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Trip Style
Luxury Short Break
Accommodation
Lodges
Max. Group Size
20
Guide Level
Locally Guided
Trip Code
CWE
Overview
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Outback Spirit's 7 Day Christmas Wilderness Escape. Situated on the rugged and remote Cobourg Peninsula, Seven Spirit Bay is one of Australia’s most iconic luxury lodges. Following an exquisite transformation, Seven Spirit Bay now blends true 5-star luxury with extraordinary adventures. Stunning ‘Habitat’ villas offer absolute comfort and seclusion and immerse guests in the pristine environment of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park.
On the lodge’s doorstep is a marine wonderland like no other. Dolphins, whales, dugong, manta rays and crocodiles...read more can be encountered on a myriad of marine adventures, and an abundance of fish makes for memorable angling adventures.
On the lodge’s doorstep is a marine wonderland like no other. Dolphins, whales, dugong, manta rays and crocodiles...read more can be encountered on a myriad of marine adventures, and an abundance of fish makes for memorable angling adventures.
Itinerary
Upon arriving in Darwin you'll be greeted by your host and transferred to Outback Spirit's general aviation terminal. If you're already in Darwin, enjoy a complimentary transfer from any local hotel.
This afternoon we take to the sky for a 45-minute scenic flight across Van Diemen Gulf. Once we reach the stunning Cobourg Peninsula, we'll land at Vashon Head – the second most northerly point on the Australian mainland and home to Seven Spirit Bay's airstrip. Upon landing enjoy a friendly meet and greet with the crew before taking a 20-minute 4WD trip to the lodge. Here you'll enjoy a brief familiarisation of the lodge and surrounds before checking in to your unique and luxurious ‘habitat' villa. Set in natural bushland overlooking the waters of Coral Bay, your villa features air-conditioning, premium furnishings and a covered private deck with delightful sea breezes.
Later this afternoon we'll meet again for sunset drinks before indulging in exceptional, innovative cuisine with a focus on local flavours and produce. Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (D)
This afternoon we take to the sky for a 45-minute scenic flight across Van Diemen Gulf. Once we reach the stunning Cobourg Peninsula, we'll land at Vashon Head – the second most northerly point on the Australian mainland and home to Seven Spirit Bay's airstrip. Upon landing enjoy a friendly meet and greet with the crew before taking a 20-minute 4WD trip to the lodge. Here you'll enjoy a brief familiarisation of the lodge and surrounds before checking in to your unique and luxurious ‘habitat' villa. Set in natural bushland overlooking the waters of Coral Bay, your villa features air-conditioning, premium furnishings and a covered private deck with delightful sea breezes.
Later this afternoon we'll meet again for sunset drinks before indulging in exceptional, innovative cuisine with a focus on local flavours and produce. Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (D)
Over the next 3 days, we invite you to do as much or as little as you desire. Each day the management team will discuss the range of activities available to you. You can participate in any activities you choose, as many times as you like. Most activities are half or three quarters of a day in duration, which allows for a bit of relaxation time around the resort from mid-afternoon.
The activities on offer include:
The activities on offer include:
- Marine wildlife spotting cruises in Coral and Trepang Bays aboard our custom-built adventure craft, MV Arafura
- Half day Barramundi fishing adventures in Trepang Creek
- Half day blue water fishing adventure in the Cobourg Marine Park Sanctuary
- 4WD wilderness adventures to Rainbow Beach, Gunners Quoin, Vashon Head and the magnificent Nipa Palms. The Nipa only grows in three locations in Australia, with Trepang Creek being one of them.
- Nature walks and bird watching.
- Mud crabbing in the mangrove estuaries. Muddies are active crabs usually found in shallow salty waters near mangrove swamps, favouring the soft muddy bottom.
Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (B/L/D)
Enjoy a leisurely morning before a special Christmas breakfast on the deck overlooking Coral Bay. You can then spend the morning at your leisure or head off on a behind the scenes tour of the lodge to learn about how we operate in such a remote area. At midday, we get together again for a celebratory Christmas Day lunch, featuring delicious freshly caught seafood and traditional fare prepared by our in-house chefs. Enjoy some festive cheer with your travelling companions as you lap up a truly memorable Christmas. Best of all, there's no washing up! Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (B/L/D)
This morning we cruise down Port Essington and retrace the course of the early mariners' square riggers, passing landmarks such as Gunners Quoin, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff and Record Point en route to Victoria Settlement. Established in 1838, Victoria Settlement was the third attempt by the British at a northern settlement, after Fort Dundas on Melville Island and Fort Wellington at Raffles Bay. Conceived to facilitate trade with Asia, the settlement consisted of 24 houses and a hospital, which certainly saw its fair share of patients due to rampant disease and malnutrition.
After we've disembarked on the beach, we'll take a fascinating 3-hour tour of the Settlement and learn about what life was like in this remote and unforgiving outpost. There's an optional extension to the walk which leads to lonely gravestones in the forest, almost forgotten by history. After some refreshments on the beach, we'll hop back aboard MV Arafura and make our way back to the lodge for lunch.
This afternoon there'll be a range of activities on offer. Alternatively, you can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (B/L/D)
After we've disembarked on the beach, we'll take a fascinating 3-hour tour of the Settlement and learn about what life was like in this remote and unforgiving outpost. There's an optional extension to the walk which leads to lonely gravestones in the forest, almost forgotten by history. After some refreshments on the beach, we'll hop back aboard MV Arafura and make our way back to the lodge for lunch.
This afternoon there'll be a range of activities on offer. Alternatively, you can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Stay: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (B/L/D)
This morning we bid farewell to Seven Spirit Bay and travel back to Vashon Head for our 45-minute scenic flight back to Darwin. We arrive back into Darwin late morning in time to connect with flights back to most capital cities. If you've chosen to stay on for a few more days, you'll be dropped at the hotel of your choice. Bon voyage! (B)
Trip Inclusions
Moments of Magic
- Seven Spirit Bay - Enjoy unique, 5-star ocean view accommodation in a pristine natural setting.
- Cobourg Marine Park - Explore the beautiful turquoise waters of Cobourg Marine Park.
- 4WD Safari - Enjoy 4WD Wildlife Safari's to Rainbow Beach, Vashon Head and Trepang Creek.
- Seven Spirit Bay Boats - Enjoy blue-water and estuary fishing aboard the lodges advanced fleet of expedition boats.
- Explore Victoria Settlement, Circa 1838 - Take a fascinating journey back to 1838 on an historical tour of Victoria Settlement, Port Essington. Explore the old buildings while learning about the harsh living conditions experienced during early British occupation.
Tour Highlights
- Celebrate Christmas over 6 nights on the pristine Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land and stay in luxury appointed chalets
- Enjoy a celebratory Christmas Day lunch, featuring luscious seafood and traditional fare
- Experience a scenic flight across Van Diemen Gulf to Vashon Head
- Discover the Arafura Sea aboard one of the lodge's fully equipped purpose-built vessels
- Take a marine and wildlife spotting cruise in Coral & Trepang Bays
- Visit historic Victoria Settlement, established in 1838 at Port Essington
- Enjoy nature walks and explore the World Heritage Listed habitat
- Take a half-day fishing tour, angling for barramundi, spanish mackerel, golden trevally and coral trout
- Head off on a 4WD wilderness tour of Trepang Creek and Nipa Palms
- Exclusive resort guests – small group size
- 6 nights of luxury 'Habitat' Villa accommodation with private ensuite
- All meals, including all breakfasts, lunches and dinners prepared by our talented in-house chef
- All attraction, entry and cruise fees including permit fees to enter Aboriginal land
- Full range of adventures and activities at Seven Spirit Bay
- Custom built expedition boats with professional fishing guides
- Return air transfers Darwin – Seven Spirit Bay aboard modern Cessna Grand Caravan EX, with leather seating, air-conditioning and advanced avionics
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change
- Prices are for land tour only, flights not included unless specified
Luxury Short Breaks
Situated on the rugged and remote Cobourg Peninsula, Seven Spirit Bay is one of Australia’s most iconic luxury lodges. Read more
Short Break Highlights
Seven Spirit Bay now blends true 5-star luxury with extraordinary adventures and a marine wonderland like no other. Read more
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 Outback Spirit. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Outback Spirit. 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.
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 Outback Spirit. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Outback Spirit. 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.
