Remote Cobourg Peninsula is one of the Top End’s great wilderness areas, where tropical woodland meets pristine coast and wildlife-rich seas within Garig Gunak Barlu National Park.
Protected within Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, the Cobourg Peninsula is a spectacular mosaic of eucalyptus woodland, monsoon forest, wetlands, mangroves, beaches, coral reefs and seagrass meadows. Its isolation and various habitats support an exceptional mix of terrestrial and marine wildlife, including dugongs, dolphins, saltwater crocodiles, marine turtles and the world’s largest wild herd of banteng.
The peninsula was Australia’s first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and is particularly rewarding for birdwatching, with mangroves, mudflats, lagoons and coastal habitats attracting a rich variety of waterbirds, shorebirds and seabirds. Offshore, the clear waters support numerous species including the vulnerable dugong, Australian snubfin dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, and green and flatback turtles.
Exploration is part of the appeal. Travel by boat along remote bays and creeks, head out by 4-wheel-drive through savannah woodland and walk with expert guides in search of wildlife. The area also has a fascinating cultural and historical story, from the enduring connection of its Traditional Owners to Macassan contact and the atmospheric ruins of the 19th-century Victoria Settlement at Port Essington.
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