Central Arnhem 7-day road trip itinerary

Overview

• Route: Katherine to Nhulunbuy
• Distance: 730 km (mostly unsealed, one-way)
• Duration: 7 days (Central Arnhem Road 3 days, Nhulunbuy and surrounds 4 days)
• Difficulty: For experienced 4WDers only
• Best Time: April – September (dry season)
• Permits: Required for East Arnhem Land (apply through the Northern Land Council and Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation)

• Visit Beswick and Djilpin Arts
• Stay at Djakanimba Pavilions (accommodation or camping with hot showers)

After you leave Katherine, you’ll travel approximately 50km along the Stuart Highway to the turn off to the Central Arnhem Road. The road trip becomes a true 4WD adventure as you reach Beswick, home to Djilpin Art, where you’ll discover the rich culture and unique artworks.

The nearby Djakanimba Pavilions, located adjacent to the Djilpin Arts Centre, offer a welcome rest with apartment-style accommodation and shady camping options.

• Navigate unsealed Central Arnhem Road
• Enjoy panoramic views at 'Jurassic Park' lookout located 60km from Beswick
• Enjoy Mainoru Outstation Store’s hot showers and cold drinks
• Camp beneath star-filled outback skies or book an outstation room

East of Beswick, the bitumen ends and your 4WD skills will be tested on the famously corrugated Central Arnhem Road. While progress may be slow, the journey through rugged outback opens into the wide open landscapes that stretch all the way to the horizon. Pause for escarpment views at the locally known 'Jurassic Park' lookout.

Mainoru Outstation Store awaits like a shady oasis, offering hot showers, cold beers, outstation rooms and grassy campsites. All are a welcome reward after a day driving the dusty, unsealed road. Savour the silence of true outback wilderness as you camp beneath starry skies. If you want a bite to eat, pre-order your evening meal the day before.

• Spot wild buffalo and donkeys among blooming kapok flowers
• Take an optional visit to Gapuwiyak Arts and Culture Centre (25km off Central Arnhem Hwy. An additional permit is required.)
• Arrive in Nhulunbuy, the gateway to East Arnhem Land
• Celebrate with sunset views at Gove Boat Club

As dawn quickly shifts from night to bright sunshine-laced daytime, you’ll tackle Central Arnhem Road’s longest stretch, heading northeast towards the Gove Peninsula. Be sure to get on the road early as this is a long day of travel. Keep your eyes open for wild donkeys and cattle along with the sunshine-yellow blooms of kapok flowers.

Make an optional stop to Gapuwiyak a Yolngu community on the shores of Lake Evella. Don’t miss a visit to Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Centre where more than 100 artists from Gapuwiyak and surrounding homelands exhibit their work.

The final stretch on Central Arnhem Road sees you sharing the road with mining trucks, as you make your way towards the coast. You’ll arrive in Nhulunbuy with your vehicle coated in a sheen of red dust – a badge of honour to wear proudly in these parts.

In Nhulunbuy, you’ll find a relaxed coastal town where visitors are warmly welcomed and all the facilities of a major town are available. Head to the Gove Boat Club for legendary sunsets across Inverell Bay and the Arafura Sea. It’s a top spot to celebrate your road trip and soak up the relaxed, tropical vibe of East Arnhem Land.

• Explore Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Art Centre
• Visit the Yirrkala community
• Take in panoramic views from Roy Marika Lookout

From Nhulunbuy, the hard driving is done, and you can relax and take short day trips in almost any direction. Head southeast to Yirrkala, home to one of Australia’s most significant Aboriginal art centres. Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka houses intricate bark paintings and contemporary installations, offering an intriguing window into 60,000 years of Yolngu culture and history.

Back in Nhulunbuy, head towards Roy Marika Lookout for a panoramic view of the town, including the industrial infrastructure of the maritime port. Depending on the time of year, be mindful of the midges at dusk.

• Discover Wurrwurrwuy’s ancient stone arrangements
• Relax on Macassan Beach (Garanhan) and Turtle Beach (Ŋumuy)
• Take on Cape Arnhem’s challenging 4WD tracks
• Camp at campsite 2 ‘The Penthouse’ with panoramic sea views (A camping permit is required)
• Spot migrating turtles (April–October) and sea eagles

Drive southeast towards Daliwuy Bay (Binydjarrŋa) and Dhimurru Recreation Areas, which hold deep cultural significance to Yolŋu people. View the ancient stone formations at Wurrwurrwuy which tell stories of Yolŋu-Macassan trade and sink your toes into white sand of Macassan Beach on the shores of the Arafura Sea. Turtle Beach is local’s favourite thanks to its secluded, sheltered cove tucked into monsoon vine forest.

Seasoned 4WDers can tackle the deep sand of Wanuwuy (Cape Arnhem), one of the Territory’s most exclusive wilderness escapes. The track involves deep sand and beach driving, so you’ll need to call on all your off-road experience. Campsite 2, ‘The Penthouse’, rewards your efforts with spectacular lagoon views, soaring sea eagles and turtles if you’re lucky. Respect local protocols and leave only footprints in this protected environment.

• Take a boat trip to Bremer Island (Dhambaliya)
• Relax and dine at Banubanu Beach Retreat
• Enjoy kayaking, rock-pooling, and leisurely beach walks

Head back to Nhulunbuy and swap the 4WD for a boat trip to Bremer Island (Dhambaliya), a tropical island paradise less than one hour from Nhulunbuy. Day visitors can enjoy lunch at Banubanu Beach Retreat, overlooking a sweeping crescent of beach bookended by rocky headlands. Alternatively, plan to stay overnight in luxuriously appointed glamping tents and savour the serenity of this remote island retreat tucked into the sand dunes. Here, you can kayak in sheltered waters, explore tidal rock pools, stretch your legs on beaches either side of the headland or simply unwind and relax in this remote East Arnhem Land paradise.

Safety & preparation

• Ensure your vehicle is fully equipped for remote travel
• Carry extra supplies of food, water and fuel
• Inform someone of your travel plans
• Check current road conditions on Road Report NT
• Mobile coverage is limited - a satellite phone is recommended
• Visit the drive safety NT page
• Ensure you have required permits: for transit along Central Arnhem Road and entry to some Aboriginal communities - Northern Land Council and for access to Dhimurru Recreational Areas - Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation