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July 2010

Venture North

Australia

Have You Been Red Carded?

NT Operatorswin top awards

tales from the territory…

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Profile: Venture North AustraliaAdventure, nature, indigenous culture, fishing, photography, bushwalking, history; Venture North Australia ticks all the boxes for a remote escape from the hustle and bustle.

Photo: Venture North

Brothers, Hugh and Aaron Gange bought the Venture North operation no more than 3 months ago, after Hugh spent many years working for the business under the previous owners. Hugh’s experience as a guide in the Arnhem Land and Cobourg regions is extensive, and has led to an intimate knowledge of the local Aboriginal people and their culture, the rare and beautiful species of wildlife, and the local colonial history of the early 1800s.

Venture North offers unique opportunities to experience the history and marine life of Cobourg Peninsula, the Aboriginal culture and rock art of Arnhem Land, and the majestic waterfalls of Kakadu National Park. They specialise in taking passengers on safari to remote and difficult-to-access destinations that are not part of the usual touring itinerary. For instance, travel restrictions through the Gurig Ganuk Barlu National and Marine Park, situated on the Cobourg Peninsula, means only 15 vehicles are allowed into the park at any one time.

Venture North are one of the few operators that hold a concession to operate tours through Arnhem Land and the Cobourg Peninsula. This level of special access gives passengers a significant sense of isolation, which is often the exact purpose of their trip.

Aaron says many of their passengers are repeat visitors to the Northern Territory; often those that have been to Kakadu before and are looking for something new and different this time round. Their five-day tour of the three regions allows for stops in the popular Arnhem Land and Kakadu regions, but has the added bonus of 2 days in the remote and pristine Cobourg Peninsula. Here, the permanent coastal camp is positioned overlooking Port Essington, where comfortable tents and facilities are housed. This is where Hugh and Aaron’s environmental drive shines. They’ve invested in new eco-friendly facilities, solar powered lighting, and the generator is only used on an as-needed basis. Plus, their eco tours offer a unique appreciation of diverse ecosystems. This return to nature is exactly what guests are looking for when they book with Venture North.

The waters of Cobourg Peninsula are teeming with over 250 recorded species of fish, including barramundi, Spanish mackerel, barracuda, and golden snapper. The Aboriginal occupants of this region still hunt various species including crocodiles, dugong and sea turtles, using traditional methods such as spears.

“It’s almost impossible not to catch a fish up there,” Aaron, clearly a keen angler himself, says.

After spending the day out on the boat, groups return to their camp and cook up their freshly caught fish on the hot coals, reminisce about the one that got away, or rather, boast about whose fish was bigger, and succumb to their swags for a night under the stars.

For more information on Venture North Australia visit

www.venturenorth.com.au or phone +61 8 8927 5500

Photo: Fishing Boat, Venture North

Photo: Campsite, Cobourg Coastal Camp

Photo: Victoria Settlement, Venture North

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Two Territory Operators Win National AwardsEco Tourism Australia accredited businesses, Kakadu Culture Camp and Far Out Adventures, have been recognised with national awards.

Kakadu Culture camp won Best Indigenous Tourism Experience in the prestigious 2010 Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards, and Far Out Adventures have been recognised by Eco Tourism Australia as ‘Green Travel Leaders’.

Voted by Australian Gourmet Traveller readers, Kakadu Culture Camp claimed victory in the Indigenous category for providing Australian travellers with an outstanding local holiday experience.

Owned and operated by the Hunter family, it was a dream of their late Grandfather Namandjalorrwokwok to establish a camp where Bininj (Aboriginal) people could live and work, and share their culture, traditional heritage and amazing wildlife with tourists from around the world.

Far Out Adventures was one of 10 operators (from a pool of 40 businesses) to be recognised as an Advanced Eco Tour Operator by Eco Tourism Australia. Their tours were originally designed to cater for small, discerning groups and individuals travelling to iconic destinations such as Kakadu and Katherine Gorge.

From this humble beginning, Far Out Adventures now visit more ‘off-the-track’ location’s including Aboriginal Lands and art sites, wildlife hangouts, secret swimming holes and fishing spots, and dining under the stars.

A key factor in Far Out Adventures winning the Green Travel Leader award was the move by the company to stop printing brochures, and focus on electronic media and word of mouth referrals.

Photo: Kakadu Culture Camp, Kakadu National Park

Photo: Far Out Adventures

This is your last chance to be Red Carded and sent off on a $5000 holiday in the Red Centre.

Two weeks ago, during the final throes of Australia’s Soccer World Cup bid, an army of renegade soccer umpires trawled the streets and Red Carded stressed-out city workers, offering them the chance to escape the daily grind and Get Centred in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre. The ultimate target was Today weatherman, Steve Jacobs, who was Red Carded for switching allegiance to the New Zealand All-Whites once the Socceroos were knocked out of the competition.

Commuters were directed to www.travelnt.com/redcarded, a Facebook application developed for the competition, where they could Red Card their friends for working too hard, too long, or for missing a weekend away because they were working overtime.

Sending a Red Card enters participants into the draw to win a holiday for two, including return airfares with Virgin Blue, plus three nights’ accommodation at Ayers Rock Resort’s Desert Gardens Hotel, a Sounds of Silence dinner and airport transfers.

The competition closes at 11.59pm this Sunday, July 11, so Red Card your mates for your chance to discard the everyday and Get Centred in the Red Centre.

Have You Been Red Carded?

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Tourism NT has introduced an accreditation policy to ensure best-practice standards are met, and surpassed, across the industry.

Gardens of the Northern Territory From $2952 per person

Tour includes:

9-day escorted tour on Australia’s most famous train journeyAustralia’s most famous train journey to the heart of Australia, visiting some of our most spectacular and unique gardens. Experience and learn about the different landscapes and challenges that face gardeners from the lush tropical gardens in the Top End to the striking desert gardens of the Red Centre.

4 nights accommodation in Darwin, 3 nights accommodation in3 nights accommodation in Alice Springs. Gold Service on the Ghan with sleeper, inclusiveGold Service on the Ghan with sleeper, inclusive of all onboard meals, all breakfasts and touring in Katherine and Alice Springs and transfers.

Departs Darwin 11 September 2010

Booking code: Gardens

Phone 13 67 68 for more information

*Conditions Apply

deals

fast facts

Tourism NT’s accreditation policy came into effect on 1 July, with a total of 330 tourism operators successfully completing the program, and many more expected to achieve accreditation in the coming months.

Tourism accreditation in the Northern Territory has been driven by industry to ensure ongoing sustainability and best practices of local tourism operators, and provide a minimum standard in business operation and customer service.

As part of the accreditation policy, Tourism NT marketing, promotion and distribution services will be exclusively supplied to tourism operators who are accredited with a TAAL-licensed product.

The accreditation policy applies to accommodation, attractions that charge an entry fee, tours, and vehicle and vessel hire operators.

The accreditation policy was adopted in March 2008, became effective on July 1, 2010, and will continue to be developed into the future.

Accreditation assesses a provider’s legal compliance, strategic and business planning, human resource management, environmental management, administration practices and operations, customer service, risk management and maintenance programs.

Accreditation programs recognised by Tourism NT include Respecting Our Culture, Caravan Industry Association and Eco Certification and Australian Tourism Accreditation Program.

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5diary

Aug 21

ASSA ABLOY Henley-On-Todd Regatta

Defying the desert sands, teams and individuals race their ‘boats’ in the dry bed of the Todd River. Sit back and enjoy the entertainment as seemingly sane competitors shoulder their bottomless ‘eights’, oxford tubs’ and yachts.

www.henleyontodd.com.au

Sep 10-19Alice Desert Festival

A kaleidoscope of events, from theatre and dance to pottery and writing, are held throughout the event, which showcases Central Australia’s community of visual and performing artists, both indigenous and non-indigenous.

www.alicedesertfestival.com.au

Photo: Desert Mob

Photo: Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta

Photo: ASSA ABLOY Henley-On-Todd Regatta

Sep 10 - Oct 24Desert Mob, Alice Springs

This indigenous exhibition celebrates and defines a living art movement expressed through the heritage values of the oldest living culture in the world. Works can be purchased from Aboriginal organisations of the central desert region.

www.araluen.nt.gov.au

Photo: Alice Desert Festival

Aug 13-30Darwin Festival

A feast of local, national and international performances make up the festival program, with everything from free outdoor events to theatre, dance, music, cabaret, films, workshops, comedy and sensational cuisine.

www.darwinfestival.org.au

Aug 8 Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta

Optimistic crowds cheer on boats home-made from empty beer cans as they flounder and sink in the shallows. Boat entries range from 1 to 12 metres in this iconic event.

www.beercanregatta.org.au/

Oct 1-3Barkly Goldrush Campdraft Challenge

An annual family event held in October, activities during the day and night include bull and bronco riding, barrel racing, the stockman’s challenge, and an assortment of campdraft events. Full bar, catering and camping facilities are available. Dance the night away with live entertainment on Friday night.

Tel: 1800 500 879

Sep 11

Kakadu Mahbilil Festival, Kakadu National ParkAboriginal people from Kakadu and further afield flock to Lake Jabiru for the Mahbilil Festival, which includes dancing, market stalls and bush foods. The Magpie Goose cooking comp is the highlight for many.

Telephone: 08 8979 2200

Photo: Mahbilil Festival, Kakadu

Photo: Barkly Rodeo, Tennant Creek