New partnership will bring iconic Katherine walking trail to the world
A new partnership with TOs and a global tourism company is opening up an iconic Territory walk to the world. Read which one.
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An iconic Territory walking trail has been added to the schedule of a new Australian company offering bespoke walks in exotic locations worldwide.
Iconic Walks has joined with the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation to form Worayang Pty Ltd, a joint venture company that will develop the iconic Jatbula Trail, a 62km one-way walk from Nitmiluk Gorge to Edith Falls along the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment.
As well as the Jatbula trail, Iconic Walks also offers treks to the Himalayas, Langtang Valley in Nepal and Canada.
Lodge-style accommodation is expected to be constructed along the Jatbula trail over the next 12 months.
Jawoyn Association board chairwoman Lisa Mumbin said the time was right for the Jawoyn people to ink this partnership arrangement with Iconic Walks.
“We feel the time is right and people are right to develop Jatbula carefully,” Ms Mumbin said. “This will help us in new ways to share Jatbula Trail, in keeping with our broader vision.
“Since Jawoyn Association’s beginnings 30 years ago, we have invited others to share our country, following a philosophy taught to us by our Elders, to share and to show how much it means to us and to build a future for next generations.
“We are looking at Jatbula, seeing how we can make it possible in the future for more people to walk the trail on short treks or to stay longer on country in the eco accommodation we are building,” she said.
A Territory tourism leader, Jawoyn Association has established numerous award-winning visitor experiences including Cicada Lodge, Nitmiluk Gorge Boat Tours and Canoes, specialised on-country tours and the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Group making traditional bush remedies.
Iconic Walks chief executive Peter Mooney said the partners shared a mutual vision.
“It is a tremendous privilege to be accepted to form such a partnership with the traditional landowners, and to support Jawoyn Association’s vision,” he said.
“Working alongside Jawoyn Association leaders, with the oversight of the elders, we look forward to developing the Jatbula Trail Walk in ways that will benefit Jawoyn people, open the trail for more visitors and at the same time, take care of the land for future generations,” he said.
Iconic Walks will market the Jatbula Walk as one of Australia’s iconic seasonal hiking trails. It is open to a limited number of walkers from June to September annually, attracting visitors from around the world and throughout Australia.
The trail traverses country owned by the Jawoyn people, the traditional custodians of the land.
It passes through ancient natural and cultural landscapes that highlight living Jawoyn culture, winding through the south-western corner of the 2928 square kilometre Nitmiluk National Park, and the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment, to finish at Leliyn, Edith River.
The famous trail is named after Peter Jatbula, a Jawoyn man who was instrumental in securing land rights for his people and who walked the route with his family, as did generations of Jawoyn people.
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