Arnhem Land - Kakadu

Arnhem Land, the Australian area found on the northeastern edge of its Northern Territory, is approximately 97,000 square kilometres wide and covers Port Roper along Carpenteria Gulf up to East Alligator River from where the famed Kakadu National Park serves as the border. It is a place considered as Aboriginal Land being largely inhabited by indigenous Australians commonly referred to as Aborigines whose ancient culture and lifestyle are protected and safeguarded by the Northern Land Council.

Background

Declared in 1931 as an Aboriginal Reserve, Arnhem Land is regarded today as among the biggest of such reserves in Australian. This is because getting to see this particular area is quite restricted with visitors initially required to secure the needed permit, something that the Northern Land Council issues in guarded fashion.

The area acquired its present name courtesy of Matthew Flinders who named the land after Arnhem, the 1623 Dutch ship which reached the Arnhem coast that year, eventually exploring its natural wonders. However, it is believed that the Aborigines reached the area first, about 40 to 50,000 years earlier, when they traversed the Indonesian islands. After them came various sea-based traders from Malacca and nearby areas, after which finally came Flinders and his own group of explorers.

Surprisingly, even as Arnhem Land experienced what is seen as among the most extensive explorations ever made in any Australian area, it remained largely inaccessible. This is because it has been able to preserve much of its original setting where swamps, gorges and tropical jungles abound. Its coast, particularly the northern side, is practically engulfed in a mass of mangrove swamps although the tidal rivers are teeming with various species of fish which serve as the chief staple food of the resident Aborigines.Nevertheless, Arnhem Land should not be seen as a totally vast but barren Australian area for while it is exclusively an Aboriginal land, signs of progress are gradually being felt in these parts.

Several modern houses can now be seen in certain regions where potable water is available alongside a few other progressive features like a generator set and a satellite phone that is powered by solar energy. Providing the perfect contrast to these modern accommodations are the remote homeland centers where local Aborigines have decided to settle in and where they can freely practice their unique lifestyle, including the use of different local languages that only they can understand.

In short, Arnhem Land offers the ideal blend of modern living and the ancient way of life as practiced by Australian Aborigines. This has made the area generally inviting for many tourists wanting to see ancient Australia.

Getting there

However, as mentioned before, getting to see this particular Northern Territory attraction is not that easy. Apart from securing a Northern Land Council permit, interested visitors also need to find a way to befriend the original landowners who have made several decrees restricting access to many areas of their land.

A way around this restriction is for visitors to partake in a tour packages regularly being offered by selected tour operators whose businesses have been existing in these parts for years and are trusted by the resident landowners. Self-driving should also be a good option provided that the vehicle is of the 4WD type and the required permit has been secured from the appropriate authorities.

Activities

In return for overcoming these tourist obstacles, Arnhem Land visitors are given access to several highly interesting places including the Injalak Arts and Crafts Center located in Oenpelli town which is also known by another name, Gunbalanya. The center, considered as among the more accessible Arnhem Land places, is the ultimate spot for lovers of ancient art. A wide array of genuine Aboriginal art objects, including paper paintings, hand-made baskets, and many others, can be seen here. In certain sections of the center, one can even see Aboriginal artisans, sculptors and painters seriously engaged in their crafts.

For outdoor activities enthusiasts, Wunyo Beach and Sandy Creek are prominent Arnhem Land fishing spots. Set in pristine waters, these areas also happen to be the dwelling places of many saltwater crocodiles and visitors exploring them are well advised to take extreme care since the crocodiles are notoriously known to attack strangers even if they are not provoked.

Another popular fishing spot here is Cobourg Peninsula. The place is hardly ever crowded and contains several great species of fish in its waters, including marlins, giant trevallies, queenfish and barramundis.

Getting to see these attractions and the many other exciting Arnhem Land features almost always involves the acquisition of a permit. Visitors, however, should have a far easier time seeing Arnhem Land by going along with organized tours that are usually available in many Northern Territory cities, notably Darwin and Jabiru. Apart from having duly-accredited guides, these tours often combine visits to many other popular Australian tourist destinations like the Kakadu National Park, enabling tourists to see more places for less money.

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