Outback tours in the Northern Territories, Australia
| country: | Australia | ||||
| location: | Northern Territory, Katherine Gorge | ||||
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary | ||||
| price: | From AU $789 - AU $817 (5 days) excluding flights, based on twin share
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| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Outback tours in the Northern Territories ‘I just want to get away from it all,’ is the mantra we chant as we talk about going on holiday. But just how easy is it to escape the crowds, the mobile phone and the knowledge that you’ve got to go back to work soon?
In Australia’s Top End, we’ve got that sorted. Let stress fall away with each kilometre you travel into the outback. There, you’re alone with nature, and you can focus on watching crocodiles bathe in the sun, spotting kingfishers dart through trees, and learning about Indigenous bush tucker.
Best time to go on our Outback Tours
Wet season (November - March), dry season (April – October).
In Australia’s Top End, we’ve got that sorted. Let stress fall away with each kilometre you travel into the outback. There, you’re alone with nature, and you can focus on watching crocodiles bathe in the sun, spotting kingfishers dart through trees, and learning about Indigenous bush tucker.
Best time to go on our Outback Tours
Wet season (November - March), dry season (April – October).
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Darwin and enjoy an Eco Habitat Sunset Luxury Sailing & Dinner for a truly nature based experience on Darwin’s massive harbour. The twin hulls of our catamaran guarantees stability for novice sailors and the peace and quiet under sail must be experienced to be appreciated. This is the perfect platform, close to the water, for viewing the harbour wildlife with the City of Darwin as a back drop. This mangrove habitat is rich in marine and bird life. Quiet sailing increases your chance to see dolphins, turtles, sea snakes and dugongs. |
| Day 2: | Enjoy a morning with a local Larrakia man on an informative walking tour through Darwin. Learn about the cultural and historic significance of various Darwin sites with a true local. Pick up your hire car and head 185 miles south to the Township of Katherine and check into your accommodation located next to Nitmuluk National Park. |
| Day 3: | Today enjoy an an informative guided walk through nature’s pantry identifying traditional foods of the Jawoyn people, climaxing with a swim at a waterhole or at a sandy beach along the Katherine River. Learn the five seasons of the Jawoyn people and how they adapted their lifestyle to the changes in the extreme Territory climate. The Outback tour includes refreshments and a small backpack, yours to keep as a souvenir after the tour. |
| Day 4: | This morning enjoy a Nitnit Dreaming incorporates travel along two gorges, where you’ll discover the customs of the traditional land owners, the Jawoyn people. Enjoy an afternoon exploring Cutta Cutta Caves. Spectacular features such as Karst formations and complex cave networks are a feature of the Park. Tower-like masses of Tindal limestone with some supporting large boulders and various surface depressions are other features of this landscape. The Park is dominated by open woodland, however at the entrance to the cave systems and covering some areas of limestone are unique clusters of tropical rainforest/vine thicket. These scattered thickets are the remains of rainforest which once covered the northern parts of Australia. |
| Day 5: | Head back up the track to Darwin where you will find your comfortable accommodation waiting for you for one more night exploring this vibrant tropical city. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Outback Tours Environment
The Hotel used in Central Darwin was designed to be energy efficient and to incorporate the use of local materials in the building concept to highlight our unique Territorian lifestyle. This endeavor won them the Tracey Memorial Award for Architecture and Design in 1997, demonstrating that Eco-engineering can still showcase a stylish and intimate hotel. In the same year the hotel also won the NT Civic Award for Design and was honored with the ‘Building of the Year” title, given by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA). Darwin Central Hotel has various eco-friendly practices including recycling of batteries, paper, cardboard and printer toners. Even the building itself has been at the forefront of the green evolution. The local Cruises operator used is an EcoTourism Australia accredited tour operator. As an EcoCertified Ecotourism business operator they use resources wisely and offer tourism in a natural area that offers interesting ways to learn about the environment. The company is owned by locals who have lived and worked in Darwin for over 30 years. Europcar has committed to offset the carbon emissions of every vehicle in its 7000 strong fleet. Every time Europcar replaces one of its cars, the new car will have its carbon emissions offset by our partner Greenfleet, who will plant 17 trees per vehicle. Customers can make a $2 donation to Greenfleet every time they rent with Europcar who will then match every client donation. Outback Tours Community The accommodation and touring componants in Katherine are all owned and operated by the local aboriginal community, the Jaowyn. The Jawoyn Association forms a positive role model for similar organisations to follow; their business enterprise, human services and forward planning with a vision for economic independence provides employment and training for Jawoyn people, while maintaining a strong affinity to traditional heritage and cultural ideals. Nitmiluk National Park is owned by the Jawoyn people and managed under a 99 year lease by the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission, in association with Jawoyn people, culture and traditions. Batji Tours is an Aboriginal cultural walking tour of Darwin city. Join traditional owner, Larrakia man Robert Mills, as he takes you on a journey of discovery in Australia’s northern capital. Learn about the cultural and historic significance of various Darwin sites with a true local. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |