Arnhem Land
Located in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory is Arnhem Land, 500 kilometres east of Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 kilometres² which also covers the area of Kakadu National Park. With land that large, the ever changing landscape dramatically changes between the dry and wet seasons, leaving some areas underwater for almost half of the year.
Arnhem Land is the perfect place to be immersed in Aboriginal culture. Home to the world’s oldest living culture, the region has been occupied by indigenous people for tens of thousands of years and is home to the Yolngu people, one of the largest indigenous groups in Australia.
Having passed down art, skills and storytelling for more than 50,000 years, here you can also witness ancient Aboriginal rock art, some of the finest examples of which can be found at Ubirr. Not only the location of the oldest-known stone axe, believed to be 35,500 years old, Arnhem Land is also the birthplace of the iconic Australian wooden wind instrument, the didgeridoo.
This area was declared an Aboriginal Reserve in 1931 and is one of the largest in Australia. To preserve the strong continuing traditions and protect the privacy of the communities all visitors require written permission from the traditional owners to enter Arnhem Land.
You can visit Arnhem Land by boat or 4WD with AAT Kings. With an Aboriginal guide, you’ll see spectacular scenery and visit places inaccessible to most, including ancient rock art sites. Learn about traditional land ownership, bush skills, food gathering and bush tucker preparation and meet Aboriginal artists at Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre in Oenpelli (conditions permitting).
Related Tours
Kakadu & Arnhem Land
2 Day Short Break | Darwin Return | DK50
Absorb the natural beauty of the Top End.
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Kakadu & Arnhem Land Explorer
3 Day Short Break | Darwin Return | DK70
Kakadu National Park • Aboriginal Rock Art • Yellow Water Billabong Cruise • Arnhem Land by 4WD • Cultural Cruise with Aboriginal Guide
