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Come together with the Yolŋu sisterhood to learn about their ancient culture, history and country, on this life-changing 5-day tour through the Yolŋu Homeland in East Arnhem Land. This small group tour will inspire and empower women of all ages to make new friends and see the world.
The Yolŋu often say the land is their mother. It nurtures, heals and guides their lives. This is why the female visitor experience and connection to the Yolŋu people is often so profound.
Located in the farthest reaches of remote Northern Australia, East Arnhem Land is a vast and rugged wilderness. Here, you will find dramatic, unspoiled coastlines and palm tree-strewn, pearl-white beaches. The Yolŋu have roamed this area for at least 40,000 years, hunting fish and other animals and forging a deep connection ...
Located in the farthest reaches of remote Northern Australia, East Arnhem Land is a vast and rugged wilderness. Here, you will find dramatic, unspoiled coastlines and palm tree-strewn, pearl-white beaches. The Yolŋu have roamed this area for at least 40,000 years, hunting fish and other animals and forging a deep connection with the land. Each Yolŋu Homeland has its own unique creation story, personality and landscapes.
Over 5 magical days, the Yolŋu women welcome you – mothers, daughters and small children – into their Homeland to experience their traditional way of life. With a small group of like-minded women, embark on a fascinating Cultural Awareness Program to learn firsthand about Yolŋu culture, history and country. You will learn about Yolŋu philosophy and kinship, gender roles and responsibilities, and language, both spoken and sign. You will have the opportunity to participate in traditional food gathering activities as well as crafts such as dancing, painting, weaving and jewellery making. Along the way, the Yolŋu women will share stories about the area and history of the region (pre- and post-contact). This tour strikes the right balance of solo and group time, but be prepared to leave your watches and your smartphones behind and not follow the itinerary precisely. You will interact with the Yolŋu women and their traditional lands on a much deeper level without these digital distractions.
This immersive, women’s only 5-day package includes 3-nights’ basic lodge or tent accommodation at a Yolŋu Homeland and 1-night’s accommodation at a motel in Nhulunbuy on a twin share basis. All meals are included as well as Yolŋu driver-guides, cultural experiences with Yolŋu families and all transport in the East Arnhem Region (including airport transfers and ground touring). All permit fees are also included along with entry into the world-renowned Buku-Larrnggay Mulka art centre.
Embrace the feminine and increase your knowledge of the bush, the ancestors, the sky and universe, with this unique 5-day tour through the Yolŋu Homeland. This tour is the perfect opportunity for mothers and daughters to reconnect with every aspect of their own lives – environment, spirituality and philosophy.
*This tour helps develop, support and promote Indigenous tourism businesses in the East Arnhem Region.
Dates or itinerary don't fit? We are specialising in bespoke "tailor-made" luxury or private journeys. Please contact us for a "tailor-made" itinerary for your perfect adventure.
This tour is eligible to earn ONLYLUXE reward points.
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Arrive into Nhulunbuy/Gove Airport (GOV) in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Your Yolŋu guide will meet and escort you to the world-renowned Aboriginal art centre Buku-Larrnggay Mulka located in the Yirrkala community. Established in the 1960s, Buku consists of 2 divisions: the Yirrkala Art Centre exhibiting and selling contemporary art and The Mulka Project, which acts as a digital production studio and archiving centre incorporating the museum. Enjoy a guided interpretation of historical Aboriginal Land Rights bark petitions. Local works are available for purchase and can be shipped anywhere in Australia.
After the art centre visit, continue on to Yolŋu Homeland, where you will receive a traditional Welcome To Country and general orientation. Your hosts will then deliver a captivating cultural class, sharing the stories of the homeland.
In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner and fireside chat.
Come together with the Yolŋu sisterhood for a fascinating journey into Yolŋu culture and history.
Today’s Cultural Awareness Program will focus on Yolŋu culture and kinship, Yolŋu law and basic Yolŋu Matha language, both spoken and sign. The Yolŋu Matha language consists of about 6 languages, some mutually intelligible, divided into about 30 clan varieties and around 12 different dialects, each with its own Yolŋu name. You may recognize Yolŋu dialogue in movies such as Ten Canoes (2006) and Charlie’s Country (2013).
During the program, you will learn about fascinating cultural practices such as avoidance relationships. As with nearly all Aboriginal groups, Yolŋu people ‘avoid’ certain people in their circles by avoiding eye contact, direct speech and physical contact. The main 2 avoidance relationships are brother and sister, and son-in-law and mother-in-law. Avoidance relationships are a sign of respect.
You will also learn about bush medicine and have the opportunity to take part in activities such as weaving and jewellery making.
The Cultural Awareness Program continues with a fascinating array of activities. Practice the Yolŋu style of fine cross-hatching on bark, try your hand traditional methods of crab hunting and oyster gathering, and learn about Aboriginal astronomy and astrology. You will also have the opportunity to observe traditional Yolŋu crying and healing ceremonies using the ‘Jilka’ leaves to connect to Country, Land and Spirit. It is believed that these ceremonies can help heal a range of ailments from back and knee aches to depression and heart ache.
In the evening, return to camp for dinner and storytelling with Yolŋu families.
The Cultural Awareness Program continues for one final day, where you will delve deeper into the culture and history of the Yolŋu people.
At 3:00pm, say farewell to the Yolŋu Homeland and transfer to your accommodation for the evening, Walkabout Lodge. Walkabout offers comfortable, clean and peaceful lodge accommodation, complete with air-conditioning, ensuite bathroom and private outdoor space.
In the evening, enjoy dinner at Walkabout’s Latitude 12 restaurant. Specialties include 300g Rib Fillet cooked to your liking, Grilled Pork Fillet, Oven Roasted Threadfin Salmon and Roasted Vegetable and Papadum Stack.
All good things must come to an end. Check out at 8:00am and transfer to Nhulunbuy/Gove Airport to meet your departing flight.
*Please note accommodation may vary depending on availability. There are a number of Yolŋu homelands that welcome our groups so we do not guarantee a specific homeland for our tours. Itineraries may also change depending on weather conditions and cultural matters.
Please contact us for privare departures or group bookings. Children (4-14yrs): $1,999pp
The start and finish point for this tour is Nhulunbuy/Gove Airport.
Nhulunbuy/Gove Airport is serviced by flights from Darwin and Cairns by Air North Airlines.
Arnhem Land has a tropical climate, and has two distinct seasons, the ‘Wet’ and the ‘Dry’. The Wet seasons spans from November until April and is characterised by increased humidity followed by monsoonal rains and storms. Temperatures typically range from a minimum of 25 degrees Celsius (77F) to a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius (91F), and humidity levels can reach in excess of 80%.
The Wet season is a stunning time to see the Top End. The landscape turns a lush green, at night the skies host spectacular lightening shows. The ‘Dry’ season, from may until October, is characterised by warm, dry sunny days and cool nights. Temperatures typically range from 21 degrees Celsius (70F) to 32 degrees Celsius (90F), and the humidity levels are much lower: around 60-65%.
This tour is for women and girls only. In the modern western world this could be seen as sexism, but in the Yolŋu world there are clearly defined roles and activities undertaken exclusively by women and men. These roles have mutual respect, and many activities such as dancing and eating are undertaken together.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.Payment DetailAll pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.Single SupplementAll accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.General Cancellation Policies- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurancePlease Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.LiabilityThe participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.Child PolicyPlease consult travel consultant on age limit.Changes to ItinerariesLocal conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.Changes in PricesWhile we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age LimitsYou need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.Cancellation by The Tour OperatorThe walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.Force Majeure'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.EvacuationsIn rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.Travel InsuranceIn view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.