Mt Borradaile, Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land is one of those places that resists easy description. It’s vast. It’s ancient. And it remains almost entirely off-limits to the general public. Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris operates within a 700 square-kilometre exclusively leased area at Mt Borradaile, nestled against the Arnhem Land escarpment – a registered Aboriginal sacred site where valleys, overhangs, and caves have been continuously occupied for over 50,000 years.
The landscape is extraordinary in its variety. Rugged sandstone ranges give way to idyllic billabongs, paperbark swamps, flood plains, and pockets of monsoonal rainforest. There are magnificent rock art galleries – some of the finest and most concentrated in Australia – alongside occupation sites and ancient burial grounds. And the wildlife is prolific: 275 bird species, saltwater crocodiles, and some of the best barramundi fishing in the Northern Territory.
What sets Davidson’s apart is the philosophy. There are no fixed itineraries or rushed schedules. After an initial guided walk to the famous Rainbow Serpent rock art site, the lodge discovers your clients’ interests and tailors each day accordingly. It’s spontaneous, unhurried, and deeply personal. For travel agents building premium Top End packages, this is the kind of experience that transforms a good Australian itinerary into an unforgettable one.
THE EXPERIENCE
What Your Clients Can Expect
Fly In & the Rainbow Serpent
Access to Mt Borradaile is by light aircraft – a scenic flight from Darwin along the coastline (around one hour) or from Jabiru past the Arnhem Land Plateau following the East Alligator River (around 30 minutes). Guests depart Darwin at 7:30am from Chart Air in the General Aviation terminal, arriving at the lodge by roughly 8:30am ready for the day’s touring.
The first excursion is the only pre-planned part of the stay: a short walk to the famous Rainbow Serpent rock art site. It’s a gentle introduction to the area’s extraordinary cultural heritage, geology, and bush tucker. The guides use this walk to gauge your clients’ interests, fitness, and what they want from their time at the lodge. After that, every day is shaped around them.
Trade tip: Guests must arrive at the lodge dressed for touring and having already had breakfast – there’s no downtime before the first excursion. For clients flying from Darwin, this means an early start. We recommend booking them accommodation near the airport the night before. The scenic flight itself is a highlight worth mentioning in your sales pitch.
Ancient Rock Art Galleries & the Catacombs
The rock art around Mt Borradaile is world-class. Within a half-hour drive from the lodge, there are multiple shelters containing paintings that span thousands of years – giving an unbroken visual record of Aboriginal life in the region. The styles range from dynamic figures and X-ray art to contact-period depictions of European ships and rifles. The density and variety is remarkable.
The catacombs are particularly striking. These interconnected rock formations hold artefacts, evidence of recent occupation, and ancient mortuary rites. Walking through them is an intimate, almost solemn experience. Guides provide context without overwhelming – the places are allowed to speak for themselves.
Escarpment walks lead to additional occupation sites with spectacular stone arrangements overlooking the floodplain below. The combination of art, landscape, and cultural depth is something clients simply cannot get at better-known sites like Kakadu’s Nourlangie or Ubirr.
Trade tip: This is the strongest selling point for culturally curious travellers. The art galleries here are less visited and arguably more impressive than the publicly accessible sites in Kakadu. For clients interested in archaeology, Indigenous culture, or photography, this alone justifies the trip.
Billabong Cruises & 275 Bird Species
The water channels and open floodplains surrounding Mt Borradaile are home to 275 documented bird species. Boat trips by small vessel take guests through these waterways, where jabiru, brolga, sea eagles, and kingfishers are common sightings. Saltwater crocodiles bask along the banks. During the dry season, as rivers slow and water cools, the wildlife concentrates and becomes prolific.
Late-afternoon billabong sessions are a lodge ritual. Guests head out to observe the wildlife as the light softens, finishing with a glass of wine and nibbles as the sun sets over the floodplain. The crocodiles are reliably present. It’s both dramatic and surprisingly peaceful.
Trade tip: For birdwatching clients, this is a genuine hotspot. The 275-species count is impressive for such a concentrated area. The sunset billabong experience photographs beautifully and makes excellent content for post-trip feedback. It’s the kind of moment that sells future bookings.
Barramundi Fishing on Cooper Creek
Fishing for barramundi occurs year-round in the pristine Cooper Creek system, though the runoff season (April and May) is widely considered the best. The rivers are pumping, the water is still warm, and the barramundi are actively feeding. It’s not a commercial fishing charter – it’s line fishing in a genuinely wild, remote creek system with your guide.
The wet-season waterfall near the fishing areas is spectacular when flowing. For clients who aren’t anglers, the creek system is still worth visiting for the scenery and wildlife alone.
Trade tip: Fishing is available year-round but if your clients are keen anglers, steer them toward April or May bookings. The combination of barramundi fishing and rock art touring in the same stay is a distinctive pairing that’s hard to replicate elsewhere in Australia. It appeals to a different traveller than the typical cultural tourist.
Bush Tucker & Savannah Woodland Walks
Guided walks through the savannah woodland around the lodge are what Davidson’s calls a visit to “the local supermarket.” Guides identify bush tucker plants, traditional medicines, and food sources that have sustained people in this landscape for millennia. It’s educational without being dry – the guides have a knack for making it conversational.
The walks vary in length and difficulty depending on client interest. Some head up escarpments to stone arrangements and art-filled occupation sites with sweeping views. Others stick to gentle terrain through monsoonal rainforest and paperbark swamps. The landscape shifts constantly within short distances.
Trade tip: These walks are the connective tissue between the bigger-ticket experiences. They give clients time to absorb the landscape without rushing to the next highlight. For clients with limited mobility, the lodge can adjust – not every walk involves scrambling over rocks. Discuss specific requirements at time of booking.
Natural Swimming Holes & Lodge Pool
Depending on the season, guests can swim in pristine natural swimming holes fed by the surrounding waterways. During and just after the wet season, these are deep and crystal clear. The lodge also has a pool for those who prefer a guaranteed swim without checking for crocodiles first.
This is worth mentioning because Mt Borradaile isn’t all early starts and expedition-mode activity. There’s genuine downtime built in. The lodge philosophy – no rigid itineraries, everything spontaneous – means clients can choose to spend an afternoon reading by the pool if that’s what they feel like doing.
Trade tip: The natural swimming holes are seasonal, typically best from March through to June. From mid-dry season onwards, water levels drop. The lodge pool is available regardless. For clients who need to know exactly what they’re getting, it’s worth setting expectations around seasonal access to the natural swimming.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
