Black Friday The Ghan Expedition Darwin to Adelaide - Arnhem Land Adventure 2026

Your 13-day Arnhem Land Wilderness Adventure
commences with a flight from Cairns to Nhulunbuy. On
arrival in Nhulunbuy you will be greeted by your friendly
and professional Tour Director. This afternoon you’ll
explore this frontier village, which came into existence 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.

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 will get a true sense of
this with a special ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony at
Wirrwawuy Beach, where you will learn about Yolngu
culture and kinship firsthand. We will also visit the BukuLarrnggay Mulka Centre, which features works by many renowned Aboriginal artists whose art (particularly those painted on bark) can be found in galleries all over the world. The gallery is in the small community of Yirrkala,
which is where the Aboriginal Land Rights movement
started, when the ‘bark petition’ was sent to Federal
Parliament in 1963. From the art centre it is a short stroll to Shady Beach,where we will have lunch followed by a special Bush
Medicine and Women’s Healing demonstration, where
we will experience traditional healing ways and hear
stories of how the Yolngu people live and heal on their
land. Return to Nhulunbuy late this afternoon for your second
night at the Walkabout Lodge. 

Today, your journey into the heart of Arnhem Land begins.
Departing Nhulunbuy, we follow the Central Arnhem Road
south-west 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 to the Arafura
floodplains. This area, known as ‘Murwangi’, is the site of
your exclusive safari camp where we will be staying for the
next two nights. Check in to your deluxe safari suite before
dinner in the lodge dining room.

The Arafura Swamp is one of the largest wooded swamps
in Australia, covering approximately 1,300 square
kilometers. This incredibly diverse wetland can support up
to 300,000 waterbirds at any one time, including Magpie
Geese, Egrets, Black-necked Storks and Brolgas. The
swamp is of great cultural significance to the Yolngu
people and was also the location for the 2006 film ‘Ten
Canoes’.
We’ll take a tranquil cruise on the main lagoon, followed by
a 4WD adventure around the edge of the swamp. For both
activities you will be accompanied by Indigenous guides
who will explain why this spectacular area is so significant.
Later this afternoon we return to camp for a little free time
before dinner.

This morning head into Ramingining for a visit to Bula’bula
Art Centre. Here you can chat with local artists and watch
them paint. There is also the opportunity to purchase
artwork if so desired.
After morning tea at the Art Centre, we head further west
towards Maningrida. To get there, we will cross the Blyth
and Cadell Rivers, arriving at Barramundi Lodge early in
the afternoon. The lodge is one of the most recognised
fishing destinations in Australia. With special permission
from the Traditional Owners, the lodge has exclusive fishing
licenses for numerous remote waterways, including the
Tomkinson and Liverpool Rivers. Fishing aside, the lodge
features 12 beautiful safari suites and a restaurant
overlooking the floodplains below.
After lunch on the lodge deck, you will hear a
familiarisation talk from the lodge managers. You are then
free to settle into your safari suite, with the remainder of
the afternoon yours to relax, soaking up the stunning view
of the floodplains.

This morning, an exclusive fishing adventure on the
Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers is one the agenda. These
pristine waterways are teeming with Barramundi. The
expert fishing guides will take you to wherever 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 wildernesstour, so if
fishing is not your thing, you will still enjoy the beautiful
scenery, birdlife and informative commentary.
In the afternoon, we visit Maningrida Arts and Cultural
Centre and the Djomi Museum for immersion in the
culture and spiritual richness of the area.
Later this afternoon, enjoy a sunset drink on the deck
before dinner and share stories about the one that got
away!

Departing Maningrida after breakfast, our travels take us
through the stone country of west Arnhem Land. We’ll
crossthe Goomadeer and Liverpool Rivers before arriving
at the turnoff to Davidson’s Arnhem Land Safaris, Mount
Borradaile. From here, we travel along a 40km sandy bush
track into the safari lodge, arriving in time for lunch. You
will then check-in to your eco-friendly cabin, your home
for the next two nights.
This afternoon the team at Mount Borradaile will take you
through 40,000 years of Aboriginal culture in a truly aweinspiring landscape. The area contains some of the most
stunning rock art galleries in the world. In terms of artistic
quality, quantity, colourfulness, 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 thousands of years. Subjects
range from now extinct animals to 20th century sailing ships
and the creator Rainbow Serpent.
We will return to the lodge in the afternoon, before dinner.

Today we jump into the open-back Toyotas 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. You will also wander through
various occupation sites and view a range of artefacts from
when these sites were in use.
After lunch, it’stime to explore the incredible wetlands of
the Cooper Creek. Admire the prolific birdlife, along with
the massive crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks
as you discover lagoons that seem to have slipped out of a
story book. As the sun seeks the horizon and sets over
the floodplain, enjoy a drink and nibbles before returning to
the lodge for our final night with Davidson’s Arnhem Land
Safaris.

Departing Mount Borradaile early, we head north and
venture into the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the
Cobourg Peninsula. We’ll travel up the eastern side of Port
Essington to Black Point to meet the marine crew from
Seven Spirit Bay. Here, we’ll board the lodge’s custommade adventure craft for the short transfer across Port
Essington. Upon arriving at the lodge, you will be allocated
your room for the next three nights, a luxurious ‘habitat’
set amongst native tropical forest. We meet again later in
the evening for dinner in the lodge’s restaurant.

Today, we’ll explore Port Essington aboard the lodge's
specially designed vessel 'MV Arafura'. Departing Seven
Spirit Bay, we retrace the course of the early mariner’s
square riggers, passing landmarks like Gunners Quoin, Low
Point, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff, and Record Point on
our way to the 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 your arrival at Victoria Settlement, you will take a
fascinating tour of the old buildings and ruins and learn
about life in the early British occupation. An optional
extension walk leads to a few lonely gravestones in the
forest, almost forgotten by history. After a picnic lunch on the beach you will return to the water to enjoy a leisurely cruise back to Seven Spirit Bay. The waters of the Cobourg Marine Park are alive, so keep
your eyes out for dolphins, dugong, manta rays and crocodiles.
Back at Seven Spirit Bay, the remainder of the afternoon
can be spent at your leisure. Perhapstake a dip in the
palm-fringed swimming pool, or just relax in your
luxurious habitat before enjoying sunset drinks on the
veranda and dinner in the restaurant. 

The Cobourg Marine Park abounds with barramundi,
Spanish mackerel, golden trevally, and coral trout, to name
just a few. After breakfast, we board the lodge's state-ofthe-art fishing vessels for an exclusive half-day fishing
adventure in Port Essington. Featuring an onboard
restroom, shade canopy and comfortable seating, each
boat takes only six people, so everyone will have the equal
chance to reel something in.
Seven Spirit Bay's fishing guides are true professionals with
intimate knowledge of the marine park. They will take you
to the best fishing spots and share their marine sanctuary
expertise and you can admire some of the most spectacular
coastline to be found in northern Australia. Our guides fish
these waters regularly and have up-to-date knowledge of
the potential sites that are producing fish, giving you the
best chance of success.
Barramundi is just one of the species we target. You may
have the opportunity to wrestle with an arm-stretching
trevally or black jewfish.
A mix of small meandering creeks, mangrove-lined bays,
rocky outcrops, and deeper water “bommies” mean there
is nearly always something to be found somewhere. Once
you have tested your luck, we will make our way to a
sheltered beach landing at Low Point where we disembark
and rendezvous with the lodge's chef for a delicious BBQ
bush lunch under a shady tree.
After lunch, take a 4WD safari to appreciate the wonders of
Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. First up is a visit to the
stunning Nypa 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). A short
drive further brings us to the upper reaches of Trepang
Creek, one of many creeks that are a mix of spring- fed and
tidally influenced systems that help provide nourishment to
the marine life of the park.
Next, you will explore the savannah woodlands of the park,
potentially spotting Banteng and Buffalo and gaining some
insight into the varied coastal habitats, before a visit to
Gunners Quoin lookout. Return to the lodge late afternoon
for your third and final evening at Seven Spirit Bay. 

This morning, we depart for the airstrip and board our
Cessna Grand Caravan for the 45-minute scenic flight
across Van Diemen Gulf. Upon arriving in Darwin in the
afternoon, we head to the city to check in to the Hilton
Garden Inn Darwin located on the picturesque esplanade.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure before boarding
the Charles Darwin for a delicious Territory-style sunset
dinner cruise to celebrate a truly amazing trip. There is no
better way to experience Darwin's renowned sunsets than
from onboard the Charles Darwin.

Your 13-day Arnhem Land Wilderness Adventure comes to
an end this morning.
Transfer by coach to the Darwin Rail Terminal. Settle into
the comforts of The Ghan, relax in your cabin, or mingle
with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge.
Enjoy lunch ahead of your Off Train Experience in
Katherine. In a region renowned for jaw-dropping natural
assets, Katherine boasts one of the Top End’s best – the
incredible Nitmiluk Gorge and a cruise is on offer to
showcase the beauty of this spot. Alternatively, the
Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of
those who call the outback home, while the Cutta Cutta
Cave system is home to a variety of native wildlife and is
rich in Indigenous culture and modern European history.
Alternatively, take it all in from the air, with an optional
upgrade helicopter flight over Nitmiluk.

Your arrival into Alice Springs after breakfast provides you
with time to explore this iconic town in the red heart of
Australia on an Off Train Experience. There’s an experience
to suit everyone, including an off-road e-bike adventure,
the Alice Explorer tour that takes in the historic Telegraph
Station and Royal Flying Doctor Service, a cultural
experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the
Desert Park or taking in the astounding beauty of
Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, spot Uluru and Kata Tjuta
from the air, with an optional upgrade scenic flight. In the
evening, dine under a blanket of stars at the Alice Springs
Telegraph Station.

From your morning stop at Manguri, you’ll venture into the
weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober
Pedy, where more than half of the residents live
underground. Off Train Experiences on offer include
exploring the majestic Breakaways, touring the town,
learning more about mining history on the Opal
Experience, or an optional upgrade with the Painted Hills
and Lake Eyre scenic flight.
Here, you’ll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch
in the most unique of locations: underground. Dinner is
served back on the train, where you can enjoy a nightcap
as your journey continues.

This morning, you’ll see a dramatic change in landscape as
the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green
fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you
pass through the Flinders Ranges before arriving into
Adelaide, completing one of the world’s great rail
experiences.