DARWIN & Kakadu

Day 1 | Tuesday 4 August
Arrive Darwin | Country to Couture
Our journey begins in Darwin, on the traditional lands of the Larrakia people, whose history and culture permeate the city’s art and identity. After checking into our hotel, we gather together for introductions and an early dinner at Snapper Rocks, enjoying sweeping harbour views. Tonight we step directly into the world of Indigenous fashion at ‘Country to Couture’, an exclusive event presented in partnership with DAAF. This runway has become one of Australia’s most exciting cultural showcases, uniting contemporary Indigenous textile design with traditional stories and materials. The evening highlights the creativity of remote art centres as well as striking collaborations between Indigenous makers and major Australian designers. Overnight Darwin (D)

Day 2 | Wednesday 5 August
Studio Visits & MAGNT
| National Indigenous Fashion Awards
We begin today with an introduction to Darwin’s thriving artist community through a private visit to the home of Fernanda and Henry Dupal. Surrounded by tropical gardens, Henry’s ceramic workspace reveals his process of sculpting and firing clay forms, while Fernanda’s studio holds vintage presses, letterpress type and photographic equipment. We are also invited to try our hand at cyanotype printmaking, creating blue-toned images using paper cut stencils, natural forms and sunlight. After a lunch together, we continue to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Here a curator-led tour guides us through highlights which range from Indigenous bark painting to the Cyclone Tracy exhibition. In the evening, we attend the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, connecting the fashion world with Australia’s oldest living cultures in a memorable gala event held in an outdoor tropical setting. Overnight Darwin (B, L)

Day 3 | Thursday 6 August
Darwin’s History | DAAF Opening Night
Darwin’s layered history has shaped its identity as a resilient, multicultural city. This morning we explore its wartime significance at East Point Military Museum, where immersive displays recall the 1942 bombing raids that forever altered the city. We then step back into the 1930s at Burnett House, a rare National Trust-listed tropical-style home. Designed by architect Beni Burnett, the building’s airy verandas and functional louvres reveal the ingenuity of adapting modern architecture to the tropics. After a relaxed lunch together, we return to our hotel where a lecture provides further context for the cultural events ahead. As evening falls we make our way to the Darwin Convention Centre for the official Opening Night of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. This vibrant event brings together over 70 Indigenous-owned art centres from across the continent. Overnight Darwin (B, L)

Day 4 | Friday 7 August
West Arnhem Land
Today we have the rare opportunity to travel into Arnhem Land — a vast, unspoiled wilderness area with deep ties to Australia’s Aboriginal peoples, stretching over 97,000 square kilometres. An early morning charter flight carries us to Gunbalanya, in West Arnham land, where the award-winning Injalak Arts Centre welcomes us. Here we see a range of art works including painting, weaving and textile design, and observe a screen-printing workshop. Morning tea is enjoyed before a guided walk up Injalak Hill, home to one of the world’s richest rock art galleries. The ancient images, painted over millennia, connect us with the Kunwinjku people’s spiritual narratives. After lunch we journey into Kakadu National Park for a private Guluyambi cruise on the East Alligator River. This remarkable landscape, part of a UNESCO World-Heritage site, is home to crocodiles, birdlife and pristine wetlands. With special permission, we disembark on the Arnhem Land side to view demonstrations of traditional tools and techniques. Our day concludes at Marrawuddi Gallery in Jabiru, showcasing contemporary Indigenous art, before we return by charter flight to Darwin. Overnight Darwin (B, L)

Day 5 | Saturday 8 August
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair | NIMA
This morning begins with a talk by Linda Jackson, whose pioneering ‘Bush Couture’ bridged the worlds of Indigenous art and high fashion. She reflects on her collaborations with artists and designers, offering an inspiring perspective on cultural exchange in fashion. We then enjoy a private guided tour of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair with a curator, allowing us to meet artists and witness material demonstrations. The fair also provides the opportunity to acquire works directly from communities. In the evening we gather for a farewell dinner before taking our seats at the National Indigenous Music Awards. Held in the open-air surrounds of the historic Darwin Amphitheatre, this event is one of the country’s most significant celebrations of contemporary Indigenous music and has launched many careers. Overnight Darwin (B, D)

Day 6 | Sunday 9 August
Depart Darwin
The tour concludes after breakfast this morning. There are numerous options for returning to your home city. (B)