Home Blog Northern Territory: Darwin to Arnhem Land Road Trip

13 November 2022

Northern Territory: Darwin to Arnhem Land Road Trip

Day One
Begin:  Darwin
Experience: Litchfield Tour
Explore the spectacular Litchfield National Park with Northern Territory Indigenous Tours. Learn the stories and history of the region with your charismatic Aboriginal guide as you witness the stunning scenery. Witness spiritual and culturally significant waterfalls, visit an ancient rainforest and see beautiful woodland as you learn the importance of each area. Enjoy delicious wild-caught barramundi, crocodile and kangaroo for lunch before diving into refreshing natural pools to cool down.
Stay: Darwin

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Day Two
Leg:
Darwin to Cullen Bay
Drive:
3.4 km, approx. 6 minutes to Cullen Bay
Experience:  Tiwi by Design Day Tour
Immerse yourself in a full day of culture and community with Sealink Northern Territory’s Tiwi by Design Day Tour. Meet your Tiwi guide in the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island and make your way to the Tiwi Design Art Centre. Here, local artists and dancers will perform a traditional Welcome to Country with a smoking ceremony and totem dances. Yarn with some of the Tiwi Island community members as you enjoy morning tea, then take a walking tour with your cultural guide as you gaze at the sites of local painted buildings and the historic mission precinct. Browse the stunning pieces available in the art centre and learn about the Tiwi Creation Story, portrayed through a beautiful mural. Rest in the shade while eating lunch before joining an exclusive screen printing workshop where you will create your own masterpiece to take home.
Stay: Cullen Bay

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Day Three
Leg one: Cullen Bay to Beatrice Hill
Drive:
56.2 km, approx. 50 minutes to Beatrice Hill
Experience:  Two Hour Aboriginal Cultural Experience
Enjoy a two hour Aboriginal Cultural Experience with Traditional Custodians on Limilngan-Wulna Land. Join Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours by a picturesque billabong as you learn the culture and practices of this land. Try your hand at basket weaving and dilly bag making using traditional techniques. Learn the practice of spear throwing and discover the significance of song to Aboriginal cultures as you try to play clapsticks or the didgeridoo. Learn about bush foods of the local area and identify important bush medicines before enjoying traditional damper with hot and cold refreshments overlooking the stunning landscape.
Leg two:  Beatrice Hill to Katherine
Drive: 298 km, approx. 3 hours to Katherine
Stay: Katherine

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Day Four
Experience: Aboriginal Cultural Experience
Join Aboriginal artist Manuel Pamkal as you learn about painting techniques, traditional weapons and how to live off the land with Top Didj. Begin your experience with a cultural talk and learn about Manuel’s life, from growing up in the bush to navigating cultural differences and winning the Tourism NT Brolga award. Hear a traditional welcome played on the didgeridoo before practicing some of Manuel’s painting techniques to create your own artwork. Practice the ancient craft of lighting a fire as you listen to the story of the two sticks, then try your hand at learning to use a spear and woomera. Browse the Aboriginal Art Gallery at the end of your experience or take time to interact with the joeys and wallabies who often come to visit the area.
Leg:  Lansdowne (near Katherine) to Beswick
Drive: 118 km, approx. 1 hour 20 minutes
Stay: Djakanimba Pavilions, Beswick

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Day Five

Experience:  Beswick Falls Cultural Tour
Spend your evening at the award-winning Djakanimba Pavilions and awake to enjoy an exclusive full day tour of Djilpin Arts. Start your day with a quiet coffee on the verandah and browse the magnificent museum collection, curated by the late elder David Blanasi. Head to the incredible Beswick Falls, following the 4WD track along the Waterhouse River, passing a billabong with plentiful wildlife along the way. Walk down a sandy track and spend the afternoon walking, swimming or fishing amidst the falls as you listen to ancient stories shared by your local guides. When you arrive back at the Djilpin Arts centre, enjoy bush lemon grass tea and take more time to browse the gallery and support local artists at the incredible store.

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Leg: Beswick Falls to Mainoru Outstation
Drive:
138 km – 1 hour 30 minutes
Experience: Stop in at the Mainoru store to rest and recharge. Browse the Mainoru retail store or take a break from the heat in one of the swimming holes. Wander through the bush to the Mainoru River to see the native wildlife and spot freshwater crocodiles before enjoying the scenery from the viewing deck.
Stay: Mainoru Outstation

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Day Six
Leg:  Mainoru Outstation to Nhulunbuy
Drive:479 km, approx. 5 hours 17 minutes
Experience: If you have the time while visiting Nhulunbuy, the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre is a must see destination. Take the time to stop in at this community controlled art centre to view beautiful artworks by local Yolŋu artists.
Stay: Nhulunbuy

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Day Seven

Experience: Gove Gululu Day Tour
Gululu – “Welcome to Our Country”. Explore stunning and culturally significant coastal locations in the East Arnhem Region with Lirrwi Tourism. Join your local Yolgnu guide and visit magnificient Daliwoi Bay, dotted with mangroves and beautiful expanses of sand. Next, take in the sites of significant art sites along the rich red rocks of beautiful Macassan Beach before continuing to Turtle Beach to take in the stunning scenery of crystal blue waters and white sandy beach. Throughout the day, take the opportunity to sit and listen to the stories of the region from your knowledgeable guide and enjoy a picnic lunch or maybe even freshly caught seafood.
Stay: Nhulunbuy

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