ETHICAL ADVENTURES
PUBLIC TOURS & PRIVATE CHARTERS FROM DARWIN
Ethical Adventures is an education and experiential forum through which guests are able to expand their understanding and appreciation for country and cultures.
Whether it be a small group tour or private charter from Darwin ethical adventures strives to deliver engaging, fun, educational experiences across the diversity of the Top End’s cultural and environmental landscapes.
It is our sole objective during our Darwin tours across the Top End to create the opportunity for each guest to understand, appreciate and fall in love with those places we visit, people we encounter and cultures we interact with.
From this it is our hope, that our guests are inspired to become part of the growing community advocating for a more balanced world perspective.
Join us for a unique and genuine experience that will stay with you forever.
Best In The Wet Three Day Trip
The Kakadu and Litchfield ‘Best in the wet’ experience rallies around the Top End Wet Season. It is the time to feel the power of nature and witness the bucket list shows of lightening and thunder. Not for the faint hearted the mission is to get you amongst it. Witness waterfalls gone wild, swim in outback creeks, float amongst dinosaurs of the North. With a backdrop of moody escarpment country, surrounded by indigenous culture.
This is the ‘Best In The Wet’.
DAY 1 – LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK
Begin your adventure with a convenient 8 am pickup from the front of your accommodation. From that point forward you are on Top End Time and at the complete mercy of mother nature. A sometimes moody host she can decide to put on a bit of a show (storm) or demonstrate her tender side of rainbows and butterflies. Lets hope for both !
Our playground / classroom today is the WATERFALLS | PARADISE of Litchfield National Park. Sporting a variety of walks, swims spots, unique wildlife and wonderous views we are going to deep dive into it all.
Key beauties such as Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls ! These are staples of this tour. As too the crazy big termite mounds and their enigmatic cousins … the magnetic termites. Try some seasonal bush foods of the non-toxic variety and learn of the uses of many more. With over 1000 journeys to Litchfield alone your guide knows what he is doing !
As the day draws to a close we meander to the historic Mt Bundy Station. This is the first Cattle Station established in the area and has a wealth of character and comfort for us all to enjoy as the late afternoon show (storm) is about to begin.
Sit back and savour the aromas as you sip on that well earned, cool ‘beverage of choice’ !
Accommodation tonight will be in the refurbished staff station quarters.
Dinner – outback BBQ
Catering – Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2 – KAKADU NATIONAL PARK
Another humane start sees us enjoying a comprehensive continental breakfast at Mt Bundy Station. A magical way to start the day as the animals wake and rise for the day also. Sun shimmering over the hills beckoning us onwards.
Today we will spend some time delving into the tumultuous yet poorly documented war period of the region. When bombs rained down on the Top End during WWII, the rest of Australia sleep. Unaware. How can that happen ? From there the journey takes us into the the gold fields of the Top End and the inspiration for early development in the 1880’s. Pine Creek. A spot on the map with so much to offer is our focal point for this stage. A chance here also to wander through history itself at the local museum and to grab a spot of lunch from the local café (which is made from Termite Dirt!)
Having filled our bellies and minds we head for Kakadu. Entering form the southern end of Kakadu we travel through the undulating hills and ravines of the extensive range known as the Arnhem Land Escarpment. At over 300 km long it will be our constant companion as we mover north through the park and and ever present reminder as to the antiquity of the region. Over 1800 million years young !!
Arriving in oasis of Cooinda spend some time getting settled into your accommodation before we join the award winning sunset wildlife cruise on the internationally significant wetland of Yellow Waters. This is still an area of living cultural value for the local Binning people !
Catering included – Breakfast | morning tea | snacks and cold water.
Lunch (not included) can be taken at locations during course of the day.
Dinner (not included) can be taken at Mimi’s Restaurant, Cooinda Lodge
DAY 3 – KAKADU NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy a sleep in before venturing to the banquet of food provided at the inhouse restaurant (Mimis). Take in the aroma of fresh coffee and the varied offerings provided. After breaky it is off to the comprehensive indigenous culture centre, Warradjan. Shaped like the rare ‘Pig Nosed Turtle’ it is a storehouse for an eclectic array of indigenous culture tools, information and insights. A great way to add to your expanding knowledge base and preparation for what comes next.
For after the centre we venture out into the wild to actually walk amongst the rich collection of art which adorns the rock walls of Burrungkuy (Nourlangie). Here we will see great examples of the various styles and stories in the paintings undertaking by the indigenous people of the region. A record of changing environment and human endeavour is clearly represented amongst these same paintings and provides great food for thought.
Having been awed you will then have the choice of visiting Murrawadi art centre or get above it all in a light air craft 30 minute scenic flight (optional extra).
With the conclusion of both we begin the thoughtful journey back to Darwin.
Expect to arrive around 6 pm.
Catering included – Breakfast | L | snacks and cold water.
DAY 1 – TOUR FEATURES & INCLUSIONS
- Litchfield National Park
- Wangi falls
- Tolmer Falls
- Buley Rockhole
- Florence Falls
- Magnetic & Cathedral Termite Mounds
- Accommodation at Mt Bundy Station
- Lunch & BBQ Dinner
DAY 2 -TOUR FEATURES & INCLUSIONS
- Kakadu National Park
- Breakfast
- Adelaide River War Cemetery
- Pine Creek
- Sunset Yellow Waters Cruise
- Accommodation at Cooinda – Lodge Rooms
DAY 3 -TOUR FEATURES & INCLUSIONS
- Full hot and cold buffet breakfast
- Visit to Warradjan Indigenous Culture Centre
- Visit to Burrungkuy Art region
- Guided walk through rock art region
- Visit Jabiru township in Kakadu
- Visit Murrawadi Gallery
*Optional Extra – fixed wing scenic flight
COLOURS OF KAKADU
Join ‘Colours of Kakadu’ as ethical adventures journeys into the heart of World Heritage Kakadu National Park.
Surrounded by the internationally significant wetlands, landforms, plants, animals and culture you will delve into the intricacies of this most renowned living cultural landscape.
Meet the present-day traditional owners of Kakadu National Park. Hear their stories of creation, feel their love for the country and understand some of the issues.
Featuring Fogg Dam, East Alligator River, Nawurlanja, Nourlangie, Anbanbang Billabong, Warradjan Culture Centre, Bowali Centre and including local indigenous guides on cruises.
The ‘Colours of Kakadu’ – 2 Day Kakadu tour, is ethical adventures way of introducing you to the world of Kakadu.
KAKADU TOUR INCLUDES
Warradjan Culture Centre
Guided art walk at Nourlangie Rock
30 min scenic flight along Arnhem Land escarpment
Suite room at Anbinik Resort*
Wildlife viewing at Fogg Dam Conservation Area
Indigenous craft demonstration and participation (seasonal).
*For family bookings the 2 bedroom cabins will be utilised
KAKADU TOUR INCLUDES
Max group size 10 guests
90 minute Guluyambi culture cruise touching down on Arnhem Land
2 hour sunrise Yellow Waters cruise
Sunset at Nawurlanja
Breakfasts / Lunches / Dinner / snacks /refreshments
DAY 1
FOGG DAM / KAKADU NATIONAL PARK TOUR
An early morning start gets us out to greet the sunrise on the dynamic Adelaide River floodplains.
Nearby is the enigmatic Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve. On display here is a massive variety of birdlife, reptiles, mammals and more across wetlands, floodplains, woodlands and monsoonal forest.
Enjoy breakfast with the birds and coffee with the critters!
Moving on, our destiny takes us to the edge of Kakadu and Arnhem Land and the award winning Guluyambi Culture Cruise for 90 minutes of wildlife spotting, indigenous culture instructions and anecdotes from a local aboriginal guide.
Bare in mind to keep your hands in the boat as this river has one of the highest populations of estuarine crocodiles in the world.
Surviving this enjoy lunch overlooking infamous Cahills Crossing before venturing to our accommodation for the evening and a short break. Freshen up, go for a swim in the pool or take a short nap … your time to relax. Late in the afternoon we meander down to Nawurlanja for a visual treat as the setting sun explodes off the ancient Arnhem escarpment in shades of ochre.
Returning to Jabiru for dinner at the inhouse restaurant (Thai).
DAY 2
KAKADU NATIONAL PARK TOUR
Up before the birds, we are off to Cooinda where we join the world-renowned sunrise Yellow Waters cruise. This is the perfect cruise to witness the wakening of wildlife on the wetlands backed up by expert local commentary.
Enjoy the full buffet breakfast at Cooinda resort after the cruise before spending some quality time in the comprehensive aboriginal culture centre, Warradjan.
Featuring stories, images, crafts, art and much more Warradjan is a place to go quietly and slowly. Absorb the knowledge and then sit down with female elders and learn the craft of string making and weaving afterwards (not guaranteed).
Following this we journey towards Anbangbang Billabong and Nourlangie. Both Anbangbang and Nourlangie are rich in natural values and are significant areas of past and present areas of environmental interaction for the local indigenous people. A wealth of rock art adorning the sandstone massifs of Nourlangie provide the perfect depiction of life through the ages for Australia’s first peoples. Take your time and ask those questions of your guide.
Following the walk enjoy lunch by Anbangbang Billabong before getting back to Jabiru and your 30 minute scenic flight over the region. No better way to put it all in perspective than from 2000 ft !
Departing Jabiru around 330 pm expect to be back in Darwin around 7 pm.
Please note that the itinerary is subject to environmental and cultural considerations which may affect it on the day. We reserve the right to make changes and omissions without notice.
COWBOY COUNTRY THREE DAY TRIP
OVER 3 DAYS YOU WILL …
Visit historic Adelaide River where we take a moment to enjoy morning tea. Reflect also on the sombre history of the War Cemetery.
Enjoy Nitmiluk Gorge near Katherine including dining in and on the gorge with a sunset dinner cruise.
Take in the local history of Katherine Museum
Join in with Tom Curtain for ‘Katherine Outback Show’. Cowboy entertainment with a musical twist !
Wander through Cutta Cutta Caves. These enigmatic marvels of limestone tell a curios story of prehistoric life in Top End. Home to many bats and elusive creatures of the dark.
Soak in Katherine Hot Springs. Your bones will enjoy an afternoon wallowing in these thermal joys !
Sit with Manual at Top Didj where he tells stories of his life and times as well as lead you through painting and perhaps even the skills of fire lighting. An interactive fun morning. There is also a comprehensive art and artifact gallery on-site from which you will be able to peruse and perhaps purchase authentic pieces for your collection.
Savour local foods and wares.
Visit the Landmark town of Pine Creek on the edge of the outback and the site of the original NT GOLD RUSH. Home also to the train that featured in the movie ‘We of the Never Never’ . A quaint and interesting place to spend some time.
Expect to back in Darwin around 6 pm.
TOUR INCLUDES
- Top Didj Culture Experience
- 2 nights accommodation in Nitmiluk Chalets (upgrade to Cicada Lodge option available)
- Cutta Cutta Caves guided tour
- Katherine Museum
- Katherine Outback Experience
- Max group size 10 guests
- 3.5 hour sunset dinner cruise on Nitmiluk Gorge
- Visit to Adelaide River War Cemetery
- Katherine Hot Springs
- Visits to local cafes and restaurants
MEALS INCLUDED
Day 1 – Dinner (sunset dinner cruise)
This experience features the ability to try local foods and treats in local establishments. This is a deliberate tactic to further immerse you in the culture of the Katherine Region.
