Arnhem Land Tours & Holidays

While the rest of Australia recognises 4 different seasons throughout the year, the Yolngu Peoples (the traditional owners of Arnhem Land) recognise 6 different seasons categorised by the weather, when flowers and other plants bloom, and when foods foraged from the land are most abundant.

These seasons are from January to early March, March to April, May to August, September to early October, October to December, and then from late December to January.

Each season experiences slightly different weather patterns, but you can expect the months of December - February to be wet and full of thunderstorms and the months of June - August to be very warm with little to no rain. 

The temperatures in Arnhem Land are always warm, even during the wet season, so always packing a reusable water bottle and having it with you is a good idea.

You should also pack some comfortable and sturdy hiking/walking boots as there are several different landscapes throughout Arnhem Land, including thick bushland, rainforests, coastlines, and wetlands.

Pack sunscreen to protect you from the sun's UV rays, a first-aid kit, a few snacks to recharge on your adventures during the day, and plenty of weather-appropriate clothes would be best.

There isn't one 'best time' to visit Arnhem Land, with each month or season of the year providing something different to do and explore.

If you travel during the wet season (December to February), expect the rivers, billabongs, creeks, and lakes to be flowing with water and various animals to be out and about, but it will also be extremely humid and have the chance of high rainfall.

If you travel during the dry season (June to August), you can expect high but temperate temperatures without humidity and little to no rainfall. 

If you come to Arnhem Land searching for fascinating animals to admire, you are in luck. Arnhem Land is home to a variety of animals, from reptiles to mammals and from marine life to birds, making it one of the best places in Australia to marvel at different species in their natural habitat.

Here is a list of animals you can expect to see in Arnhem Land:

• Salt and freshwater crocodiles
• Hawksbill turtles
• Black wallaroos
• Dugongs
• Brown falcons
• Dolphins

The Yolngu Peoples, who have lived and worked on this land for more than 60,000 years (and still do to this day), are the traditional owners of Arnhem Land.

Several famous Indigenous artists have come from Arnhem land, such as Glen Namundja, renowned for his bark paintings and for creating Australia's first yidaki (didgeridoo).

Most people living in Arnhem Land today are Indigenous Australians who still paint, carve, weave and hunt as their ancestors did.

The best way to travel to Arnhem Land is by flying from either Cairns (CNS) or Darwin Airport (DRW) to Gove Airport (GOV). Each airport has daily flights into Arnhem Land with the flight time around 1 hour and 40 minutes and 1 hour and 10 minutes, respectively.

If you travel from a different part of Australia, like Melbourne, Sydney, or Adelaide, you can connect to Cairns or Darwin and then fly to Gove Airport.