Kakadu Hawk Dreaming, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Airing Date: Jul 5th, 2004
Kakadu National Park, about three and a half hours from Darwin, is the largest in Australia. It has around 300 different types of birds, hundreds of waterfalls and more than 500 different Aboriginal art sites. With all this to offer it's no surprise Kakadu rates as one of Australia's top attractions.
The Hawk Dreaming area is the private land of the Bunijt Clan, the traditional owners of Kakadu. For the first time visitors have the opportunity to see this ancient land for themselves with Aussie Adventure Holidays. They have exclusive permission to enter this sacred area, and have set up a brand new camping safari site for guests. This tour gives you the chance to really experience life off the beaten track in a spectacular area that not many people get to see.
Jonathan Nadji's family have a long association with the land. He claims that 'hawk dreaming' got its name from the myth that hawk was once a greedy person and his punishment was to be turned into an animal.
The tour takes you to Ubirr, where you can visit the ancient Aboriginal art, said to be up to 35,000 years old. Your Ubirr guide will talk you through the rock art, which they describe as a journey through time, from the dreaming all the way to the arrival of the white man. It's a great opportunity to climb to the top of Ubirr for spectacular views of the Arnhem Land and Nardab floodplains.
If you fancy a cool down swim, head over to one of the many waterholes before taking a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong. The Yellow Waters is probably Kakadu's most famous wetland, and from here you can spot a variety of birds and even a few crocs. If you take the early morning cruise you can watch the park come alive with the rising of the sun.
The Aussie Adventure Holidays Tour is conducted entirely by 4WD and departs from Darwin on a daily basis. It includes all meals, camping equipment and the Yellow Water Billabong Cruise.
They operate small group expeditions, with a maximum of seven passengers per tour. An additional National Park entry fee of $16.25 per adult is payable on booking.
The facts
The Aussie Adventure Holidays three day 4WD Kakadu Camping Experience runs from May to October and costs $699 for adults and $649 for children.
Aussie Adventure Holidays
Tel: 1300 721 365
Prices correct at 05/07/04
