23 Day East and West Arnhem Land Tag Along Tour

23 Day East and West Arnhem Land Tag Along Tour
From AUD $5,550.00
  • Duration: 27 Days (approx.)
  • Location: Longreach, QLD
  • Product code: arnhem

What is a tag-along tour? A tag-along tour is one in which you drive your own (or a hired) vehicle following a lead vehicle. Your leader is there to help you develop the skills necessary for outback and desert driving including how to master the dunes. She is a skilled bush mechanic, able to solve many of the problems that people find themselves having in the outback, problems hat would typically result in the journey ending. She provides equipment and skill at recovering bogged vehicles. She also provides interpretive services, telling you all about the European and some of the Aboriginal history of the ares through which you travel. She provides some facilities with which to cook, a bbq plate, camp ovens and the like. She carriers extra water allowing for some kind of limited washing of ourselves, she provides the "shower tent" and toilet facilities and lots of knowledge and assistance when you feel out of your comfort zone. Vehicle hire companies will usually not permit a vehicle to enter the Simpson Desert unless on such a tour.

 Our Touring Philosophy

We have over decades developed a formula that keeps our tour participants coming back for up to six years, every year, That formula is based on a couple of simple concepts.

 ·       We endeavour to create a fun, informative,  life-changing experience.

·       We keep our camps simple, so that you can experience nature, the dark skies and the camaraderie of like-minded travellers.  Our goal is to take you as far away from your buy lives as we can, we take you back to a simpler way of life, our camps, apart from the vehicles and modern materials are very reminiscent of the simple camps my father and grandfather enjoyed as bushmen and stockman.  You get to experience the kind of life the early explorers may have had, if only they had 4WD vehicles and modern sleeping bags and tents.

·       This is not five star camping, this is million star camping. If you want linen table cloths and waiters, we’re not for you.

·       It’s your holiday, not ours. Small itinerary variations, by mutual consent of all participants, in search of particular experiences, are welcome. If we can accommodate, we will.

·       We are not in a rush. Our tours are paced in such a way that we can deal with most delays, without having to “make up time.”

·       We create a life-changing learning experience. Your tour leaders are very experienced desert travellers, knowledgeable about our history and Aboriginal culture and they know this country like you may know your back yard. Whether it's learning about that history, the geology, the flora and fauna or simply how to develop the knowledge and skills needed to travel unsupported in this desert country, your leader can help.

·       Our goal is to have you forget what day of the week it is.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Olsen’s Tours and Training has been a member of the ACON Welcome Here program for years. Kimberly Olsen has been influential in Diversity and Inclusion and cultural change in Australian corporations and Australian Health as a consultant and inspirational speaker. Her most significant work has been on the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people within the recruitment process, her work on LGBTI inclusive service provision and the preliminary setup of the Pride in Health & Wellbeing program. We welcome all people on our tours and expect the same of our participants. Our women's tours are for all women.

Our tours travel through the traditional lands of Australia's First Nations peoples, often via invitation. A history of dispossession and colonisation lies at the heart of the disparity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians today. We don't tolerate racism and ask that all of our participants show the deepest respect for our hosts and their homelands.

This Tour


This is a draft itinerary

DAY 1

This is a first draft of our planned itinerary.


Leaving Mataranka, we head north on the Stuart Highway and turn off towards East Arnhem Land on the Central Arnhem Road. Our first stop is the Aboriginal community of Wulgala (Beswick) where we will let our Tyres down. We don't stop as we are staying here on the way back. Another 60km further and we can marvel at Jurassic Park Lookout’s extensive views. Our camp for the night is beside the Mainoru River at Mainoru Store.


DAY 2


After leaving Mainoru Store, there is a long drive to the Baniyala turn off however, looking for the huge variety of wildlife that calls East Arnhem Land home will keep us amused. From Baniyala Community, we make our way to Dholuwuy Campground located on spectacular Blue Mud Bay in the Gulf of Carpentaria.


DAY 3

Campsites offer direct beach access, fresh water, picnic tables, a sheltered kitchen, fire pits, showers and a composting toilet. During our time there, we will have a unique opportunity to experience highlights of the local culture. There will be ample time to enjoy the magnificent coastal scenery and all the outdoor activities associated with this pristine location, including fishing and scenic drives.


DAY 4


We leave stunning Blue Mud Bay and say farewell to the Baniyala community before turning north on the Central Arnhem Road. Just 55km south of Nhulunbuy is Guwatjurumurru (Giddy River) with its shady picnic area, freshwater stream, and waterfalls. There will be time to detour into beautiful Wathawuy (Goanna Lagoon & Latram River) for a refreshing dip. Our camp for the next two nights is at Garanham (Macassan Beach). This campsite is close to a long, wide beach of white sand which contrasts with the layers of laterite that run parallel to the coast.


DAY 5

We will explore Bariŋura (Little Bondi Beach), Ŋumuy (Turtle Beach) north of camp and Binydjarrŋa (Daliwuy Bay) south of camp. Fishing or just soaking up the stunning scenery are activities to select, according to your desire. One highlight not to be missed however, is Wurrwurrwuy, where a Yolngu record of the annual visits of the Macassan traders is recorded as stone pictures. Here visitors can walk among the stone pictures and learn a little about the history of Yolngu contact with Macassans over hundreds of years.


DAY 6

60km (1hr)

We leave our camp at Macassan Beach to head north towards Nhulunbuy. First stop is a must see visit to the Mulka Centre at Yirrkala which houses an incredible selection of aboriginal art. There are displays of historical artwork including the fascinating panels from a church dating back to the time of the mission. You can watch resident artists at work and even purchase authentic art ranging from jewelry to large paintings and beautifully decorated didgeridoos. We continue to Nhulunbuy, which is a picturesque town on the Gove Peninsula and there, we will stock up on food & fuel supplies. There will be time to explore this thriving town before we camp for the 2 nights at the Gove Boat Club located on the azure waters of Melville Bay.


DAY 7


The excellent facilities at Gove Boat Club allow for a catch up on laundry and possibly a pub style meal. These two days provide us with an opportunity to experience all that the Nhulunbuy area offers, including the fabulous Aquatic Centre and a Bush Tucker walk at Gayŋaru Wetlands (Town Lagoon). Art Galleries and cultural experiences abound in Nhulunbuy Township and with notice, optional Fishing Charters can be arranged. There are plenty of opportunities to explore the local beaches and lookouts. A visit to nearby Baŋambarrŋa (Rainbow Cliffs) to the view this sheer section of coastline where cliffs plunge over 40m into the sea can’t be overrated.




DAY 8

We leave Nhulunbuy and head west to Dhalinybuy homeland in the Cato River area. We will be welcomed by residents of the homeland and be immersed in Yolŋu life, culture, and history. Highlights may include experiencing a Buŋgul (Yolngu dance and ceremony), learning new skills such as weaving and spear making, exploring the food and medicine resources of Country, and visiting off the beaten track locations that many residents of East Arnhem don't even know about!


DAY 9


We spend our second day in Dhalinybuy Homeland further experiencing the local cultural experience.


DAY 10

Travelling south back to our previous camp by Mainoru River, we’ll be on the lookout for donkey & buffalo during our long driving day. We will make some scenic comfort stops at places like Giddy River and Rocky Bottom. This is our last night camping in East Arnhem Land.


DAY 11


 From Mainoru store we head back to the Aboriginal community of Wulgala (Beswick) where we can view the incredible local artwork and enjoy a tour and walk around Beswick Falls. We may be lucky to try traditional food for lunch. We will learn about bush tucker and medicines


DAY 12

We will have an opportunity to access a variety of 4WD tracks leading to culturally significant sites. We will explore more of the area and be able to ask our guides


DAY 13

Back on the Stuart Highway, we drive north to the Service Centre of Katherine, where there will be an opportunity to restock supplies. Our camp for the night is at Pine Creek, where we can enjoy great amenities and visit the quirky termite mound mud brick tavern with its spectacular locally created ironwork.


DAY 14

With a short drive day to Mardugal Camp, we have time to explore the museums, lookout and excellent Heritage Trail in Pine Creek. We will detour into Maguk Campground for a picnic lunch and an opportunity to hike to the magnificent and expansive Maguk Waterhole and waterfall. It is then a short drive to our campsite for the next two nights


DAY 15


This bush camp with toilets and hot showers is about 6 km from Cooinda Lodge and is a great base for day trips in nearby Kakadu National Park. The itinerary is flexible and allows for exploration of the many natural attractions Kakadu has to offer including numerous waterfalls, waterholes and walking tracks in the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie Rock) area. The Warradjan Cultural Centre is well worth a visit and Yellow Water Cruise.


DAY 16


From our camp near Cooinda, we will stop at Jabiru for a top up of supplies before passing over the infamous crocodile infested Cahills Crossing. After navigating our way to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsular, we will set up camp at scenic Smith Point, where facilities include showers, & composting toilets.


DAY 17

We have two wonderful days to explore the Coburg Peninsula and will visit Black Point Cultural Centre to see the display of Aboriginal, Macassan and European histories of the area. Anglers can try their luck, while soaking up the serenity of this truly remote location. An excursion across the bay to Victoria Settlement is available at a subsides and there are several scenic drives designed to provide an excellent overview of both coastal and wetlands scenery.


DAY 18


We spend another great day exploring and just being surrounded by this great part of the world


DAY 19

We travel to Wiligi Outstation which is a beautiful remote location nestled on a cliff overlooking Mt Norris Bay and Copeland Island. You can enjoy fishing and birdwatching and might be lucky enough to collect your own fresh oysters or mud crabs. Dolphins and dugongs are often sighted, and the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular.


DAY 20

You can enjoy fishing and birdwatching and might be lucky enough to collect your own fresh oysters or mud crabs. Dolphins and dugongs are often sighted, and the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. We will hire a boat, and this will be available for those who would like to try their luck fishing in the crystal-clear waters of Mount Norris Bay.


DAY 21

We farewell this pristine part of the world, with one of the world’s most ancient cultures and make our way back to Cahills Crossing, where once again we can stop to view the crocodiles. There will be an opportunity to visit Ubirr National Park with its short walks, amazing rock art and fabulous scenic lookout. Once back in the Jabiru region, we will enjoy the excellent facilities provided by Kakadu Lodge Caravan Park.


DAY 22

We start the morning with a visit to Bowali Visitor’s Centre to view the wonderful exhibits. After a morning tea break at Pine Creek, we will turn south towards Katherine and take the 20km detour to Edith Falls for our lunch break and a chance to swim and perhaps take a short walk. Our next stop will be at Katherine to replenish supplies, before driving 30km into Nitmiluk National Park, where a deep gorge has been carved through ancient sandstone. This is our final night on tour and a chance to farewell our fellow adventurers with a celebratory meal by the pool.


DAY 23

Although our guided tour is complete, this camp provides the ideal opportunity for you to book an optional early morning boat tour of the magnificent Nitmuluk (Katherine) Gorge with its spectacular reflections.