There are many new-aged travellers who have taken a liking for glamping – glamorous camping is what it really means. For those who are seeking an adventure in the wild while staying in your comfort zone, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is the destination for you to embrace the wilderness without compromising on the modern lodging standards.

The highlights include making friends with wild wallabies roaming just at the foot of our lodge, cruising along the billabong to look for wild crocodiles, popping champagne while watching the beautiful sunset, and taking an airboat across the wetlands. Tourism Northern Territory kindly arranged the stay as part of our itinerary to explore Darwin, we went there with zero expectations and we were blown away by the experience.

Just less than two hours’ drive from Darwin, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a small property with 10 air-conditioned cabins (habitats) and 15 safari tents. It operates for about 9 months a year – opens its door on the Easter weekend, and closes in November during the wet season. What makes Wildman Wilderness Lodge so special is its goal is to help the indigenous people by hiring them as employees, re-educate and integrate them into society. Without this, structural unemployment of indigenous people would rise as they may not be able to adapt to the changing Australian job market.

“One of the main challenges for Wildman is helping our indigenous staff settle down. We currently have two of them working for us, and we are looking to increase the number slowly but surely,” Wildman’s General Manager Jason Yule told us. “You have to understand that most of them have not worked in a society before, and they have very little interaction with people outside of their tribes,” he continued.

Besides having cultural awareness training for the staff, Jason also understands the Aboriginal culture fairly well – his team and him are always there to offer peer support and guidance for the indigenous staff. Small efforts like these to value every worker by redesigning the working environment help the indigenous workers integrate into the team. By understanding what drives each worker and how to communicate with him, Jason could increase the efficiency and productivity of each staff.

Jason’s comprehensive knowledge of the property not only ensures that daily operations run smoothly, but they are also vital for the safety of the staff and guests. In order to make the working environment easier, smarter, and safer (exactly what NTUC has been saying back at home) Wildman emphasises on staff welfare and safety. One example is having clear standard operating procedures – including the daily need to put on non-slip shoes to facilitate proper walking within the compound, and to wear hats, sunscreen and insect repellants to stay protected and free from bites.

We noticed another example of staff welfare just as we were chatting with Jason, when we spotted the housekeeping staff going around in a red truck to clean the lodges, and Jason told us that because the Wildman staff are constantly exposed to the sun, they cannot have them pushing the usual housekeeping trolley around. With that in mind, they were given special trucks so as to make it easier to drive from one lodge to another to do their routines. Also, every truck is stocked with ample supply of iced water, so that the staff can refresh themselves in between chores – to stay hydrated and well. It struck us that such a simple thought to staff welfare can make the staff happier and more alive, and this is such a basic thing that we should put more emphasis on in Singapore.

Given that Wildman is located in the wild, there are certain issues to deal with – like the potential threat of wild animals, and natural disasters such as bushfires and cyclones.

Besides having refresher courses and drills for the staff on how to use the equipments in the event of disasters, Wildman conducts trainings to familiarise themselves with the local areas, and the proper ways to handle wild animals – like buffaloes, snakes, wild boars, and crocodiles – in the event of emergencies. Our trip on the Home Billabong Cruise (A$60/adult, A$40/child) exemplifies this.

When we were cruising along the billabong looking for wild crocodiles, we were very impressed by the staff. He is very experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to his sitting posture, the impact of his movement, his control over the vehicle, and the various reactions should guests onboard accidentally gestured or alerted the crocodiles. Even though we were riding on a small boat in a river infested with crocodiles, we felt very safe throughout the journey.

There are several activities that you can partake when staying at Wildman, and the Leichhardt Point Sundowners Tour (A$65/Adult, A$40/Child) is one of them. Enjoy a slow drive through forests and along the edge of the billabong to Leichhardt Point to watch the beautiful sunset while having a glass of champagne and canapés.

Another highlight was taking a ride on an airboat (A$165/pax for a 45 min) in the wetlands. The airboat, for the uninitiated, is a flat-bottomed vessel propelled by an aircraft-type propeller, and its flat-bottomed design allows it to venture into marshy and shallow areas where the standard boats/cruises are not able to go. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend you to try it.

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of accommodations at Wildman. For those who seek adventures in style, the safari tents offer a luxe camping experience.

Located on the other end of the resort are the air-conditioned habitats, which are well-furnished and superbly-designed. These are perfect for couples that are seeking a romantic getaway.

We also had the chance to sneak into the restaurant’s kitchen to pick up cooking tips and the use of native ingredients from Chef Dean.

Granted, it is not cheap to stay at Wildman Wilderness Lodge. But how often do you get the chance to be out in the wild, yet stay in a very comfortable and luxurious accommodation? Wildman Wilderness Lodge offers an out-of-this-world experience.

Wildman Wilderness Lodge
Point Stuart
Tel: +61 8 8978 8955
reservations@wildman.com.au

This post is in conjunction with ladyironchef x Labour Movement Project.

For more recommendations, read our guide on 10 Things to do in Darwin.

Australia is a highly popular holiday destination, and when you mention about a trip down-under, most people would think of cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast. However, not many know about Darwin in the Northern Territory, which is a real shame because it offers a unique experience like no other. To be frank, I never knew much about Darwin before, but my recent trip there gave me an unexpectedly memorable impression of the otherwise underrated city.

Darwin is the last frontier of Australia, and it is the closest you can get to wildlife. If you are the type who enjoy outdoor adventures, and want something different from the usual city holidays, Darwin is certainly the place for you. Moreover, it is only four hours away from Singapore, with SilkAir offering four flights a week to connect the two cities.

Here are 10 Things to Do in Darwin, Australia.

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve

On our way to the crocodile cruise, we stopped by Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve – one of the few wetlands in the lower Adelaide River that is accessible to visitors all year round. Besides being an excellent place for bird watching, there are also a few walking tracks within Fogg Dam which allow you to go up close with mother nature. And oh, we managed to see a rare freshie (freshwater crocodile). Can you spot it in the above picture?

Day Tours to National Park

There are plenty of day tours to explore famous spots like Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks – go for a bushwalk, cool off with a swim at waterfalls, look out for hundred of species of fauna that live in the park, and spot wallabies and birds in their natural habitat. For folks who love the outdoor, you can go for a longer overnight hike and rough it out in the wild.

Crocosaurus Cove

Located in the heart of Darwin City, Crocosaurus Cove gives visitors a glimpse and upclose experience with saltwater crocodiles. Those who are more adventurous can choose to swim with the crocodiles in an enclosed cage.

58 Mitchell Street Darwin, Australia
Tel: +61 8 8981 7522
Daily: 9am – 6pm

Fishing and eating barramundi

Fishing is one of the favourite activities in Darwin, and almost every local indulges in this recreation. People from all over the world go to Darwin to fish, too. And there is really nothing quite like sitting under the big blue Aussie sky with your companions, chatting about life while waiting for barramundi to bite your baits, and then retreat to a dinner of fish fresh from the sea.

Stay at Wildman Wilderness Lodge

For those who are seeking an adventure in the wild while staying in your comfort zone, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is the destination for you to embrace the wilderness without compromising on the modern lodging standards.

The highlights include making friends with wild wallabies roaming just at the foot of our lodge, cruising along the billabong to look for wild crocodiles, popping champagne while watching the beautiful sunset, and taking an airboat across the wetlands. We went there with zero expectations and we were blown away by the experience.

Wildman Wilderness Lodge
Point Stuart
Tel: +61 8 8978 8955
reservations@wildman.com.au

Go for a ride on an airboat

One of the highlights of our trip was taking a ride on an airboat in the wetlands. The airboat, for the uninitiated, is a flat-bottomed vessel propelled by an aircraft-type propeller, and its flat-bottomed design allows it to venture into marshy and shallow areas where the standard boats/cruises are not able to go. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend you to try it. Look for Wildlands Wetlands Safari when you are in Darwin. It is A$165/pax for a 45 minutes experience.

Wildlands Wetlands Safari
Tel: +6144 896 7734
details@wildlands.net.au

Learn more about the indigenous people

We also went on an indigenous tour to learn more about the Aboriginal culture. Our guide was an eighteen-year-old lady, and she stopped schooling to help her dad conduct tours to share more about her tribe’s culture. We walked around the land to learn about the environment they live in, the healing properties of different plants and trees, the way they hunt in the wild, and their wedding ceremony.

Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours?
1581 Arnhem HwyHumpty Doo NT 0836
Tel: +61 8 8984 9282
pudakulpact@bigpond.com

Crocodile Jumping Cruise

Besides famous national parks such as Kakadu and Litchfield, and activities like fishing and camping, Darwin is perhaps most well-known for the crocodiles. So, what better way to explore the city than to hop on a boat and look for wild crocodiles lurking in the rivers? Read more about our adventure on the Crocodile Jumping Cruise here.

Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise
P.O Box 37993, Winnellie NT
Tel: +61 8 8978 9077

Mindil Beach Sunset Market

One of my favourite places in Darwin is Mindil Beach Sunset Market, which opens on Thursday and Sunday evenings. There is a huge array of food stalls serving anything from giant paellas, to Vietnamese food, crepes, kebabs, Indian food, roast beef, Greek food, and fresh oysters. The whole of Darwin is here just as the sun is about to set!

Visit the other markets

Besides Mindil Beach Sunset Market, you should also go Rapid Creek Market – Darwin’s oldest established market – where locals head to to buy locally grown Asian fruits and vegetables, and Parap Village Market and Nightcliff Market which offer a mixture of food, local art & craft. As these markets are located in the suburbs, fewer tourists/visitors venture out. If you are seeking a true local experience, opt for these less touristy markets and mingle with the Aussies.

Flights to Darwin from Singapore Darwin is 4 hours 20 minutes away from Singapore, with SilkAir offering four flights a week to connect the two cities.

Best time to visit Darwin The dry season in Darwn is from May to October, but we suggest visiting during April and May as it is quite busy during the school holidays period from June to August.

Where to stay in Darwin Mantra Pandanas (43 Knuckey Street, Darwin Tel: +61 8 8901 2900) is a good option as it is located within Darwin’s CBD, and it is close to the key attractions. The rooms are very clean and they come with a good view overlooking the port of Darwin. Another option is DoubleTree Esplanade by Hilton (116 The Esplanade, Darwin Tel: 08 8980 0800), which also has a good location by the Esplanade.

Tours, activities and things to do in Darwin If you are looking for a tour guide when you are in Darwin, we highly recommend Dean from Indigofera Tours. Dean is an awesome guy and he knows Northern Territory very well. You can email him at dean@indigofera.com.au to find out more.

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: I travelled to Darwin as a guest of Tourism Northern Territory. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets and hotel accommodation were sponsored.