Sailing

The stretch of sea between Darwin and the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory is just perfect for sailing. Explore Darwin Harbour, and then travel along the unspoiled coast until you reach Nhulunbuy. Along the way, you may want to sail out to one of the remote islands off the shores of the Top End which are accessible by boat.

Until the sixties, seeing a sailboat on Darwin Harbour was a rare sight since it was thought that tides made it too dangerous. These days, you’ll find a plethora of sails billowing in the breeze that comes in across the bay. Operators will take you to the surrounding waters for a sunset cruise or out to Bare Sand Island, a day’s sail from the city. This island is well worth the journey to see turtles come to shore to lay their eggs in the sand.

Travelling east, you can anchor anywhere you like without a permit. However if you want to come ashore you will need to get permission, as the land here is Aboriginal territory. Once you reach the Gove Peninsula, you’ll find a marine haven dotted with protected bays and offshore islands. A major attraction is going through the ‘Hole in the Wall’ on the Wessel Islands. This part of the sea formed a trade route for the Macassans who harvested sea cucumbers and traded with the Aboriginal people here for hundreds of years.