Cobourg Peninsula

The Cobourg Peninsula in West Arnhem Land is as remote as you can get in the Northern Territory. It juts out like a crooked finger at the very top of Australia beckoning to Papua New Guinea across the Timor Sea. To get there you will need a 4WD to wade through the creeks and bounce along the rough track for 6 hours.

The highlights of the Peninsula are the Cobourg Marine Park offshore and the Gurig National Park inland. The offshore reefs are spectacular and you can see 6 species of sea turtles, the rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and the dugong - if you have the time. Or settle for the endless beaches and coves. But no swimming - saltwater crocs and stinging jellyfish are waiting.


We crossed 17 such creeks and 20 flooded areas, making this an exhausting drive.


Sometimes the road disappears complety!


Victor William, one of the custodians of the Cobourg introduces us to the medicinal uses of the plants.


This is the strychnine bush - do not eat the berries!


A "sand paper" leaf used for just that.


Pandanus spiral palm used for basket weaving


Melaleuca bark used for clothing, diapers and canoes.


The honey bush blossom exudes a sweet sap.


Seasonal burning is part of Aboriginal land management.


Caiman Creek with its ring of mangroves.


Wild horses or "brumbies" roam free.


The British settlers introduced water buffalo, Banteng cattle, Sambar deer, pigs and horses and set them loose.


Frilled lizard


Northern quoll, a cat-sized marsupial is common in the Cobourg where there are no foxes.


A tarantula-like spider explores our tarp.


Victor believes that "Your own ideas are the wealth of your life."

Victor shows us how to spear a tarpon or a sea turtle.


At low tide you can pry oysters loose.


A delicious black-lipped oyster.


Chitons were among the first invertebrates to appear on the planet.


Victor has fun with a shell.


Coral chunks wash ashore.




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