ULTIMATE BARUNGA FESTIVAL PACKAGE

The Ultimate Barunga Festival Package Tour by Gorge View Bush Retreat is designed to capture the best NT Aboriginal cultural experiences as well as many amazing Top End landmarks including Litchfield and Nitmiluk National parks.

Day 1

Our tour begins in Darwin departing on Thursday the 6th of June at 7am after pickups from various local accommodation providers. We travel to beautiful Litchfield National Park and get to experience beautiful waterfalls a-plenty (so definitely pack your bathers). Most of the day is spent around Litchfield National Park swimming and some small hikes. We then in the afternoon travel to the township of Katherine home of the Katherine Gorge. We finish the day with a sunset experience at Gorge View Bush Retreat, enjoying dinner and a few drinks looking down to the start of the Katherine gorge and the meandering Katherine River.

Day 2

After a magical sunrise walk to overlook the Katherine Gorge, (optional yoga session), we drive to Mataranka to swim and explore the beautiful natural thermal pools and relax in the waters. We depart Mataranka and return to Nitmiluk for a world-class 3.5 hour Nabilbil sunset dinner cruise along the Katherine river where it has cut a path through the ancient sandstone escarpment which makes Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) created by Bulung, the Rainbow Serpent and the home of the Cicada. The cruise is led by amazing and knowledgeable guides who can speak to the geology, flora, fauna and Aboriginal mythology of the region.

Day 3

We travel to the community of Barunga home of the Jawyon people to experience the annual Barunga festival where the people of the community open there lives up to show the amazing art, music, dance, cultural activities and sport (AFL, basketball and softball usually feature). This is a big day and usually finishes late as we enjoy experiencing the famous Barunga Concert before our return to our accommodation in Katherine to retire.

Day 4

We attend the multiple award winning Top Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery. We also take this opportunity for those that would like to take a scenic helicopter flight over Nitmiluk (helicopter flight not included in price).

What to bring

• Swimmers/bathers/togs

• Swimming towel for water holes

• Sun hat • Sensible shoes (sneakers or hiking shoes recommended)

• Sunscreen

• Re-fillable water bottle

• Water bottle holder

• Small day pack

• Duffle bag/small suitcase, suitable for airline carry-on. Large suitcases will need to be left at Darwin accommodation.

• Clothes and sleep wear

Be part of the real Australia. Come on the Ultimate Barunga Festival Experience with Gorge View Bush Retreat. You won’t regret it.

Consisting of 13 seperate gorges, Nitmiluk Gorge is a maze of waterways sculpted from the sandstone over countless millennia by the Katherine River. Nitmiluk Tours is the specialist agent offering a great variety of tours that allow you to immerse yourself in the history, rugged beauty and culture of this majestic region.

Top Didj & Art Gallery offers a genuine Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Manual Pamkal, our exuberant tour guide, is happy to pass on his traditions from tribal life, language, and Aboriginal contemporary life to offer you a once in a lifetime experience.