Willis's Walkabouts Newsletter 37, September 2008

Kakadu. If you thought you knew Kakadu, think again. Read on for details.

In This Issue...
Kakadu Updated

The Aboriginal traditional owners of Kakadu have long been discontent with the way tourism was going in the park. In consultation with the tourist industry, they have developed a new tourism plan for the park. Part of that vision has been expressed in a new Kakadu website. This is a great improvement on the old website (which still exists) and provides a wealth of new information.

If you have ever been to, or think you may ever go to, Kakadu, you owe it to yourself to visit the new Kakadu website. There are many different pages. It's well worth a long browse.

There is more. You can assist in the development of the new tourism plan.

Submissions close at the close of business on Tuesday 30 September.

The traditional owners have said that a complete review of bushwalking in Kakadu should be a priority. They want people to spend more time in the park. Most bushwalkers already spend far more time in Kakadu than the average tourist. That's good. On the other hand, many of the traditional owners are very concerned about the fact that bushwalkers may stray into areas where they do not belong. Kakadu may be a national park, but it is also Aboriginal Land and Plan of Management for the park specifically states, "Kakadu is first and foremost home to Binninj." ("Binninj" is the name for the traditional owners in the northern part of the park. It is also used as a term to cover all the traditional owners although those in the south are more properly known as "Mungguy".)

I have prepared a two-page PDF document which contains the main part of the bushwalking pages of the Draft Tourism Plan along with some additional information about bushwalking in the park. It was not possible to send that document with this newsletter. If you would like a copy, please click the link below.

Kakadu Bushwalking Information: September 2008
Total Travel

Many thanks to the three people who wrote reviews for the Total Travel website after my last newsletter. As I said then, the Total Travel site consistently produces lots of people clicking through to my own website. The more reviews I get, the better it is likely to do. If you've been on one of our trips within the last few years and would be happy to write a review, please go to the Total Travel Willis's Walkabouts page and click on write a review.

Note. If you are one of those who has booked a 2009 trip which is not yet a definite departure, writing a short review might help get the bookings we need to run your trip.
Work for Willis's

I had only one enquiry after my last newsletter, so I'm trying again.

Among other things, our guides must

  • be good bush navigators
  • be good cooks
  • have good people skills
  • have appropriate first aid qualifications
  • be flexible and happy to lead only one or two trips per year

For South America, they need all of the above plus a reasonable fluency in Spanish.

If you are interested and think you might be qualified as a guide, or are just curious as to what our guides need to know and do, click the links below for some additional information.

Willis's Walkabouts: Qualifications for Guides

Willis's Walkabouts: Guides Information Manual

If you are still interested after reading the above, please contact me as soon as possible after I return from South Africa on 6 November.

Suggestions for improvements to the Guides Manual are welcome.
2009 -- Last Chance on four Trips

Last chance already? What are you talking about??

At midday on Monday 8 September, I'll be heading to South Africa to lead a trip. I won't be back until late on 6 November. There are four trips which will either be definite departures or cancelled by then.

  • New Year in Kakadu: 27 December - 3 January
    Two booked, two more needed to guarantee departure. The only way we can guarantee the best possible walk is to leave the decision as to where we go until we see how much rain we've had by mid December.
    As with all our trips, if we can't guarantee departure two months in advance, we have to cancel it.
  • Chilean Patagonia: January 2009
    I can't offer the normal long trip, but I can offer something I've wanted to do for a long time -- hire a vehicle and explore the southernmost part of the Carretera Austral, stopping and doing a number or relatively short walks along the way.
    Only one booked, four more needed. If I don't have at least three expressions of interest by Saturday 6 September, the trip will be cancelled, hopefully to be offered again at some future date.
  • Kakadu Super Circle No. 1 11-31 January 2009
    This is both our most spectacular and our most challenging Kakadu trip.
    One booked, three more needed. If we don't put out the food drop immediately after I return from Africa, we won't be able to run the trip.
  • Kakadu Circle No. 1: 3-24 May 2009
    This is the only dry season trip where you can see Jim Jim and Twin Falls without the tourist crowds. May is the best compromise between the wet and dry seasons. I'll repeat what I've often said, "If you're going to see Kakadu only once, come in May."
    Three booked, two more needed. As above, if we don't put out the food drop immediately after I return from Africa, we won't be able to run the trip. Because of the need to confirm the departure so early, we offer a special 25% advance purchase discount for people booking and paying in full at least six months prior to departure.
    Want to see what it's like? Have a look at the two photo galleries from our 2006 trip.
    Kakadu Circle No. 1, Koolpin to Jim Jim, May 2006
    Kakadu Circle No. 1, Jim Jim to Gunlom, May 2006
    Want more info? Some of those who did our 2006 & 2007 trips have volunteered to talk to interested people about their trip. Please let us know if you'd like to contact one of them.
2009 Trips Update

We've already got bookings on three other trips. One is already more than half full.

New and/or improved

  • Kimberley Coast Short Explorer. Guide Paul Benjafield spotted an amazing area near Cambridge Gulf while flying over on the May King George trip. He's working out the details now. The group will boat to and from the walk from Wyndham. Fishing and exploration will be the focus of this trip. Watch the website for dates and details.
  • Kimberley Coast Fishing. Paul has had a couple of expressions of interest in a two to three week, midyear Kimberley Coast trip emphasising fishing. The walk will contain multiple double camps to allow fishing at the best times of day. Fly fishermen most welcome -- Paul will happily offer advice on equipment. Target species include: barramundi, mangrove jack, queenfish and trevally. Some spots that will be visited have proven to be good fishing in the past.
    Please let us know as soon as possible if you think you'd be interested.
  • Gibb Road Gorges
    This trip hasn't run since 2003. Some places have closed. Others may become available. We've already had some expressions of interest. Whatever we do, it will be the best possible way to explore some of the best but less well known gorges along the Gibb River Road.
    Want to see what it's like? We've got several photo galleries showing different parts of the area.
    The Gibb Road Gorges Photo Gallery links to three galleries showing different parts of the first two weeks.
    The Bachsten Falls Area Gallery shows the area where we do the longest walk on the third week of the trip.

As always, the Tour Availability and Specials page on our website will be updated regularly with information about special offers and what's still available.
Special discounts -- combine them and save even more.

Book now and save! As in the past, if you are one of the first three people who quote this newsletter when booking any Australian trip within two weeks of when we sent it out, you will get an extra 10% discount on any trip where your total discounts are 10% or less. You'll get an extra 5% off if your total discounts are 15% or more. This offer does not apply to the three trips listed in the first section of this newsletter.

Note. There has to be a limit. The maximum total discount on any trip is 35%.

News About This Newsletter

Once again, I've put in a lot of time updating the email newsletter list. I do my best, but I make mistakes. If I've made a mistake with your listing, please accept my apologies, let me know and I'll fix it for next time.

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Best wishes to all.
Russell Willis