ARNHEM LAND ROCK ART & THE REMOTE NORTH

This afternoon, we embark the MS Caledonian Sky in Darwin. Meet your fellow guests and Tour Hosts this evening over cocktails and a Welcome Dinner.

After making the short passage across Beagle Gulf, we arrive on Bathurst Island. Dividing into two smaller groups, we alternate between the day’s activities. Spend time among the local Nguiu community and gain an appreciation for their traditional crafts, which include weaving and painting. The Patakijiyali Museum then offers further glimpses into Tiwi Dreamtime stories, while totem dances and a smoking ceremony bring us further understanding of the Indigenous people of this land. As our next group acquaints themselves with the traditions of the Nguiu people, the remainder of our party embarks a helicopter to soar over the white sandy beaches and pristine waters of the Tiwi Islands.

Arranged into smaller groups once more, we alternate between today’s two main activities. Our first group take Zodiacs to the shore, then climb aboard small aircraft at a remote airstrip bound for Mt Borradaile. Heading out from Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safari Lodge, a short walk then brings us to the area’s best-known site, the Rainbow Serpent, an incredible example of Indigenous rock art. While here, our guide points out some of the area’s hearty bush tucker.

Our second group ventures even further north, to the very tip of the Northern Territory at Port Essington. At Victoria Settlement, on the Cobourg Peninsula, we see the remnants of one of the territory’s first non-Indigenous outposts. The settlement was located in what is now known as Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, a remote region boasting white sandy beaches and fiery red cliffs. Here we have the chance to fish for the iconic barramundi, with our catch then expertly cooked for our dinner.

Today, our two groups swap places, joining the experience they missed out on yesterday. Embark your small aircraft for Mt Borradaile and see ancient Indigenous rock art or cruise to the untouched beaches along the coast of the Cobourg Peninsula, arriving in Victoria Settlement and Garig Gunak Barlu National Park.

Relax on board and anticipate the adventures to come, while we continue cruising east. Join our Expedition Team and board Zodiacs to navigate the Gulgari Rip. Otherwise known as The Hole in the Wall, the rip is a straight and narrow passage of water which lies between Guluwuru and Raragala Islands. As we cruise along, we’re offered spectacular views of rock walls and native vegetation either side of the rip.

Arriving on the Gove Peninsula, we are welcomed to Nhulunbuy with a smoking ceremony and a traditional dance performance by the indigenous Rirratjingu people. Here, we are also given the opportunity to learn the skills of traditional weaving and damper making. A yidaki (didgeridoo) masterclass is also available for male guests.

Our ship brings us to nearby Groote Eylandt today. We explore the island, which is rarely visited and difficult to access, and is home to the Anindilyakwa people. Here we find some of the most striking examples of Indigenous rock art in the world, while pristine waterfalls and unspoiled bush also prove bountiful in this remote part of Australia. 

Relax during a day at sea today as we cross the Gulf of Carpentaria on our way to Thursday Island. Learn more about the adventures to come during an onboard lecture. You may also like to enjoy a drink in the Panorama Lounge or head out to the Sun Deck for exceptional coastal views as we approach Queensland’s shores.