Tours

The second day of our photography safari takes guests to the southern end of Kakadu National Park to experience a spectacular pristine waterfall, Gunlom, located on Waterfall Creek.

This area was immortalised in the first Crocodile Dundee movie, and no wonder – its white sandy beach and 120-metre cascading waterfall (best experienced until the end of July) are an incredible photo opportunity. A more challenging walk to the top of the waterfall is rewarded with a swim and the best view for miles overlooking the beautiful South Alligator Valley. This is landscape photography at its finest.

For wildlife photographers and nature photographers, it is common to see the Antilopine wallaroo and Black-breasted buzzards, with the Gouldian finch and Hooded parrot an occasional sight. There are many unique plants in the area, including the beautifully-coloured Salmon gum, Freshwater mangrove, Silver-leafed paperback and Yellow bladderwort orchid.  If Gunlom is unacceptable eessible we will offer alternatives like Maguk or Jim Jim Falls

Today we are privileged to visit Arnhem Land, the home of Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. Access to this area is restricted to a select group of tour operators, and we are allowed to visit this area only by invitation of the traditional owners, who may deny access at any time. Lords Safaris has a proud history of more than 25 years working with the indigenous people of Arnhem Land and Kakadu to ensure the best experience for both the local communities and our clients.  (Access to Arnhemland is at the discretion of the Traditional Owners and may be denied at any time. )

Departing the northern region of Kakadu National Park, we cross the infamous Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River and enter Arnhem Land.

A 15-kilometre scenic drive to the Gunbalanya Indigenous Community provides some of the best driving views in the Top End, taking in floodplains, billabongs and the Arnhem Land escarpment. We stop off at scenic viewpoints along the way to capture landscape photos of the remarkable colours that makes this region so famous.

Upon arrival at Gunbalanya you will visit the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre. Visitors to Injalak will experience the traditional culture of the Kunwinjku people. Here you have the opportunity to experience traditional art in an intimate setting where you can get to know the artist and see firsthand how artworks are created.

Opened in 1989, Injalak Arts is a nonprofit Aboriginal-owned social enterprise whose members are the artists and community. Injalak artists produce traditional art inspired by ancient Dreamtime stories, the nearby rock art galleries and an unbroken link between the present generation of Kunwinjku people and their ancestors.

At the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre there is an opportunity to browse and purchase a range of affordable art in different mediums and styles reflective of the ingenuity of the Kunwinjku people. Injalak caters to both the affordable and fine art markets. Artworks available include paintings on paper and bark, carvings, artefacts such as clap sticks, didgeridoos, mimi poles and lorrkons, fibre works such as baskets and grass pandanus floor mats, and special edition prints.

Gunbalanya is the Aboriginal name for the Oenpelli settlement (which was originally a mission). The area includes the floodplains of the East Alligator River that are covered by water from December to April and a rocky sandstone plateau rising up to 200 metres above the plains.

Across the sandstone escarpments, visitors may spot the Brolga, Black-necked stork (Jabiru), honeyeater, Sandstone thrush, Black wallaroo, Chestnut-quilled rock pigeon, Wilkins’ rock wallaby, Channel-billed cuckoo, Pheasant coucal and the Fire-tailed skink.

After leaving Injalak we head on to Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris. Davidson’s is situated in the northwest corner of Arnhem Land and adjacent to Kakadu National Park and the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia’s Northern Territory. This landscape is a vast subtropical savannah that has been described as a national treasure trove of artifacts of ancient human occupation, and a pristine wilderness area hosting myriad ecosystems and wildlife.

Access to the Davidson’s safari lodge is by 4WD vehicle or flight. The camp is fully licensed and has a wide selection of wines, spirits and beer. The facilities are situated in a natural bush setting. The heart of the lodge is a new and tastefully furnished communal space including a dining area, lounge, bar, library, internet area and a large outdoor deck for alfresco dining, all overlooking the sandstone-paved pool.

Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris Lodge at Mt Borradaile is a registered Aboriginal sacred site nestled against the majestic Arnhem Land escarpment. This is a landscape of rugged ranges fringed by idyllic billabongs, flood plains, paperbark swamps and monsoonal rain forests. Valleys, overhangs and caves have been occupied for over 50,000 years and offer magnificent galleries of rock art as well as occupation and burial sites.

This is a must-do experience on any photography holiday to Australia. Photographers will have the opportunity to capture both sunrise and sunset shots across these idyllic landscapes, as well as billabong cruises for more wildlife photography. Guests can also enjoy Aboriginal art and wetlands exploration to spot numerous species, including Agile, Wilkins’ rock and Nabarlek wallabies, Ghost bats, flying foxes, freshwater and saltwater crocodiles, dingos, Leichhardt grasshoppers, Jabirus, Brolgas, egrets, kingfishers, Blue winged kookaburras, Red tailed black cockatoos, Red winged parrots, Black tailed tree creepers, White-faced and White-bellied cuckoos and various honeyeaters.

Photographers will have the opportunity to capture one more sunrise and spot numerous species including Agile wallabies, saltwater crocodiles, Jabirus, Brolgas, Magpie geese, Azure kingfishers, Blue winged kookaburras, Red tailed black cockatoos, lorikeets, honeyeaters and Whistling kites.

Before our travel photography tour comes to an end, you will enjoy a delicious lunch. Then we head back to Darwin with a series of beautiful photos and memories to last a lifetime.

• Experienced local guide
• Luxury air conditioned Toyota GXL 4WD vehicle
• Accommodation at the Lords Safaris exclusive permanent camp
• Accommodation at Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris
• Fogg Dam Reserve
• Jumping crocodiles tour
• Leaning Tree Lagoon
• Yellow Water Billabong private cruise
• Gunlom Falls
• Arnhem Land
• Gunbalanya
• All fees
• All meals where noted
• Water bottles
• Alcoholic beverages