FEATURE
A Journey of Discovery
The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory is alive in ways unlike other parts of our country. Offering a rare preview into original Australia, time spent on Country in Arnhem Land is an honour granted by Australia’s First Nations People, one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world. The ancestral ground here is sacred, and on arrival when you really connect with your surroundings, you can sense it with every fibre of your being.
From the moment our charter flight from Darwin lands on the red dirt runway of Murwangi Safari Camp in East Arnhem Land, it’s apparent the Jagat crew are in for a lifetime memory unlike any other. Commissioned by Outback Spirit for Journey Beyond, Jagat are onsite to film this area of immense cultural significance which overlooks the vast Arafura Swamp, one of the most spectacular locations in Arnhem Land.
With permission from Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council, Outback Spirit has established a luxurious safari camp here, which serves as a remarkable vantage point to explore the wildlife of the area and learn first-hand about Indigenous culture from the Traditional Owners of this very special part of the world.
Providing the only tourism accommodation within the area, this sensational tented safari camp – only available to Outback Spirit guests – has a fully licensed restaurant with in-house chef, safari suites with ensuites and air conditioning, and exclusive access to cultural activities found within the area.
While the weather is fabulous and the wildlife appears around the end of April, the season officially starts in May, with Murwangi Safari Camp teeming with fauna in July and August. With the wet season well and truly in the rearview mirror by this time, birds are migrating in their thousands and the exposed riverbanks provide the perfect relaxation place for the abundance of water buffalo and crocodiles found within the area.
A short charter flight from Murwangi Safari Camp and our team arrive in Seven Spirit Bay, an iconic wilderness lodge on the Cobourg Peninsula. Set amid the pristine marine sanctuary of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, it’s distinct rocky red cliffs, forested wetlands and white sand beaches are the thing of postcards from years gone by.
It’s here that wildlife lovers unite. Garig Gunak Barlu National Park is a protected Ramsar Conservation site and a unique wetland of biological diversity. With more than 200 species of bird populating the marshes and forests, the area is incredible for bird watching. But that’s where the wildlife watching starts.
Between the estuaries and the turquoise blue waters of the Coburg Peninsula, the marine life is thriving with saltwater crocodiles, manta ray, dolphins, and endangered dugong, while buffalo and banteng cattle still roam the bush.
For those that prefer land adventures, one of the best ways to explore the rugged Coburg Peninsula and the beautiful unspoilt wilderness, is by open back 4WD safari. Seven Spirit Bay offers visits to Rainbow Beach, Vashon Head, and Nipa Palm Gallery.
What a wonderful privilege to experience a journey of discovery on this sacred land firsthand; and while our team were all here for professional reasons, there’s no denying this adventure’s profound personal impact.
