1. You can connect with Yolngu culture<\/h2>\n![\"Bawaka](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/092-Arnhem-Land-0D8A0602.jpg\")
A day in the life of the Gumatj clan, Bawaka homeland, East Arnhem Land (photo: Elise Hassey).<\/p><\/div>\n
The Yolngu nation is one of the world\u2019s longest continuing indigenous cultures and is largely intact and thriving in Arnhem Land.<\/p>\n\n
Yolngu people here live in communities, but also on sometimes extremely remote homelands. For many, English is their fourth or fifth language.<\/p>\n\n
For an insight into the extraordinary \u2013 and also extraordinarily complex \u2013 Yolngu cultural system, you can join a handful of intimate tours, such as the Venture North\u2019s \u2018A Journey Through East Arnhem Land’<\/a>, showcasing the culture, landscape and traditional arts and craft.<\/p>\n\nThe Arnhem Weavers Workshop runs various intensive tours \u2013 mainly for women \u2013 introducing guests to pandanus basket weaving and bush medicines.<\/p>\n\n
Attending one of Arnhem Land\u2019s dynamic indigenous festivals, such as Garma<\/a>, or\u00a0Barunga<\/a>\u00a0is another way to immerse yourself in the art, music and customs of the Yolngu people.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n2. You can really get away from it all<\/h2>\n![\"Cobourg](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_3594.jpg\")
Cobourg Peninsula is peppered with stunning coves and beaches.<\/p><\/div>\n
Load the 4WD (you can hire one in Nhulunbuy<\/a> or drive from Darwin during the dry season) with camping gear and head out to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nThis national park is fringed by white sand beaches and is home to ancient rock art, coral reefs, towering waterfalls, grasslands, mangroves and shimmering lagoons.<\/p>\n\n
With a designated camping spot, it\u2019s the perfect place to pitch a tent by night and explore by day, says senior district ranger Alan Withers.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWe have a lot of people come back every year as there is a cap of 20 vehicles at any one time,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the sense of unspoilt isolation; they feel like they\u2019re the only people on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
You must be fully self-sufficient and take enough food, water and fuel with you to last the trip, which is usually a week or more.<\/p>\n\n
Permits can be acquired from NT Parks and Wildlife Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nIf glamping is more your bag, Arnhem Land has some great options including Wiligi Outstation<\/a>, and the exclusive Banubanu Wilderness Retreat<\/a> on Bremer Island.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n3. It\u2019s the final birding frontier<\/h2>\n![\"Arnhemland](\"https:\/\/s1.at.atcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/AT_2018FEB07_Advertorial_BestOfTheOutback_NT2_ArnhemlandSafaris.jpg\")
This landscape of rugged ranges is fringed by idyllic billabongs, boasting a stunningly beautiful wilderness.<\/p><\/div>\n
Budding ornithologists, look no further: Arnhem Land has a wide variety of ecosystems fostering an enormous range of species.<\/p>\n\n
If you can\u2019t tell your red goshawk from your northern crested shrike-tit, try visiting during the annual Arnhem Land Bird Week<\/a> (26 September to 11 October) in Maningrida.<\/p>\n\nBirding specialists lead extensive tours of the area, showcasing some of the rare and elusive birds the Top End has to offer.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n4. It\u2019s the fishing world\u2019s best-kept secret<\/h2>\n
Arnhem Land has long been known as one of the best fishing destinations in the world. You can stay in a nature lodge and cruise inland on a tidal estuary in search of massive barramundi (some up to 130 centimetres in length) or go bluewater fishing for marlin off the secluded coastline.<\/p>\n\n
Barramundi Lodge<\/a> provides comfortable and breezy accommodation in tented cabins and serves fabulous food on an outdoor verandah with views across the flood plains.<\/p>\n\nHere, giant barramundi share the waters with queenfish, giant trevally, mackerel, tuna, golden snapper, coral trout and jewfish.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cA lot of people come to the NT for barra fishing. They go to the popular areas where everyone is competing for the same fish,\u201d says Roger Sinclair from Barramundi Lodge.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cUp here (in Arnhem Land), there\u2019s been no development and there is no competition. Not many places can compare with the sheer number of barramundi we have and the pristine, natural running waters.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\nGetting there: Arnhem Land<\/h2>\n
Entry to Arnhem Land is by a free permit only. If you\u2019re travelling independently, you\u2019ll need to apply to the Northern Land Council<\/a> at least 10 working days before you leave.<\/p>\n\nIf you\u2019re joining a tour this will be included in the booking. Most travellers fly from Darwin or Cairns to Nhulunbuy, but from May until about October you can usually drive (by mainly dirt road) to this remote paradise.<\/p>\n
A day in the life of the Gumatj clan, Bawaka homeland, East Arnhem Land (photo: Elise Hassey).<\/p><\/div>\n
The Yolngu nation is one of the world\u2019s longest continuing indigenous cultures and is largely intact and thriving in Arnhem Land.<\/p>\n\n
Yolngu people here live in communities, but also on sometimes extremely remote homelands. For many, English is their fourth or fifth language.<\/p>\n\n
For an insight into the extraordinary \u2013 and also extraordinarily complex \u2013 Yolngu cultural system, you can join a handful of intimate tours, such as the Venture North\u2019s \u2018A Journey Through East Arnhem Land’<\/a>, showcasing the culture, landscape and traditional arts and craft.<\/p>\n\n The Arnhem Weavers Workshop runs various intensive tours \u2013 mainly for women \u2013 introducing guests to pandanus basket weaving and bush medicines.<\/p>\n\n Attending one of Arnhem Land\u2019s dynamic indigenous festivals, such as Garma<\/a>, or\u00a0Barunga<\/a>\u00a0is another way to immerse yourself in the art, music and customs of the Yolngu people.<\/p>\n Cobourg Peninsula is peppered with stunning coves and beaches.<\/p><\/div>\n Load the 4WD (you can hire one in Nhulunbuy<\/a> or drive from Darwin during the dry season) with camping gear and head out to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park on the Cobourg Peninsula<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n This national park is fringed by white sand beaches and is home to ancient rock art, coral reefs, towering waterfalls, grasslands, mangroves and shimmering lagoons.<\/p>\n\n With a designated camping spot, it\u2019s the perfect place to pitch a tent by night and explore by day, says senior district ranger Alan Withers.<\/p>\n\n \u201cWe have a lot of people come back every year as there is a cap of 20 vehicles at any one time,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s the sense of unspoilt isolation; they feel like they\u2019re the only people on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n You must be fully self-sufficient and take enough food, water and fuel with you to last the trip, which is usually a week or more.<\/p>\n\n Permits can be acquired from NT Parks and Wildlife Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n If glamping is more your bag, Arnhem Land has some great options including Wiligi Outstation<\/a>, and the exclusive Banubanu Wilderness Retreat<\/a> on Bremer Island.<\/p>\n This landscape of rugged ranges is fringed by idyllic billabongs, boasting a stunningly beautiful wilderness.<\/p><\/div>\n Budding ornithologists, look no further: Arnhem Land has a wide variety of ecosystems fostering an enormous range of species.<\/p>\n\n If you can\u2019t tell your red goshawk from your northern crested shrike-tit, try visiting during the annual Arnhem Land Bird Week<\/a> (26 September to 11 October) in Maningrida.<\/p>\n\n Birding specialists lead extensive tours of the area, showcasing some of the rare and elusive birds the Top End has to offer.<\/p>\n Arnhem Land has long been known as one of the best fishing destinations in the world. You can stay in a nature lodge and cruise inland on a tidal estuary in search of massive barramundi (some up to 130 centimetres in length) or go bluewater fishing for marlin off the secluded coastline.<\/p>\n\n Barramundi Lodge<\/a> provides comfortable and breezy accommodation in tented cabins and serves fabulous food on an outdoor verandah with views across the flood plains.<\/p>\n\n Here, giant barramundi share the waters with queenfish, giant trevally, mackerel, tuna, golden snapper, coral trout and jewfish.<\/p>\n\n \u201cA lot of people come to the NT for barra fishing. They go to the popular areas where everyone is competing for the same fish,\u201d says Roger Sinclair from Barramundi Lodge.<\/p>\n\n \u201cUp here (in Arnhem Land), there\u2019s been no development and there is no competition. Not many places can compare with the sheer number of barramundi we have and the pristine, natural running waters.\u201d<\/p>\n Entry to Arnhem Land is by a free permit only. If you\u2019re travelling independently, you\u2019ll need to apply to the Northern Land Council<\/a> at least 10 working days before you leave.<\/p>\n\n If you\u2019re joining a tour this will be included in the booking. Most travellers fly from Darwin or Cairns to Nhulunbuy, but from May until about October you can usually drive (by mainly dirt road) to this remote paradise.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
2. You can really get away from it all<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
3. It\u2019s the final birding frontier<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
4. It\u2019s the fishing world\u2019s best-kept secret<\/h2>\n
<\/h3>\n
Getting there: Arnhem Land<\/h2>\n