Northern Territories wilderness accommodation, Australia
| country: | Australia |
| location: | Northern Territory, Cobourg Peninsula |
| departures: | Departures are available daily between March and December |
| price: | From AU $1385 (2 days) - AU $3035 (5 days). Price depends on accommodation chosen. Price includes all meals throughout your stay, return air transfers from Darwin, return vehicle transfers from airstrip to the lodge and complimentary guided walks & safaris |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The award-winning lodge is located in one of the world’s most magnificent and untouched remote tropical wildernesses – the Australian Northern Territory’s Garig Gunak Barlu National Park. This sanctuary, Northern Australia’s first flora and fauna protection reserve, is surrounded by a Marine Park and the Arafura Sea to the North.
To stay on the Cobourg Peninsula is an exclusive privilege; entry is by permit only and visitor numbers are limited. The lodge and it’s surrounds offer incredible environmental diversity; from the ocean wilds to the shoreline, rivers and estuaries, paperbark swamps, rainforest jungle, Arnhem Land bush and age old rock formations.
Activities here are varied; join our trips to explore the area, see local wildlife and visit Aboriginal rock art, or relax at the lodge's pool and spa:
Complimentary guided nature walks & wildlife safaris
Schedule nature walks are arranged each day so guests can experience much of the National Park. During breakfast and lunch our guides will take the opportunity to advise you of planned trips. Please let them know if you would like to join them. All activities are subject to change due to availability, tidal movement and weather conditions. Not all tours are available each day but every endeavour is made to ensure guests get the opportunity to see as many of their interests as possible.
There are a variety of guided walks as well as trails to explore around the Lodge. Guided walks through this pristine wilderness range in duration from 1½ to 4 hours and encompass the diverse range of environments, which make the Cobourg Peninsula such a fascinating and special region. Duration of guided walks may vary according to weather, tides and guest needs.
Optional adventure activities
Optional activities are very popular and MUST be pre booked. A cancellation fee may apply if pre-booked activity is cancelled within 24 hours or for no shows.
Historic Victoria Settlement Safari AU $150 approx 4-6 hours
Coral Bay and Port Essington are a tropical paradise; however things were different 150 years ago. Gordon Bremer recognised Port Essington’s natural attributes for a British garrison but isolation and disease beat them. Their adventures and trials, optimism and despair all come alive as your guide takes you through the ruins of Victoria Settlement. Leaving from the Lodge’s pontoon, our boat will retrace the course of the early square-riggers while cruising down scenic Port Essington. You will pass landmarks named by the 19th Century mariners such as Gunner’s Quoin, Low Point, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff and Record Point. Disembark on the beach where Macassan Trepangers once camped. Tour the site of Victoria Settlement with our guide who will delve back into yesteryear in explanation of the buildings and lifestyle of the early British occupation. An optional extension of the walk will lead to lonely gravestones in the forest almost forgotten by history the Lodge. Duration of the trip and departure time are dependent on tides, weather etc.
Coastal Exploration & Beachcombing AU $80 approx 2 hours
Depart by boat from our pontoon and spend an exciting time exploring the waters of the Cobourg Marine Park. Visit deserted islands and cruise along sandy beaches for a waterline perspective on the wildlife. Stop ashore and walk the deserted shoreline – become the explorer, the beachcomber, and the first footprints in the sand.
Champagne Sunset Wildlife Safari AU $95 approx 3 hours
Depart the Lodge by 4-wheel drive to Vashon Head – a low sandy point that juts out into the Arafura Sea near the far end of Midjari Airstrip. This is savannah country and a favourite with wildlife, which often congregates around wooded seasonal waterholes. Your guide will drive near these water holes to try and spot the birds and beasts, before heading for the beach to watch the sun set. Multitudes of fish inhabit the shallow coastal lagoon backed by Casuarina trees. This superb location is a great place to finish the day, relaxing with a glass of champagne or wine whilst enjoying the magnificent ‘Top End’ sunset.
Trepang Nypa Palm Creek Wildlife Safari & Cruise AU $120 approx 3 ½ hours
Trepang Creek is a large creek system, which is fed by natural springs and soaks along inland creek lines. We travel to the inland springs, which feed this large creek system and a multitude of birdlife. See the Nypa Palms in one of the few places in the Southern hemisphere where this palm grows naturally! Then enjoy a relaxing cruise on Trepang creek, exploring this wild tropical mangrove waterway, with a chance to see crocodiles, turtles, and more of our marine life. Please note this trip is tidal dependant.
Star Gazing AU $60 approx 1 hour
Join our amateur astronomer at our purpose built star-arena. Enjoy the end of the day with a glass of port or liquor and see the southern hemisphere stars at their very best! Find your star sign, see the planets, milky way and if you are lucky catch the stunning Southern Cross.
At the lodge
Swimming: Enjoy the Lagoon fresh water swimming pool overlooking Coral Bay.
Shark Feeding: Take time to wander down to the pontoon and meet the returning fisherman to watch an exhilarating shark feed.
Sunset on the Clifftop: Catch a spectacular Top End sunset from the cliff top overlooking Coral Bay.
To stay on the Cobourg Peninsula is an exclusive privilege; entry is by permit only and visitor numbers are limited. The lodge and it’s surrounds offer incredible environmental diversity; from the ocean wilds to the shoreline, rivers and estuaries, paperbark swamps, rainforest jungle, Arnhem Land bush and age old rock formations.
Activities here are varied; join our trips to explore the area, see local wildlife and visit Aboriginal rock art, or relax at the lodge's pool and spa:
Complimentary guided nature walks & wildlife safaris
Schedule nature walks are arranged each day so guests can experience much of the National Park. During breakfast and lunch our guides will take the opportunity to advise you of planned trips. Please let them know if you would like to join them. All activities are subject to change due to availability, tidal movement and weather conditions. Not all tours are available each day but every endeavour is made to ensure guests get the opportunity to see as many of their interests as possible.
There are a variety of guided walks as well as trails to explore around the Lodge. Guided walks through this pristine wilderness range in duration from 1½ to 4 hours and encompass the diverse range of environments, which make the Cobourg Peninsula such a fascinating and special region. Duration of guided walks may vary according to weather, tides and guest needs.
Optional adventure activities
Optional activities are very popular and MUST be pre booked. A cancellation fee may apply if pre-booked activity is cancelled within 24 hours or for no shows.
Historic Victoria Settlement Safari AU $150 approx 4-6 hours
Coral Bay and Port Essington are a tropical paradise; however things were different 150 years ago. Gordon Bremer recognised Port Essington’s natural attributes for a British garrison but isolation and disease beat them. Their adventures and trials, optimism and despair all come alive as your guide takes you through the ruins of Victoria Settlement. Leaving from the Lodge’s pontoon, our boat will retrace the course of the early square-riggers while cruising down scenic Port Essington. You will pass landmarks named by the 19th Century mariners such as Gunner’s Quoin, Low Point, Turtle Rock, Observation Cliff and Record Point. Disembark on the beach where Macassan Trepangers once camped. Tour the site of Victoria Settlement with our guide who will delve back into yesteryear in explanation of the buildings and lifestyle of the early British occupation. An optional extension of the walk will lead to lonely gravestones in the forest almost forgotten by history the Lodge. Duration of the trip and departure time are dependent on tides, weather etc.
Coastal Exploration & Beachcombing AU $80 approx 2 hours
Depart by boat from our pontoon and spend an exciting time exploring the waters of the Cobourg Marine Park. Visit deserted islands and cruise along sandy beaches for a waterline perspective on the wildlife. Stop ashore and walk the deserted shoreline – become the explorer, the beachcomber, and the first footprints in the sand.
Champagne Sunset Wildlife Safari AU $95 approx 3 hours
Depart the Lodge by 4-wheel drive to Vashon Head – a low sandy point that juts out into the Arafura Sea near the far end of Midjari Airstrip. This is savannah country and a favourite with wildlife, which often congregates around wooded seasonal waterholes. Your guide will drive near these water holes to try and spot the birds and beasts, before heading for the beach to watch the sun set. Multitudes of fish inhabit the shallow coastal lagoon backed by Casuarina trees. This superb location is a great place to finish the day, relaxing with a glass of champagne or wine whilst enjoying the magnificent ‘Top End’ sunset.
Trepang Nypa Palm Creek Wildlife Safari & Cruise AU $120 approx 3 ½ hours
Trepang Creek is a large creek system, which is fed by natural springs and soaks along inland creek lines. We travel to the inland springs, which feed this large creek system and a multitude of birdlife. See the Nypa Palms in one of the few places in the Southern hemisphere where this palm grows naturally! Then enjoy a relaxing cruise on Trepang creek, exploring this wild tropical mangrove waterway, with a chance to see crocodiles, turtles, and more of our marine life. Please note this trip is tidal dependant.
Star Gazing AU $60 approx 1 hour
Join our amateur astronomer at our purpose built star-arena. Enjoy the end of the day with a glass of port or liquor and see the southern hemisphere stars at their very best! Find your star sign, see the planets, milky way and if you are lucky catch the stunning Southern Cross.
At the lodge
Swimming: Enjoy the Lagoon fresh water swimming pool overlooking Coral Bay.
Shark Feeding: Take time to wander down to the pontoon and meet the returning fisherman to watch an exhilarating shark feed.
Sunset on the Clifftop: Catch a spectacular Top End sunset from the cliff top overlooking Coral Bay.
how this holiday makes a difference
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In early 1987, the Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary Board (CPSB) called for expressions of interest to identify potential tourism projects in the remote Coral Bay area. The CPSB sought to establish additional sources of income for the traditional owners that were in keeping with their unique relationship to their environment. A small scale development, that was based on a philosophy of protecting the existing environment to preserve the wilderness was selected by the traditional owners.
The buildings were to be located on the site between existing trees and significant groups of vegetation, and in natural clearings. This approach ensured that there was no significant loss of habitat or visual character and the potential for soil loss due to erosion was also reduced.  The Cobourg Marine Park protects several rare species, including the Dugong and marine turtles - Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green, Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Flatback Turtles. The Parks conserve a mosaic of sandy beaches, dunes and associated coastal grasslands, mangroves, rainforest patches, swamps, lagoons, coral reefs, sea grass meadows and rich marine life. The Parks lie within the clan estates of the Iwaidja speaking peoples of western Arnhem Land. Custodianship is shared between four Aboriginal clan groups, the Agalda, Ngaindjagar, Madjunbalmi and Muran. To be granted exclusive permission to set foot on this vast ancestral land is a distinct privilege. Each visitor to this remote area is granted a special permit by the Tribal Elders (arranged by the lodge) - bestowed only to those individuals who recognise the calling to rediscover the spirit of the wilderness. |
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