Kakadu in the Wet!!
Immersion in Nature in Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu and Arnhem Land with Ian Morris and Mike Jarvis February 9-17, 2017
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Nine day, eight night tour Visit one of the Earth's greatest Living Edens and Australia's largest National Park at the height of the green season. World Heritage Kakadu blends some of Australia's richest wetlands with rugged, ancient sandstone topography and a great cultural heritage. See ancient rock art and the people today that are part of the oldest continuous living culture on the planet. Discover Kakadu's prodigious array of endemic plants and animals and its dynamic landscape. Fly over Arnhemland to appreciate Aboriginal art and culture and see Kakadu and the Arnhem plateau, wetlands and waterfalls from the air. Also discover Nitmuluk and Litchfield, other great Top End National Parks, and many natural and cultural wonders of the Territory's Top End at the height of the 'Gudjewg', the monsoon season, when the landscape is greenest and its wildlife is most active. Click to enlarge the map.Tour route map for the Kakadu in the Wet! tour. Numbers show the location for each night. (photo copyright Tourism NT)
- The Season: Gudjewg is monsoon time in Kakadu, a great time for naturalists. Rivers flood, forcing floodplain wildlife to higher ground, yam vines festoon trees and the green spear grass reaches full height. Much wildlife breeding occurs. Intermittent monsoon events bring low blankets of cloud streaming in from the northwest. Alternatively, there are regular thunderstorms. It doesn’t rain continuously. Cloudless skies and sunny days are not uncommon.
- Kakadu National Park: With an area of 20,000 km², Kakadu has more than 1275 plant species, 10,000 insect species, 25 frog species, 123 reptile species, 51 species of freshwater fish, 280 species of birds and 62 species of mammals. Kakadu is World Heritage listed on all four natural criteria, as well as cultural criteria. It adjoins the large Arnhemland wilderness in the east and the Nitmuluk National Park in the south. Ian features in this episode of the ABC documentary 'Kakadu' see him from 19min on or enjoy the whole documentary and the other three Kakadu episodes. Warning: If you watch this you WILL want to come!!
- Will this tour suit me? A maximum of 15 adventurers/naturalists will travel in an air-conditioned bus and stay in comfortable air-conditioned accommodation with *shared ablutions. Breakfast and lunch will be prepared by Mike with assistance from members of the group and is enjoyed out in the field. Dinner is ala carte menus at local restaurants. (*accommodation can be upgraded to rooms with ensuites at most places if required, at extra cost.) With the added value of Ian’s expert guidance, Kakadu will yield even more of it’s secrets to enthusiastic nature lovers seeking a unique opportunity to encounter birds, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and plants. In addition, the cultural heritage of Kakadu will feature strongly throughout this trip.
- Cost - $3725 per person twin share
- 2017 date - February 9 - 17, 2016 (seats available)
"Mike
Bjorg and I want to thank you and tell you what an amazing wonderful trip you provided. Bjorg was skeptical of this trip because she is not a hiker or a birder and at her age now prefers nicer accommodations than those on several previous eco or nature trips. She now raves about all aspects of this tour as do I.
As you now probably have sensed I adore all aspects of nature. I was taken in by the topography, plants and especially the trees, birds, particularly the larger ones, and animal life that we witnessed. You and Ian are founts of knowledge about all of these and dispensed it in a comprehensive yet succinct and easy to digest way. Each day was full without being over tiring. Giving us aspects of Australian history and particularly for me about the Aborigines was important.
Reading about the meals in your brochure made me a bit skeptical of same, but the food and accommodations were all quite good-well beyond adequate.
You and Ian made a good team with thorough knowledge and experience of all that you described. Any time you have professionals with the expertise you both possessed will make for a great experience, and we were certainly not disappointed in this regard. You had everything so well organized that the tour ran seamlessly. We also congratulate you for your consideration and kindness towards all of us in this diverse group.
So, thank you, thank you, thank you. If we can ever be of service as a reference feel free to use us.
Warm regards
Bjorg and Richard
USA August 2015
Ian Morris is a biologist, educator, conservationist, author of ‘Kakadu National Park’ and co-author of ‘A Natural History and Field Guide to Australia’s Top End’ and one of Australia's most acclaimed naturalists. He has worked with Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the Arnhem Land region for decades, and was involved in forming Kakadu National Park. Here is a transcript of an interview with Ian about Kakadu in 2005.
Ian promotes the magic of the bush as an NT based environmental consultant for many national parks in Australia. He greatly values his continued connection with his Indigenous mates across the north.
It is my privilege to offer another great tour with the added value of Ian’s expert guidance. Kakadu will yield some of it's 'Green Season' secrets to enthusiastic nature lovers seeking a unique opportunity to encounter birds, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and plants.
Mike Jarvis is an accomplished birder, naturalist guide and tour operator, specializing in nature and culture tours in the Top End. Mike and Jenny Jarvis are the owners and operators of Experience the Wild and, together with Ian, assure you of a very interesting, unique and well run tour.
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Elephant Foot Yam (Corpse Flower) (photo copyright Ian Morris)
Itinerary
Day 1 - Induction to the Top End
Monday 1st February: Pick up from your Darwin accommodation at 8.00am.
Visit the Territory Wildlife Park explore the wonderfully curated displays depicting the natural habitat regions of the Top End. The park showcases many wildlife species native to the Top End and is situated on 400 hectares of natural bush including savanah woodland, wetlands, riparian and monsoon forest habitats.
Picnic lunch at Berry Springs, a favourite recreational area for Darwin locals.
Dinner and accommodation - "Riyala", Noonamah.
Day 2 - Explore Litchfield National Park
Tuesday 2nd February: Visit the 1461 km² Litchfield National Park, where many spectacular waterfalls pour off Tabletop Range. Discover remarkable termite mounds and learn about the contribution termites make to the savannah woodland habitat. Explore monsoon rainforests and sandstone formations. Look out for Dingoes, Agile Wallabies, Antilopine Wallaroos and Partridge Pigeons.
Lunch at the Table Top Swamp
Swim at Buley Rockholes and the beautiful Florence Falls.
Dinner and accommodation - Pine Creek.
Day 3 - Litchfield to Pine Creek
Wednesday 3rd February: Drive to Pine Creek to learn of its colourful mining history from one of its colourful characters and pan for gold. Explore the Pine Creek area. Pine Creek is the best place to see Hooded Parrots and several other members of the parrot family. A Great Bowerbird tends his bower only metres away from the cabins we are staying in.
Picnic lunch at Edith Falls. Explore the rock pools above the falls.
Dinner and accommodation - Pine Creek.
Day 4 - Explore Kakadu
Thursday 4th February: See some very rare cycads just out of Pine Creek. Explore some of the many features at the southern end of Kakadu National Park, Moline Rockhole (possible swim), Yurmikmik walks, Boulder Creek (possible swim).
Picnic lunch at Bukbukluk lookout.
Dinner and accommodation - Gagadju Lodge, Cooinda.
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Ubirr Rock Art (photo copyright Barry Robinson)
Day 5 - Kakadu Culture and Cruise
Friday 5th February: Take the 6.45am cruise on Yellow Waters — one of Kakadu's most renowned highlights. Learn more about the rhythm of Aboriginal life at Warradjan Cultural Centre. After lunch do the two kilometre circuit walk through historic Aboriginal wet season habitation areas and see ancient rock art at Burrunggui Rock and Anbangbang gallery.
Dinner and accommodation: Anbinik Resort. After dinner Ian does a preflight talk and slideshow to ensure we get the most out of tomorrow's scenic flight.
Day 6 - Arnhem Land Scenic Flight
Saturday 6th February: Scenic flight over Arnhem Land, see the rugged escarpment and flooded plains of the East Alligator River and Magela Creek from the air. Ian does the commentary as we fly over his old stomping ground when he was head ranger at Kakadu in the 1980's.
Picnic lunch at Jabiru Lake. This afternoon choose to rest or swim at the pool at Anbinic Resort or go with Mike and Ian to explore more gems around the township of Jabiru.
Dinner and accommodation - Anbinik, Jabiru.
Day 7 - More Kakadu Culture and Cruise
Sunday 7th February: Visit Kakadu's Bowali Visitor Centre before exploring the flooded Magela Creek and Ubirr with Aboriginal guides.
Ubirr has great rock art and grand wetland panorama, without the usual large dry-season crowds. Here we may see the endemic Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon and Sandstone Shrike-thrush.
Accommodation - Anbinik.
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Leichhardt's Grasshopper (photo copyright Ian Morris)
Day 8 - Kakadu Rock art and Waterfalls
Monday 8th February: We walk to Nanguluwurr art site and continue on to Gubara for a swim in some waterfalls set in attractive monsoon rainforest. We should see Leichhardt's Grasshopper in this area. Explore Burrunggui rock art sites and look for the endemic Black Wallaroo, White-lined Honeyeater and Banded Fruit-Dove.
Accommodation - Anbinik, Jabiru.
Day 9 - Fogg Dam and Return to Darwin
Tuesday 9th February: Stop at Fogg Dam, formerly a rice growing experiment, now a wonderful wildlife habitat for birds and reptiles, and Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre before returning to Darwin.
Scheduled arrival back at your Darwin accommodation around 5.00 pm.
Cost: $3,725 per person twin share. Single supplement $390.
Inclusions: All transport, accommodation and meals, a scenic flight over Kakadu and Arnhemland, the Guluyambi Magela Creek cruise and Yellow Water boat cruise. Kakadu Park entry fees. Cold water, tea and coffee and refreshments available at all times. (If you are interested in a shorter one or two day 'Kakadu Green Season Experience' please click here.)
Exclusions - Alcoholic drinks, purchases of a personal nature such as souvenirs, internet use, etc.
Please note: Because of the uncertainty and unpredictability of the monsoons, this itinerary may be varied. Some alternative activities may have to be substituted at times. Pre and post tour accommodation is not included in the cost of the tour but can be arranged with Palms City Resort at our special rate.
Booking Procedure: When you are ready to book, you can contact us and we will email you an invoice or book online directly. A 20% deposit secures the booking, the balance is due 30 days prior to start of tour.
Our Terms and Conditions document outlines our cancellation and refund policy.
All prices are in Australian dollars. Please click here for conversion to your currency.
