7 Days Alice Springs Alice Springs

Operated By: Intrepid

From 2,939
Save 360
7 Day Hike the Great Ocean Walk (Intrepid)

7 Days Melbourne Melbourne

Operated By: Intrepid

From 2,904
Save 365
7 Day Walk South Australia's Flinders Ranges (Intrepid)

7 Days Adelaide Adelaide

Operated By: Intrepid

From 3,563
Save 436