4 Day Barunga Festival
& Top End

Departing from Darwin

12th August – 15th August 2022

The Barunga Festival is an iconic event on the national festival calendar with a long and proud tradition of celebrating the best of remote Indigenous Australia. This much-loved Territory festival attracts an audience of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from all over the world who descend upon the small remote community to camp and take part in a program of music, sport, traditional arts and cultural activities , welcomed by the traditional owners.

DAY 1
Darwin to
Katherine

From Darwin we take the Stuart Highway south for a morning stop at Adelaide River to visit the War Cemetery. The journey continues to Nitmiluk National Park for lunch and an opportunity for a refreshing swim at Edith Falls.

Explore the rural town of Katherine before going to Katherine Gorge for an unforgettable sunset experience. Learn more about the spirit, history and culture of the Jawoyn people as we cruise along the first two tranquil gorges. Discover the music, stories and ways of the Jawoyn as the sunsets and the beauty of the gorge intensifies. Lap up the surroundings by candlelight and enjoy a three course buffet dinner along the way.

After an awesome sunset experience we travel back to Katherine to enjoy the comforts of our accommodation.

Day 1 included meals(L,D)

DAY 2
Explore
Barunga

From Katherine we travel towards Arnhem Land to the Aboriginal community of Barunga home to one of the longest running Aboriginal festivals in Australia. The Barunga Festival is a celebration and showcase of remote Australian indigenous community life though music, sport and culture.

The Barunga Festival benefits the community of Barunga and the people of the region economically, socially and culturally. The festival officially began in 1985 in the remote Aboriginal community of Bamyilli.

Enjoy a variety of culture at your own pace as you spend the day experiencing an abundance of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal culture.
At the end of the days festivities journey back to your accommodation in Katherine.

Day 2 included meals(B)

DAY 3
Mataranka
& Barunga

After breakfast we travel to the Mataranka Hot Springs for an opportunity to swim in the thermal pools amongst lush tropical vegetation.

We then travel back to Barunga to experience what the festival has to offer. Sport, music and culture is the theme so there is a huge array of experiences to discover.

Barunga Festival was instigated by leader of the Bagala clan, Bagnardi Lee. In 1988, as the rest of Australia was celebrating 200 years of white settlement, Barunga was the site of Aboriginal leaders coming together, and presenting Prime Minister Bob Hawke with the Barunga Statement which calls for Aboriginal self-management. After the commencement of the festival we travel back to Katherine to the comfort of your accommodation.

Day 3 included meals(B)

DAY 4
Katherine
to Darwin

After breakfast we journey to the historic gold mining town of Pine Creek before continuing on to Litchfield National Park.Covering around 1,500 sq km’s Litchfield Park is a truly beautiful destination with stunning tropical waterfalls and swimming holes which cascade from a sandstone plateau called the Tabletop Range. Monsoon rainforests, intriguing magnetic termite mounds and historical sites make this the perfect place for photography.

After visiting the highlights of Litchfield Park we finish our cultural journey with a short drive back to Darwin.