Arnhem Land

ARNHEM LAND 26 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 2021 - SOLD OUT
31 AUGUST - 12 SEPTEMBER 2021- SOLD OUT
ARNHEM LAND 26 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 2021 - SOLD OUT
31 AUGUST - 12 SEPTEMBER 2021- SOLD OUT
ARNHEM LAND 26 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 2021 - SOLD OUT
31 AUGUST - 12 SEPTEMBER 2021- SOLD OUT
ARNHEM LAND 26 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 2021 - SOLD OUT
31 AUGUST - 12 SEPTEMBER 2021- SOLD OUT
Tour Summary

Our Small Group Tours and Conferences to Arnhem Land at the end of August 2021 see us traveling to one of the most spectacular and remote destinations in the world and provide you with the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world’s oldest surviving culture.

With a group size guaranteed to not exceed 20 people – this is truly a small group tour the likes of which we’ve built our reputation on.

As with Amaco’s offshore tours and conferences, your 13-day itinerary will blend our accredited medical and pharma education seamlessly with a range of authentic cultural activities hosted by our specially selected Indigenous guides.

Why Travel With Amaco Small Group Tours?

  • All Inclusive Travel Packages
  • Small Groups
  • Hand-picked Tours & Activities
  • 25+ Years Experience

Got a Question?

Do not hesitate to give us a call. One of our expert team is available and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

1300 668 149 or +61 3 9545 0906

info@amacotravel.com.au

Enjoy a ‘Welcome to Country‘ performance in Nhulunbuy as well as visits to award-winning art centres and a specially organised bush medicine demonstration

Discover the vast and sacred Arafura Swamp by boat and 4-wheel drive as well as exquisite rock art at Mt Borradaile and the nearby ancient ‘catacombs’.

Explore the rugged Cobourg Peninsula by open back 4WD safari and take a half-day Barramundi fishing adventure on the Liverpool River while at the same time exploring the pristine waters of the Cobourg Marine Sanctuary. 

Along the way you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the ruins of historic Victoria Settlement at Port Eddington – dating back to 1838.

While you might be ‘off the beaten track’ – you certainly won’t be slumming it when it comes to accommodation and transportation.

Included in your 12 nights accommodation are stays at exclusive luxury wilderness lodges including Murwangi Safari Camp, Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge, and the iconic Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge.

We’ve also included 2 nights at Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris property Mount Borradaile – itself recognised as one of the most unique lodges in Australia.

A rugged destination requires a sufficiently rugged mode of transportation and we’ve got this covered as well. by using the purpose-built 5-star Mercedes Benz 4WD coach, there won’t be a river, swamp, or track that we can’t access.

Inside, the air-conditioned vehicle, each guest will be allocated their own reclining seat… with business-class style legroom while the USB charging points at each seat and satellite communication will mean you’re never out of contact with loved ones at home.

In these COVID times, we understand the concerns of our participants and have carefully selected operators who we know will be able to maintain the high standard we expect of them.

Uncompromising cleaning and hygiene practices are already a feature of every Amaco tour and this hasn’t changed. If anything, we’re more fastidious now and ensure that additional cleaning, sanitising, and hygiene practices have been implemented in all areas with particular emphasis on high touch points and hard surfaces.

All coaches, vessels, planes, vehicles, and lodges we will be using are fully equipped with all that you will need. Hand sanitising stations will be available in all public areas and personal hygiene kits will also be provided where appropriate.

We certainly hope that you can join us as we travel through Arnhem Land in August 2021.

Remember… this tour is limited to 20 people. Places will be allocated in the order that completed registration forms and deposits are received

Destination

Northern Territory

Duration

13 Days / 12 Nights

Value For Money

All Inclusive Tour Package

Booking Info

Start Date & Time

26th August 2021 @ 6:00pm – SOLD OUT

31st August 2021 @ 6:00pm – SOLD OUT

End Date & Time

7th September 2021 @ 9:00am

12th September 2021 @ 9:00am

Start & End Location

Starts: Nhulunbuy (Gove), Northern Territory

Ends: Darwin, Northern Territory

Starts: Nhulunbuy (Gove), Northern Territory

Ends: Darwin, Northern Territory

Registration Fees

Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp

Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp

Travel Packages

Amaco Family Price: $14,495 pp
(For previous Amaco Conference Participants)

Early Bird Price: $14,995 pp
(If booked on or before 31 December 2020)

Standard Price: $15,495 pp
(If booked on or after 01 January 2021)

Arnhem Land Single Supplement (if traveling alone): On Application

Amaco Family Price: $14,495 pp
(For previous Amaco Conference Participants)

Early Bird Price: $14,995 pp
(If booked on or before 31 December 2020)

Standard Price: $15,495 pp
(If booked on or after 01 January 2021)

Arnhem Land Single Supplement (if traveling alone): On Application

Inclusions

Price Includes

  • 2 x nights accommodation at Walkabout Lodge
  • 2 x nights accommodation at Murwangi Safari Lodge
  • 2 x nights accommodation at Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge
  • 2 x nights accommodation at Mount Borradaile
  • 3 x nights accommodation at Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge
  • 1 x night accommodation at Doubletree by Hilton Darwin
  • 12 x Breakfasts, 11 x Lunches, 12 x Dinners
  • Travel aboard a 5-star 4WD Mercedes Benz Coach
  • Nhulunbuy Town Tour
  • Gove Peninsula Tour
  • Arafura Swamp and Murwangi Disovery Tour
  • Bula'bula Art Centre Tour
  • Liverpool and Tomkins River Fishing Adventure
  • Maningride Arts & Cultural Centre Tour
  • Mount Borradaile Guided Rock Art Walk
  • 4x4 Exploration Drive
  • Cooper Creek Wetlands Tour
  • Port Essington Marine Sightseeing Tour
  • Trepang Bay Marine & 4x4 Adventure
  • Scenic Flight across Van Diemen Gulf

Gold Amaco Standard

  • Small Group Size (not exceeding 22 people)
  • Services of specialist, experienced and professional guide/driver
  • All applicable entrance fees, taxes and porterage
  • Amaco staff escort
  • Hassle free luggage management
  • Tips to guides and drivers

Price Excludes

  • Airfares to and from the conference
  • Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, mini bar, room service, laundry and business communications
  • Beverages with meals
  • Travel, optional tours & excursions not included in the itinerary
  • Travel Insurance
Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Arnhem Land

Upon your arrival in Nhulunbuy today you’ll be met by your professional Tour Director. This afternoon we’ll explore this frontier village, created in the 1960’s after the discovery of Bauxite on the Gove Peninsula.

Visit the Roy (Malpi) Marika Lookout for incredible views towards the coast, Gayngaru Wetlands, and Gove Harbour before settling in for a two-night stay at the Walkabout Lodge.

Overnight: Walkabout Lodge

Included Meals: Welcome Networking Dinner

Day 2Exploring the Gove Peninsula

The Gove Peninsula has been home to Yolngu people for over 60,000 years and is one of the most culturally significant regions in Australia.  You’ll get a true sense of this with a special ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony at Wirrwawuy Beach, where we’ll learn about Yolngu culture and kinship first hand. We then visit the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka art centre, which boasts many renowned Aboriginal artists whose work can be found in galleries all over the world. Yirrkala is also where the Aboriginal Land Rights movement started, when the ‘bark petition’ was sent to the federal parliament in 1963.

From the art centre it’s a short drive to Shady Beach for lunch and a special Bush Medicine and Women’s Healing demonstration. Experience traditional healing ways and hear stories of how Yolngu live and heal on their land.

This afternoon we visit Macassan Beach for an interpretive walk and learn about the fascinating trade relations between the Yolngu and Macassans, who negotiated the right to fish for native Trepang in Australian waters. This trade relationship dates back to the 1400’s and lasted until the beginning of last century. We return to Nhulunbuy and the Walkabout Lodge late this afternoon

Overnight: Walkabout Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3Journey to Murwangi

Today our journey into the heart of Arnhem Land begins.

Departing Nhulunbuy we follow the Central Arnhem road southwest to the Goyder River, the main tributary flowing into the massive Arafura Swamp. Enjoy a picnic lunch before taking a track to the north, which follows an escarpment before descending on to the Arafura floodplains. This area is known as ‘Murwangi’, and is the home of our exclusive safari camp where we’ll be staying for the next two nights.

Check in to your deluxe safari suite before dinner in the lodge dining room

Overnight: Murwangi Safari Camp

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Arafura Swamp and Murwangi Discovery Tour

The Arafura Swamp is one of the largest wooded swamps in Australia and covers approximately 1,300 square kilometres. This incredibly diverse wetland can support up to 300,000 water birds at any one time, including Magpie Geese, Egrets, Black-necked Stork, and Brolgas. The swamp is of great cultural significance to Yolngu People & was also the location for the 2006 film ‘Ten Canoes’.

Today enjoy a tranquil cruise on the main lagoon, followed by a 4WD adventure around the edge of the swamp. For both activities, we’ll be accompanied by Indigenous guides who’ll explain why this spectacular area is so significant to them.

Conference Sessions 1 & 2 this afternoon.

Overnight: Murwangi Safari Camp

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Ramingining – Barramundi Lodge

This morning we farewell Murwangi and visit the Bula’bula Art Centre in Ramingining. Chat to local artists as they paint right in front of you. (Artwork can be purchased if desired). After morning tea, we head further west towards Maningrida, crossing the Blyth and Cadell rivers before arriving at the Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge.

Recognised as one of Australia’s premier fishing destinations, the lodge holds exclusive fishing licences for various waterways and coastal areas, including the Liverpool River. After a full redevelopment, the lodge now features 12 beautiful safari suites and a restaurant overlooking the Tomkinson River floodplains.

After lunch on the front deck, we’ll enjoy a familiarisation talk from the lodge’s marine manager.

Conference Sessions 3 & 4 will follow.

Overnight: Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Fishing Adventure & Cultural Tour

This morning we enjoy an exclusive fishing adventure on the Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers, pristine waterways teeming with barramundi. Our expert fishing guides will take you to where the fish are biting aboard our sturdy Ocean Master vessels, the pinnacle for remote marine adventures featuring an onboard restroom and shade canopy.

Today’s fishing adventure is also a wilderness tour, so even if fishing isn’t your thing you’ll still enjoy the amazing scenery and commentary. If you do land a ‘Barra’, be sure to take it back to the chef who’ll prepare your catch for dinner!

This afternoon we visit the Maningrida Arts and Cultural Centre, the Djomi Museum, and Babbarra Women’s Centre for an immersion in culture. It’s places like these that really bring home the cultural and spiritual richness of the area. Later this afternoon we’ll return to the lodge. Enjoy a sunset drink on the deck before dinner, and tell everyone about the one that got away! 

Overnight: Arnhem Land Marramundi Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7Maningrida to Mount Borradaile

Departing Maningrida after breakfast, our travels take us through the stone country of west Arnhem Land. Cross the Liverpool and Goomadeer Rivers before arriving at the turnoff to Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris, Mount Borradaile. From here we travel along a 40km bush track into the safari lodge, arriving in time for lunch. We’ll then check in to our cabins, our home for the next two nights.

This afternoon the highly trained staff at Mount Borradaile will take you through 40,000 years of Aboriginal culture in a truly awe-inspiring landscape. The area contains some of the most stunning rock art galleries in the world, and in terms of artistic quality, quantity, colour and state of preservation it is virtually unrivalled.

The walls of the many rock shelters are decorated with innumerable pictures documenting traditional Aboriginal life over many thousands of years. Subjects range from now-extinct animals to twentieth-century sailing ships and the iconic rainbow serpent. This afternoon we return to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight: Mount Borradaile

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Exploring Mount Borradaile

Today we jump into the open-back Toyota’s and continue exploring the wonderland that is Mount Borradaile. Visit the ancient ‘catacombs’, where the sandstone has been eroded by wind and water over 600 million years resulting in a massive cave system that is full of incredible Aboriginal Art. Learn about the variety of techniques used in rock paintings as the styles changed over thousands of years of occupation and storytelling. We’ll also view ancient occupation sites and a range of artefacts from when these areas were lived in.

After lunch, it’s time to explore the incredible wetlands of the Cooper Creek. Admire the prolific birdlife and massive crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks as you discover lagoons that seem more from a storybook than from real life. As the sun seeks the horizon and sets over the floodplain, enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles before returning to the lodge for our final night with Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris.

Overnight: Mount Borradaile

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9Cobourg Peninsula – Seven Spirit Bay

Departing Mount Borradaile early, we head north and venture into Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula.

Travel up the eastern side of Port Essington to Black Point, where we’ll meet the marine crew from Seven Spirit Bay and board the lodge’s custom made adventure craft for the short transfer across Port Essington.

Upon arriving at the lodge you’ll be allocated your room for the next three nights, a unique and luxurious ‘habitat’ overlooking Coral Bay. We meet again later this evening for dinner in the restaurant

Overnight: Four Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10Port Essington & The Historic Victoria Settlement

Today we enjoy a marine adventure down Port Essington aboard the lodge’s specially designed vessel ‘MV Arafura’. Designed by NAIAD in New Zealand and built in Australia, these amazing vessels are the ultimate marine sightseeing craft.

Departing Seven Spirit Bay, we retrace the course of the early mariner’s square riggers, passing landmarks like Gunners Quoin, Low Point, Turtle Rock, and Observation Cliff on our way to historic Victoria Settlement.  Surveyed 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. Disease was rampant and living conditions poor, leading to its abandonment in 1849.

Upon our arrival at Victoria Settlement, we’ll take an informative and fascinating tour of the old buildings and ruins, learning about life in the early British occupation. There’s an optional extension to the walk which leads to lonely gravestones in the forest, almost forgotten by history.

After a picnic lunch on the beach we’ll get on the water again and enjoy a leisurely cruise back to Seven Spirit Bay. The waters of the Cobourg Marine Park are alive, so keep your eye out for dolphins, dugong, manta rays and crocodiles. We return to Seven Spirit Bay early-afternoon.

Conference Session 5 & 6 will take place this afternoon.

Tonight, enjoy sunset drinks from the veranda before dinner in the restaurant.

Overnight: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11Trepang Bay Marine & 4WD adventure

The Cobourg Marine Park is teaming with barramundi, spanish mackerel, golden trevally, and coral trout to name just a few. After breakfast, we board the lodge’s state-of-the-art fishing vessels for an exclusive half-day fishing adventure to Trepang Bay. Featuring an onboard restroom, shade canopy, and comfortable seating, each boat takes only 6 people so everyone will have the chance to reel something in!

Seven Spirit Bay’s fishing guides are true professionals with intimate knowledge of the marine park. They’ll take you to the best fishing spots and share their knowledge of this stunning marine sanctuary en route to Trepang Bay. Once we enter the mouth of Trepang Creek, it’s time to land a Barramundi! Your guide will pick out the best spots to land this iconic Australian fish as we slowly meander upstream. The creek narrows and vegetation closes in as we approach our private landing. We then disembark and rendezvous with the lodge’s sous chef for a delicious BBQ bush lunch. If anyone’s caught a Barra, it won’t be long before it’s on our plates!

After lunch, we enjoy a 4WD safari to appreciate the wonders of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. First up is a visit to the stunning Nipa Palm gallery (Nypa Fruticans), one of only three locations in Australia where they can be found (the others are Melville Island and the Wenlock River in far north QLD). Next, we’ll explore the savannah lands of Vashon Head, spotting banteng and buffalo before a visit to Gunners Quoin. We return to the lodge late afternoon for our third and final evening at Seven Spirit Bay.

Overnight: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12Our Last Big Adventure

This morning you have the option of taking another fishing adventure, or heading off on a 4WD safari to Rainbow Beach. After lunch we’ll depart for the airstrip and board our Cessna Grand Caravan for the 45-minute scenic flight across Van Diemen Gulf.

Once in Darwin we’ll be transferred to the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, perfectly positioned along the Esplanade (harbour view rooms).

Tonight, enjoy dinner at the award winning ‘Char’ restaurant, the perfect place to celebrate and look back upon your adventure through Arnhem Land.

Overnight: Doubltree by Hilton Darwin

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13Farewell

Enjoy a relaxing morning before your transfer to the airport, or to your accommodation if staying on in Darwin. Time to say goodbye, until we meet again for your next outback adventure.

Included Meals: Breakfast

 

Travel Options & Extensions

Given everything that has happened in the travel industry of late – you’re correct to be vigilant about where you spend your travel dollar.

Amaco is not only a member of AFTA, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents but we are also ATAS Travel Accredited.

This means we have met strict industry standards and criteria. Only the best industry agents achieve this accreditation meaning that you can travel with us knowing that you’re in safe and capable hands.

With almost 25 years’ experience in planning and running conferences, we understand that participants often want to add additional travel destinations and adventures either before or after the all-inclusive packages we provide.

Other operators might discourage you from doing this.

Sometimes, it’s because of the added complexity it creates and at other times they’ll try to talk you out of it simply because they don’t have capable or experienced consultants with the breadth and depth of the knowledge that consultants we employ have.

We encourage all participants to make the most of the time away. This might mean departing earlier than the rest of the group and visiting other places before meeting up with the main group at the start of the tour or staying on at the conclusion and doing some additional travel.

Either way – our consultants are perfectly positioned to assist you with making these arrangements and will do all the hard work for you – seamlessly combining your personalised itinerary with the group program.

CAN I BOOK MY OWN FLIGHTS?

Yes… not a problem. We understand that people may have a preferred Travel Agent they want to use and we don’t have any issues with you doing so. We’ll advise you of suggested arrival and departure times to allow you to make use of our group transfers.

That said though… we do have experiences consultants who are ready and waiting to help… even if that means just giving you a comparison price – nothing wrong with some competition.

We do ask for a copy of your itinerary so that we can double-check it to ensure that it fits with our program and group itinerary.

One word of warning, however, when booking flights independently – as the non-ticketing Agent we’re not notified of any changes or cancellations to your booking. If anything changes with your booking, it will be up to your agent to contact you and then for you to contact us.

It is also worth pointing out that even though we’ll have experienced staff members escorting the group during the conference, as the non-ticketing Agent we are unable to make contact or deal with the airline on your behalf.

CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN CLASS OF TRAVEL?

We used to include flights in our travel package but found that in many cases the fares were more expensive than the best available daily fares or were not applicable for people who were looking to extend before or after the main conference travel dates.

We also felt it was unfair on you, as a participant, to unknowingly pay a premium for a more flexible group fare when you are already committed to attending the conference.

By not including the airfare in the package, you are able to work with one of our experienced and knowledgeable Travel Consultants to arrange flights on any airline and from any destination depending on your preferences…. including the class of travel.

CAN I VISIT OTHER PLACES BEFORE OR AFTER THE CONFERENCE?

In short….. Yes!

You’re encouraged to talk to our experienced travel consultants to learn more about the options open to you either before or after the conference itineraries. We will gladly work with you to put together a personalised itinerary that can include as much or as little as you want.

We believe it is important for your own peace of mind to know that our consultants are all employed directly by Amaco Small Group Tours and are located in our office.

We don’t subcontract out the travel to a third party which means you can be comfortable knowing that whatever arrangements you make through Amaco will be tied together with the conference program to make one continuous, seamless travel itinerary. We’ll put as much care and effort into your extension as we put into the planning of the conference.

Whether it is simply booking some airport transfers with a couple of nights accommodation through to more elaborate arrangements we are perfectly positioned to incorporate any individual travel plans into your overall conference itinerary.

Email or call us so we can put together your perfect itinerary.

WHAT ABOUT COVID? WILL TRAVEL INSURANCE HELP?

Much has been said about the value of travel insurance – especially given the broad-based exclusion policies many underwriters have in place which protects them from claims resulting from pandemics and epidemics.

Quite simply – there isn’t a policy available anywhere that will cover you if you cancel a trip due to another Covid outbreak. 

As is the case with many reputable operators, 100% of funds paid will be held in credit for future use.

Please call our office and we will gladly explain the various different scenarios to you in greater depth.

Education

Amaco is an Accredited Education Provider for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine.

Each conference we run includes an education syllabus that assists GP’s, pharmacists and health professionals to improve the quality of care they provide to patients and customers while at the same time providing them the opportunity to travel to and experience new and exciting destinations.

Our conference will allow delegates the opportunity to earn CPD points based on the content and time in session. As has been the case with past conferences, we will work closely with participants affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.

The content of the education sessions will be relevant to GPs, Medical Specialists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses and other health providers. We encourage all attendees to register for the conference sessions.

The Education Committee for the Arnhem Land Conference will be selected early in 2021 with final conference topics to be chosen based on the feedback from our previous conference attendees and with input from the RACGP, ACRRM, and Medical Journals. Suitable speakers will be approached based on the topics selected.

Subject to final accreditation, the Arnhem Land Conference will include an Accredited Education Activity (formerly Category 1 Activity) affording delegates the opportunity to earn up to 40 points.

ACRRM members can also expect the education program to be accredited and to earn CPD points. RACGP and ACRRM accreditation will be applied for under the triennium 2020 to 2022.

As has been the case in the past, Amaco will work with pharmacy bodies and those affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.

We welcome applications from potential presenters and encourage anyone interested to contact us to obtain further information.

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