Australia

The Never Never Experience

This area embodies the ‘real’ Australia – Aboriginal culture, wildlife, bush tucker, waterfalls, wetlands, camping by warm springs, and yes - crocodiles! and right in the middle of an Aboriginal owned cattle station in the remote Northern Territory. The Never Never country is pretty well the closest thing you will get to real paradise –well that’s what our guests say – we agree. However – if you like masses of tourists around you to make you feel safe, or the comfort of an ensuite in your room and chocolates on your pillow - then don’t read on.

On the other hand if you want to experience the World’s oldest culture in an unstructured way, back to basics, away from crowds and tourist buses, then you are invited to join discerning travellers from around the world who rate this place and it’s people as their best experience in Australia.

Comments such as – ‘never thought a place like this could exist’, ‘don’t change a thing’, ‘so untouristy’, ‘will be back next year’, ‘wished we could have stayed longer’, ‘am giving up my day job’, and ’trip beyond fabulous’.

140klms south- east of Katherine or 440 klms south –east of Darwin is the Never Never country - a 1.2 million acre area that is spread out either side of the emerald green Roper River. This is the home of the Mangarrayi Aboriginal people - some of whom can recall the time they saw their first white man – Grook Grook they called him – ‘ghost’.

The ‘experience’ leaves the twentieth century behind and takes you back to a time free of materialism. Transport is in a purpose built four wheel drive vehicle. You camp out with us in comfortable bush swags beside a warm thermal pool (no crocs ) wake to the sound of kookaburras, come on peaceful bushwalks , take a ride with us in our boat to Red Lily lagoon , paddle a canoe through ancient jungles, swim under clear waterfalls with Aboriginal children , share in cooking up the spoils of the day – and relax around a flickering campfire as night settles – you can do as much or as little as you wish out in Never Never land – it is totally enchanting.

The Savannah Guide can take you on bush tucker walks - collect native foods, catch fish, make bread over a coal fire, learn the sounds of the birdlife – and then there is always the wildlife to go looking for – birds, reptiles, wallabies. You will have a first hand experience in seeing how the world’s oldest culture copes with the challenges of dealing with western civilisation – the stone age meeting the nuclear age if you will.

To ensure you get the best out of your visit we don’t combine groups – when you come with your friends or family you are the exclusive guests of theMangarrayi people - this ensures a unique experience away from crowds.

The best time to come is between May and October – the weather is warm to hot during the day – and cools off at night – this is the Dry season in the Northern Territory. Of course you can come at other times of the year as well.We do stress this – advance bookings are ESSENTIAL

If you can come please try to do so – this type of interaction with Aboriginal people in their homeland is unique and in the near future will not be possible as the Old People die off and the younger ones merge with Western ‘culture’.

Custom trips are a specialty. We can include well known locations in your itinerary such as the Mt. Borradaile Safari Camp, Bullo River Station, the magnificent El Questro Homestead, or take you to some of our favourite spots that haven't been named yet!. You can choose camping or motel accommodation - or a mixture of both. The flexibility of the tour is what will make it memorable. We use four wheel drives, airboats, quadbikes, small aircraft, helicopters, boats and canoes for transport at various locations - you tell us what you'd like included. Our primary tour vehicle is a modern 8 seat four wheel drive equipped with satellite phone, global positioning system, first aid kit and creature comforts such as air conditioning, CD player and on board refrigerator. A trailer kitchen is towed behind the vehicle on extended safaris. Tours can be soft or hard adventure - our highly trained guides will look after you. Activities can include fishing for the elusive barramundi, birdwatching, bushwalking, canoeing, visiting remote Aboriginal art sites - or just relaxing in a bubbling bush jacuzzi! ....and don't worry too much about the camping..... we use very comfortable bush swags with real pillows, high density foam mattresses, insect proof tents (so you can still see the stars) and at dinner it's proper chairs, table and candles. The only choice you will need to make is....red or white wine?

Cost is based on number of days you wish to stay, the number in your party and each trip is quoted accordingly. As an example an average cost or a five day odyssey for four people into Never Never land is around $AUD6,000. This includes most everything including royalties to the Aboriginal people.

We can arrange transport to and from Darwin or Katherine if you wish.

Sample Tours

This tour has achieved Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation and was a National Finalist in Heritage & Cultural Tourism. Frommers Guide to Australia rates this under the 'Best Outback Experiences in Australia'.

North Australian Aboriginal Experience.

Visit the world's oldest continuing culture as we travel into Arnhemland and beyond. Arnhemland is one of the few areas of Australia where Aboriginal people can still live relatively traditionally. White man have not had as much impact here as in other areas of Australia. The Aboriginal people you will meet still know 'country,' it's bush foods, water supplies, wildlife and weather patterns. Some can still recall seeing their first white man. They are personal friends of your guide and will welcome you to their country. This tour will take you well away from the twenty first century into lands of timeless beauty - a journey for the soul.

Day one: Today we depart from Katherine and travel 100klms south east to Manyalluluk - the Dreaming Place. A day is spent here with the local Aboriginal people sharing their culture and learning traditional methods of cooking, basketweaving, painting, fire lighting and spear throwing. We camp out at Manyalluluk this night.

Day two: We leave Manyalluluk at daybreak with an Aboriginal guide and travel by four wheel drive into Arnhemland. After following a bush track for two hours we leave the vehicle and walk into the stone country to explore Aboriginal artsites that have seldom been seen by white man before. At night we camp in Arnhemland beside a stunningly beautiful waterhole surrounded by sandstone cliffs. A peaceful place to relax around the campfire and take a midnight swim beneath the star canopy.

Day three: This day we travel out of Arnhemland and head south to visit the Mangarrayi and Yangman people at Jilkminggan. This is the 'Land of the Never Never' on the Roper River - written about in Jeannie Gunns best selling book ' We of the Never Never' yet seldom seen by outsiders. This is land the Aboriginals call Paradise - a land of waterfalls, clear pools and jungles and an abundance of bush foods. Time will be spent here listening to stories from the traditional Aboriginal owners, learning some of their language and mixing with the children. This place will leave you totally enchanted. Overnight at our secluded campsite next to thermal pools.

Day four: Whilst in the land of the Mangarrayi we will do some bushwalks, fish, swim, meditate, and enjoy time here at a unhurried pace - just like the natives. Overnight bush camping here again to get the feel of the land.

Day five: We say goodbye to the Mangarrayi and Yangman people and head back to Katherine where we leave you to continue your journey elsewhere - or take up the option of travelling further with us to Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk), Kakadu National Park or across to the Kimberley region.

The Out of Cell Phone Range Urban Recovery Tour.

This is a journey for the stressed out executive, the urban prisoner, the office junkie, or anybody else who has a need to 'get lost' from the twenty first century. Your personable and expert guides, have specifically designed this tour to get you back to reality to find yourself, and in areas where you are no longer the top of the food chain!

Day one: We pick you up from Darwin in our four wheel drive and lead you south to begin your journey. Your Guide (Outdoor Therapist) will help you to slow down and enjoy the subtle nuances of creation as you travel into the spiritual home of past cultures. At Edith Falls we'll take a walk into the escarpment and relax by a waterfall, listen to the birds and lay about in the clear waters surrounded by sandstone cliffs. Closer to Katherine we'll see some significant Aboriginal dreaming sites from a time long ago. Overnight you'll stay in Katherine, there is a good range of accommodation, from Backpacker hostels through to the Far Out Hide Out (Jan's B & B) - a relaxing place to wind down, lay about in the outdoor spa and retire for the night in comfortable accommodation.

Day two: It's up early for the start of a magnificent day on Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk). By starting early we get ahead of any tourist crowds and seldom see others all day. We'll use canoes to get right up into the Gorge system and allow you plenty of time to lay back, swim, and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch washed down with a cheeky chardonnay. Don't worry if you haven't paddled before - we provide all the assistance you'll need. End of day watch the sun go down and retire at your Katherine accommodation.

Day three: This day we to take you right off the tourist route and away from civilisation. We will travel further south of Katherine and enter Never Never country - the land of the Mangarrayi people - we'll camp out in this country of waterfalls, jungles, rock pools and clear night skies. This area featured on National TV 'Aussie Top Spots' on Channel 9 'Getaway' show with Catriona Rowntree. We are the only tour operators permitted into this country.

Day four: More relaxing in Never Never land - swim, bushwalk, photograph, try some fishing, do some painting or interact with the tribal people when they visit our camp - the unstructured nature of this tour means you can do as much or as little as you like. This afternoon we head back to Katherine accommodation.

Day five - seven:
The same laid back feel continues as you meet up with your canoe guide and head out for three days of wilderness canoeing on the Katherine River. The Katherine River system winds through 600 klms of the most amazing subtropical savannah country. You've already paddled Katherine Gorge (about 13 klms of the entire river system) and know what a great experience river canoeing is - now it's time to really get amongst it and head south-west down the river for another 50 klms or so. The food and camping facilities are second to none and our Guides have years of experience moulding clients into the environment. As you quietly paddle along on your canoe journey you will get to know the flora and fauna that saturate the environment - you'll follow the river through shaded corridors, pandanus jungles, gentle rapids - and at days end you'll enjoy the finest gourmet cooking washed down with fine wine around the campfire. This trip featured on the "Getaway" Holiday show.

Day seven: Late in the afternoon a four wheel drive vehicle will rendezvous with your group, canoes are loaded up and you are returned to Katherine. You are guaranteed to have memories to last a lifetime and your whole outlook on life will be immeasurably enhanced! We know this to be true because of comments and repeat bookings from past clients. This tour will be in wilderness areas but you will have comfortable accommodation whilst outbush and meals will be bush gourmet style; healthy food and plenty of it. We even do cappuccino's and plunger coffee for the urban cowboys!

Katherine Accommodation:
With such a big range of Clients we are finding that requirements are different from person to person, consequently accommodation costs in Katherine are at the clients expense. Of course we are more than happy to advise, book and arrange it all for you, just let us know what type you need.

Mike is a Savannah Guides Roving Interpreter and designs and guides most of the tours. Past clients have included couples, families, college and special interest groups from around the globe. National Geographic, Australian Geographic, Channel 7 Australia, Michael Palin from the BBC, TV Malaysia and Japan have used him for logistical support and itinerary designing.

Savannah Guides is a network of professional tour guides with a collective in-depth knowledge of the natural and cultural assets of the tropical savannahs of northern Australia. All Savannah Guides must incorporate natural or cultural interpretive activities as a prominent part of their business and demonstrate a commitment to conservation values. Knowledge and professionalism is fundamental to Savannah Guides' operating philosophy. Enterprise and individual members must meet strict standards of operation and abide by professional Codes of Conduct.

Savannah Guides pursues its mission of being an economically sound, community based, professional body which maintains high standards of Interpretation and public education , Training and guiding leadership , Natural and cultural resource management and, through the promotion of ecologically sustainable tourism principles, enhances regional lifestyles and encourages the protection and conservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Tropical Savannahs of Northern Australia.

Amongst its many awards, Savannah Guides received worldwide recognition in 1997 when they won the Queensland Tourism Award for Industry Training in the Private Sector and were highly commended at the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in London. They went on to win Best Tourism Organisation (World) and were an Australian Divisional Winner in the 2000 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.