Kakadu & Tiwi Islands Explorer

Depart Darwin and travel along the Arnhem Highway, their major river systems and wetlands, into Kakadu National Park. Located 257 kilometres east of Darwin, this national park covers 20,000 square kilometres of landscape from rocky escarpment home to historic Aboriginal rock art dating thousands of years, to floodplains abundant with wildlife. Visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre to view the informative displays depicting the traditions of the Aboriginal people in Kakadu. Join your local guide on a cruise of Yellow Water Billabong. Search for saltwater crocodiles and the colourful range of birdlife for which this region is renowned. After lunch, stop at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie), where your Driver Guide will lead you on a walk to view the rock art galleries. There is the opportunity for an optional 50-minute scenic flight (own expense).

This morning join your Driver Guide to explore the World Heritage Area of Ubirr, where you’ll climb up through the ancient Aboriginal rock art galleries, believed to be 20,000 years old, to the lookout for a view over the surrounding wetlands. Join the Guluyambi Cruise on the East Alligator River. An Aboriginal guide will provide an insight into their culture, including local mythology, the river’s abundant food chain, as well as bush survival skills. With special permission of the local people, you are able to go ashore in Arnhem Land. Visit the Marrawuddi Art Gallery before returning to Darwin.

A highly personalised cultural experience, ‘Tiwi By Design’ is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the busy day of one of the oldest and most artistically diverse art centres in Australia. After disembarking from the ferry in the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island, meet your guide who will escort you to the Tiwi Design Art Centre, one of the oldest and most artistically diverse art centres in Australia. You’ll get to participate in an exclusive behind-the-scenes screen printing workshop. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs to print onto a take-home t-shirt, tea towel or fabric – a wonderful souvenir of your Tiwi visit.There's some free time to browse the carvings, paintings and fabric, your best opportunity to purchase authentic Tiwi pieces at Island prices.  This is a leisurely day of absorbing the workings of a busy Indigenous art centre – you may see art pieces destined for international exhibitions, talk to artists who are carving or painting, and sometimes the ladies will be there weaving and chatting. It is always loud and busy with Tiwi people coming and going, and Ngarukuruwala music playing on repeat. Take the time to connect, share where you’re from and which footy team you support, ask about the stories you see on the paintings, or ask the artists to show you their work.  Relax and reflect on your day on your return to Cullen Bay on the air-conditioned SeaLink high-speed catamarans (approx. 2.5hours)