Garig Gunak Barlu National Park

Garig Gunak Barlu (pronounced “Gah-rig Goon-uk Bar-loo”) is a spectacular but extremely remote national park located at the very northern tip of the NT. It covers the entire Cobourg Peninsula and surrounding waters of the Garig Gunak Barlu Marine Park. Travelers who venture here (accessible by 4WD in the Dry Season or year-round by sea/air) are rewarded with empty white-sand beaches, coral reefs and abundant wildlife far from civilization:contentReference[oaicite:56]{index=56}. The park is jointly managed with the Traditional Owners and entry is by permit only, with visitor numbers limited. Camping is available at Smith Point near the ranger station, with basic amenities. Activities include world-class fishing and boating in the marine park (anglers come for Spanish mackerel, reef fish and barramundi), wildlife watching (saltwater crocodiles, turtles, dugongs:contentReference[oaicite:57]{index=57} and dolphins frequent the area), and bushwalking to sights like the old Victoria Settlement ruins – the remnants of an 1830s British fort and colony accessible by boat:contentReference[oaicite:58]{index=58}. Birdlife is prolific, from rare beach stone-curlews along the coast to migratory waterbirds in the wetlands. There are no shops or fuel – visitors must be fully self-sufficient with supplies and emergency communications:contentReference[oaicite:59]{index=59}. Roads into Cobourg are 4WD-only and open in Dry Season (May–Oct) when permits are granted:contentReference[oaicite:60]{index=60}. Garig Gunak Barlu’s isolation and natural riches make it a bucket-list destination for those seeking an untouched wilderness experience imbued with cultural history and stunning land- and seascapes.