Beswick Falls Cultural Tour
Join an exclusive full day tour at Djilpin Arts and the spectacular Beswick Falls, Malkgulumbu, in the Katherine Region of the Northern Territory - Home to the world famous Walking with Spirits festival.
Beswick Falls is only accessible with one of our local guides and you will spend the afternoon walking, swimming or fishing, soaking up the ancient stories of this magical place.
Following a visit to the falls you will be taken to the Djilpin Art Centre where you will have the opportunity to explore the Blanasi Collection, a permanent showcase of culturally significant art works in the West Arnhem painting style and curated by late elder and dijeridu master, David Blanasi. Djilpin Arts is a community owned, not for profit established by the late actor and musician T.E. Lewis. No visit would be complete without taking something home from the art centre. Here you will discover silk screens, etchings and fibre work.
This tour operates Tuesday to Thursday, from May to September each year.
Location
Djiplin Arts, 2 Cameron Road, Beswick NT
What to expect
Detailed itinerary
8:30am
Head out from Katherine or Mataranka, 50kms along the Stuart Highway, then turn on to the Central Arnhem Road. It’s around 57kms on this sealed (but single lane) road. Please allow 1.5 hours to arrive in to Beswick Community by 10am. You can see our arts centre on the right as you drive into the community (2 story red building).
10:00am
You’ll be greeted at Djilpin Arts by our friendly local staff. Enjoy a coffee on the verandah and take a tour through our stunning museum collection. Curated by the late elder and “didjeridu master” David Blanasi, this collection is the among the finest examples of West Arnhem art available to the public. Kept safe on community since 2008, the Collection is preserved in accordance with Blanasi’s vision of sharing culture. There are QR coded interactive tours if you’d like to dive deeper into these incredible works.
11:00am
Time to head out bush to spectacular Beswick Falls, home of the renowned Walking with Spirits Festival. It’s a 4WD-only track along the Waterhouse River, passing a large billabong, with plenty of wildlife to see from birds and kangaroos to brumbies and buffalo. Our guides will get you to park up the top at the old stock yard, then take you on foot down a sandy track to reveal the splendour of Beswick Falls.
Spend the afternoon walking, swimming or fishing, and soak up the ancient stories of this magical place, with our local guides who grew up playing, hunting and camping on this river system.
*Please bring your own lunch as our tiny community cannot cater.
This is an exclusive experience - Beswick Falls is not accessible to the public. Your special entry permit is included in the tour price, maximum 12 people on a tour.
3:00pm
Take a leisurely drive back through the bush to Djilpin Arts. Enjoy a complimentary bush lemon grass tea and take some time to browse our beautiful gallery. Weaving, fine art prints, local jewellery, paintings and a fantastic range of easy-to-carry textiles are available to take home a memory and support our local artists.
4:00pm
Time to say goodbye, or you can book a night’s accommodation at our award-winning Djakanimba Pavilions and stay a little longer.
What is included
This is a full day tour. Arrive to Beswick by 10:00am, leave Beswick 4:00pm.
Cost includes:
- Beswick Falls entry permit
Meeting point
Djiplin Arts, 2 Cameron Road, Beswick NT
What to bring
- Your own 4WD to get to the falls
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Snacks