Turtle Tracks

Operation Dates

Turtle Tracks tours operate seasonally in line with the lunar cycle. Check out booking page for the next available tour date.

Please note: This adventure is not suited to children under the age of 8. A medium level of fitness is required to participate in this tour. The MV Olive Ridley and the MV Flatback are fast open boats exposed to the elements. This tour is not advised for people who are pregnant, or who have existing neck or back injury, or any mobility issues. Sea Darwin reserves the right to cancel or vary trips subject to weather or sea conditions.

About the tour Experience the turtles

The journey

Leaving Stokes Hill Wharf on one of our fast boats at 4.00 pm and on a date especially picked around the lunar cycle, your cobwebs will be blown away as Darwin Harbour and the Darwin cityscape fade into the distance. With the warm breeze on your face and the smell of salt in the air, you will loose yourself in your thoughts as you skim over the tropical, turquoise water of the Timor Sea. The Captain and crew will always have their eyes peeled for marine mammals and reptiles, as you journey past historic Charles Point Lighthouse into Bynoe Harbour, arriving at remote Njulbitjlk (Bare Sand Island) in time for the sun set.

Bare Sand Island

With the permission of the Kenbi Traditional Owners, we will take you ashore to explore the island's beach with our "Team Turtle". With their marine science backgrounds and their passion for sea turtles, you will be treated to first hand knowledge about the Flatback and Olive Ridley turtles, who visit the island to nest.

Day turns to night

As day turns to night, you will also hear about the island's unique war history and its importance to the Kenbi Traditional Owners. The Bare Sand Island sunset is something to behold, and at this point we take time to quietly experience the end of the day on this special little island at the Top of Australia. As the sun sets we'll all keep scanning the shore line for the first head to pop up from the sea.

Turtle watching

The date you travel on Turtle Tracks will be especially chosen with tide and moon conditions aligned for nesting turtles at sunset. Nature dictates on this tour, and you might be lucky to have a nesting turtle on the island when we arrive, or one plod up the beach shortly after, however there might be times when the turtles come up later after the sun has set.

Note that nesting turtles or hatchlings cannot be guaranteed on any tour, although in 2022 100% of our guests experienced a turtle encounter.

Leave it up to nature

The timing of your turtle watching, and your dinner, and your departure back to Darwin, is entirely up to the turtles! Sometimes you'll get really lucky and you might come across hatchlings making their journey from their nest to the sea. Whatever the turtle timing is, we guarantee that this tour will give you memories to last a lifetime.

Trained and expert guides

Turtle viewing on this tour is guided, and a medium level of fitness is required to participate in this tour. The tour may involve beach walking for up to 1km. Our guides are trained and have permits in accordance with Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory's Marine Turtle Watching Policy

Cancellation Policy and Terms and Conditions

In the current climate of COVID, we understand all those who are booking tours would like security in case of their need to cancel in the event COVID-19 prevents them from travelling.

The General Terms and Conditions for Sea Darwin are as follows:

1. Sea Darwin Pty Ltd reserves the right to make subtle changes to advertised cruises or charters.

2. For those cruises including food, dietary requirements must be requested at the time of booking.

3. Sea Darwin Pty Ltd reserves the right to change or cancel your booking in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control.

4. If change or cancellation prove necessary, Sea Darwin Pty Ltd will give you reasonable notice based on the circumstances and will offer you a comparable alternative. If an alternative is not available or acceptable you will be entitled to a full refund or a credit.

5. If a customer cancels a cruise a full refund (less $20 administration fee and 1.5% booking fees) will be available unless it is within 72 hours where the ticket will be non-refundable. If a customer cancels a Private Charter, a full refund will be available (less $20 administration fee and 1.5% booking fees) unless it is within 7 days where the private charter fee will be non-refundable. The administration fee is levied per booking, not per passenger.

6. Sea Darwin Pty Ltd is not responsible for the costs of any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellation or rescheduling of a cruise.

7. Minimum numbers apply for all our cruises and events.

8. Full payment is required at the time of booking for cruises and events, and a 25% deposit is required for all Private Charters, with the balance due 2 weeks prior to tour.

9. Seating is allocated on most tours, to ensure that customers cruising together can sit together. If you are travelling with customers on a different booking, please notify at the time of booking.

10. Sea Darwin Pty Ltd reserves the right to refuse passage to any person who presents for boarding in an intoxicated or substance affected state.

11. Customers are required to present for boarding 15 minutes prior to cruise scheduled departure time. Boarding will close 5 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. Customers not at the boarding location at that time will forfeit their ticket. In respect of Turtle Tours, the vessel will depart the Dock at the latest 4pm, there will be no exceptions made for people not at the Dock by this departure time.

12. While every effort will be made to ensure your comfort and safety, Sea Darwin PL will not be held responsible for any personal injury or any equipment or clothing lost or damaged.

Darwin Wildlife Tour Turtle Tracks

Brolga NT Tourism Awards: Ecotourism

Turtle Tracks Tour Highlights

Fast boat ride

Guided tour

Dinner & Drinks

Your Contribution

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