frequently asked questions
Below you will find FAQs and answers to some of the more common gremlins that trouble the soon to be visitor. However, if you don’t find your answer here don’t hesitate to get in touch with us any way you choose. Cheers for now, Rob & Tracey
What do I need to know before I come?
It is always a good idea to get a head start on your holiday by doing a little background research before you come. With this in mind, we created the ‘Book Review‘ page which contains a broad spectrum of information sources and reviews. All of these we use ourselves. You can find this in the News + Updates section of our site.
What aboriginal culture and content do you include in your tours ?
Our adventures invariably are conducted in, on and around sites of traditional Aboriginal land tenure in the presence of Indigenous Australians. Where possible we have sought and received approval for access from the relevant indigenous management authority, Traditional Owners or caretaker group for those sites.
When thinking about aboriginal culture tours it needs to be appreciated that Australian Aboriginal Society is the longest continuous civilisation on earth (80,000 years+). We believe it is impossible to do complete ‘cultural tours’. For how can you cram 1000′s of years of endeavour into a 1,3 or 5-day itinerary!
Recognising this we do however attempt to provide you with enough knowledge of pre-history and the landscape as we can as a starting point for you to begin your journey of understanding and appreciation for the people and their culture. Where possible we also include indigneous guides where appropriate.
For those interested in indigenous culture and people we offer the ‘Colours of Kakadu – 2 Day tour’ as a focused experience. All other tour options have minimal indigenous aspects.
Who will be my guide?
Ethical Adventures is a small family business with big plans. We have created the base from which to reach for the stars.
Now having done that, to take the next step and achieve our goal of creating a sustainable independent conservation tour company requires us to take on like minded individuals with the energy and drive to match our own. To this end from 2019, as we enter our 6th year of operation we intend to have on roster 2 part time casual guides to help us out. Their BIO’s will soon be available on our ABOUT US page.
Each guide including Rob is available for private charter on request. For open group bookings your guide for the day could be any one of our team.
How fit and agile do I need to be?
We don’t run a boot camp but we do want people to be able to actively & safely participate in whatever we get up to on tour. With this in mind, we figure that if you are able to ‘Skip’ for 5 m then you are in fine shape and will have no worries with most of our trips. As standard, there are walks/hikes of low to medium difficulty, mild to hot days (25-45 C), swimming spots, stairs, sand, gorges and gullies … :).
If you are signing up for a charter or speciality trip involving things such as rafting, kayaking, diving or such then specific medical and physical fitness criteria will be required to be met. Details for these will be made available for you at the time of enquiry for the particular adventure.
Unfortunately, if your fitness and agility are a little less than that which is required we will not in the interest of safety and enjoyment take you on associated adventure.
What should I bring?
It is always a good idea to bring the following on any trip in Australia particularly if going into the bush: Hat, water bottle (at least 500ml), towel, comfortable walking shoes, any medicines you may need. However, you will not need to bring sunscreen or insect repellent as we provide you with environmentally friendly alternatives whilst you are with us. For more information, a list of tour specific items can be found on the corresponding tour page on this site.
How big will the group be?
We like to have time for you to ask questions, get personal and enjoy all that our tours have to offer. Taking these factors into account we run our set tours with a guide to guest ratio of max 1:11. You should expect 11 or less on any given tour.
When is the best time to visit?
Am I going to be bitten by a snake, eaten by a crocodile, pierced by a stinger or jumped by a Drop Bear?
Hopefully No ! However here are some rough stats for Australia …
a. snake bite In Australia between 1 & 4 deaths occur each year from between 500-3000 bites. In the NT between 1989 & 2003, there were 348 suspected snakebites of which 79 people were envenomed and required treatment.
b. crocodile attacks in Australia between 1991-2000 average croc attacks were around 2 a year. For 2001-2004 this number went to approximately 4. Apparently in response to increasing crocodile numbers and decrease in croc habitat through human encroachment. 1971-2013 there were 62 attacks in the NT with 18 being fatal. 81% of attacks were whilst people were swimming with 95% of those attacked being locals or people visit the NT regularly … 75% were male!
c. stingers stinger season in the Top End runs from September to June… don’t swim in the ocean. July/Aug wear protective clothing when going into the water. Historically there have been 14 deaths in Australia from marine stingers in the 20th & 21st Centuries. Hundreds, however, have been stung.
d. drop bears … zero fatalities have been recorded throughout Australia, however, unconfirmed reports of attack are numerous.
How does the "book now" option work?
How much baggage can I bring?
If you are going on a day trip you really only need those things we have already listed as ‘what to bring’. The tour vehicle is spacious however there are limits to everything.
Will I have phone service?
Service will depend on the tour you are undertaking. If you must have service please contact us prior to booking and we can let you know the situation.
What food options are available?
We endeavour to source produce in the first instance from local suppliers.
We include in our daily operations homemade snacks and refreshments and aim to provide you, the guest, with meal choices which reflect life here in the Top End. As such we regularly offer a BBQ lunch featuring local meats (buffalo, kangaroo) and salads.
Vegetarians will find the salad nourishing and will also include a suitable BBQ option. There are no nut based products in our food.
Any other food requirements need to be requested and agreed prior to booking.
Can I bring all the kids?
Although your children are angels, it is sometimes difficult to convince others that this is the case! Especially when they are being naughty in a confined space such as a plane or a tour vehicle. In the interest of fairness to others, we do not take children under 8 years old on our open tours. We do however offer family tours (as a private charter) which allow for all members of any age to hang out together and have fun.
What's the best way to get to Darwin?
The major airports in the Northern Territory are Darwin Airport and Alice Springs Airport. Darwin Airport is only 90 minutes away from Kakadu National Park. Alice Springs Airport is a popular option if you plan to do a Top End road trip. It takes 15 hours to drive to Kakadu National Park from Alice Springs Airport, but you can also see Uluru and drive the Red Centre Way. If you are coming from overseas, then you will need to first fly into another major airport, like Sydney or Melbourne, and then fly to the Northern Territory. Check out how to save money on Sydney Airport parking by reserving your parking spot in advance.