My family of four (2 adults, 2 kids 5 and 8 years) completed a Kakadu 5 day tour with Hamish of Sugarbag this July (22). It was everything we... read more hoped for. Hamish is extremely knowledgeable about all things Kakadu and the NT. It was peak season and yet we managed to see some major or extraordinary sites either on our own or with very few people about. We were well fed and Hamish managed the impossible - keeping the kids happy with the menu! My eldest also thoroughly enjoyed being Hamish’s 2ic on the hikes.

If you are looking for a 4WD safari style tour (sleeping under the stars in tents) - which we were - then I absolutely recommend Sugarbag.

  I went on a 5 Day tour around the Top End with Hamish a couple of weeks ago and I had an amazing time! We saw so many special things... read more from enormous crocodiles to natural infinity pools for swimming. Because the group is pretty small...More

  We are just back from the 5 day/4 night camping safari with Hamish from Sugarbag safaris
Great itinerary which captured the highlights of the 3 National Parks .
Hamish... read more is the most super organized, efficient, and fastidious tour guide I have ever met ! His Land Cruiser vehicle is immaculate and the inner workings of his trailer etc is a lesson in experience and organization ! He is also a pretty good cook which is no mean praise from me ! Menu was varied and plentiful. Particularly enjoyed the lunches - plenty of meat, salad, cheese and bread to fill the hungriest of travelers.
Hamish also proved himself to be amazing in a crisis - he was calm collected, super kind and knowledgeable in the most stressful situation. For this we will be forever grateful.
Hamish also impressed me in his understanding of the complex social situations in the NT and provided interesting perspectives
His knowledge of the flora and fauna was immense and I learnt a lot of very interesting things
Hamish is a guide of great integrity and experience and I would recommend his trips for those wanting a genuine outback experience and don’t mind getting a bit of dirt under the fingernails

More

  My partner and I had a two day overnight private tour of Kakadu with Hamish and it was fantastic. Hamish crated a flexible tour and demonstrated an enormous understanding... read more of the culture, history, plants and animals of the top end, generoulsy sharing this knowledge with us. We spent the first day looking at aboriginal rock art which Hamish brought to life with his experience, then on the second day we went on a 2 hour sunrise Yellow Waters Cruise which was the highlight of our trip.
I can't recommend Sugarbag Safari's highly enough and viewing Kakadu with Hamish was a first rate experience.

  With Hamish and Sugarbag’s small-group tours, we felt like we had Kakadu and surrounding parks to ourselves for 5 days. We found ourselves in the most amazing swimming holes, rivers... read more and waterfalls, hikes and lunch spots with not another soul around, seemingly always to be...More

  Short story - this was one of the most exceptional experiences of my life.

Hamish's knowledge of the local geography, flora and fauna, history and the Aboriginal... read more cultures added depth and interest to the sites we saw. He spent time with me prior to the trip to learn what my interests were and developed an itinerary that matched my interests well. The time with him, driving, hiking, eating - all exceptional and interesting. A good person all the way through and it was a total pleasure to get to know him and share ourselves with him ( I was with a close friend and workmate). I came away from this trip feeling like I begin to know Kakadu and the Top End of Australia and look forward to returning for more adventure.

All in all, I highly recommend Hamish as a tour guide to Kakadu National Park. More

  You definitely need a guide if you wish to visit the hidden treasure of Bilkbilkmi (Graveside Gorge) and Hamish from Sugarbag Safaris is one of the best. The organization of... read more permits, pickup for the 2hr 4WD in, the guide itself, the provided lunch were all first class. Thanks

  Five day trip with a bunch of mates. Awesome trip across Kakadu with Hamish in his new LandCruiser, a very comfortable ride. A great host with good knowledge of the... read more region and culture. A beautiful place and well worth a visit. We also met some...More

  I travelled with my adult granddaughter to Darwin and Kakadu, having 3 days, 2 nights in Kakadu, which was the highlight of the trip. Hamish from Sugar Bag safaris,... read more was our guide, his knowledge of the area, the history, all plants, birds and animals is amazing, we felt very well looked after ( I’m 81) and he was very considerate of my age and capabilities, at the same time giving some challenges for my granddaughter with the walks and some rock climbing! Hamish provided lunch each day with fresh salad, cold meat and nice bread, and fruit always available too, not forgetting the never ending really cold water from the container inside his trailer, and knew where to stop along the way to buy the best homemade ice cream in NT! We were treated to many stories attached to the rock art we saw in Kakadu, taken to museums and the best spot for photographs, all in all those 3 days were exceptional, I learnt a lot about the territory, even stories of people past and present. If you want to learn all about Kakadu with a very nice person, Hamish is your man. Judy Wolfe …

  We just had the most amazing experience travelling with Hamish from Sugarbag safaris around Kakadu in the Northern Territory. His knowledge of the area is extraordinary. Travelling on a... read more private tour is so much more enjoyable as it provided the flexibility to do and see things

  Our four day trip to Kakadu, Katherine Gorge and Lichfield was amazing. One of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world. Hamish's profound knowledge of the area,... read more wildlife, local culture, art and history is impressive. We relied on him to decide the itinerary and it was a good decision. We visited all the well-known sites but in addition he took us to some great private spots. His organisation was impeccable and everything was taken care of, from tasty lunches to ice cold water on tap. His vehicle is very comfortable. Hamish was very flexible and was happy to accomodate our specific requirements. Hamish was great fun to talk to and he is a truly outstanding guide.

  Today’s private tour is one of the reasons I enjoy traveling. My husband and I met Hamish who was a fantastic guide. He is very passionate about the area... read more and he exudes his energy while exploring in the park. He picked us up right on...More

  Going in the Wet Season to Kakadu is the time to go! This experience with Hamish was such a delight! Hamish picked us up from where we were staying at... read more Cooinda Lodge in a new comfy air conditioned land cruiser. Extensive knowledge of plant, animal...More

  My partner and I travelled with Sugarbag Safaris for a 3 day, 2 nights tour in Kakadu. Right from the first enquiry Hamish was very helpful and supportive and... read more determined what we would like to see and do. With the threat of instant border closures from COVID outbreaks, Hamish remained adaptable.

We travelled with Hamish at the start of the wet season and the weather was not always in our favour. Hamish remained easy going, relaxed and flexible and readily adapted to the changing conditions. Hamish was very knowledgeable about the local aboriginal lore and culture, very observant with the local flora and fauna, and is an overall great guide.

The tour was well organised and featured picnic lunches which were well catered.

My partner and I have no hesitation in recommending Sugarbag Safaris to anyone who is looking for a guided tour of the top end.

  My partner and I travelled with Sugarbag Safaris for a 3 day, 2 nights tour in Kakadu. Right from the first enquiry Hamish was very helpful and supportive and... read more determined what we would like to see and do. With the threat of instant border closures from COVID outbreaks, Hamish

  I travelled with my adult granddaughter to Darwin and Kakadu, having 3 days, 2 nights in Kakadu, which was the highlight of the trip. Hamish from Sugar Bag safaris,... read more was our guide, his knowledge of the area, the history, all plants, birds and animals is amazing, we felt very well looked after ( I’m 81) and he was very considerate of my age and capabilities, at the same time giving some challenges for my granddaughter with the walks and some rock climbing! Hamish provided lunch each day with fresh salad, cold meat and nice bread, and fruit always available too, not forgetting the never ending really cold water from the container inside his trailer, and knew where to stop along the way to buy the best homemade ice cream in NT! We were treated to many stories attached to the rock art we saw in Kakadu, taken to museums and the best spot for photographs, all in all those 3 days were exceptional, I learnt a lot about the territory, even stories of people past and present. If you want to learn all about Kakadu with a very nice person, Hamish is your man. Judy Wolfe

  We had a great 4 day 3 night trip with Hamish with our family of 6 from the US. I was worried about traveling through the Northern Territory with a... read more 4 and 7 year old, my husband and my elderly parents who were not super mobile, but Hamish was able to adapt our trip (on a daily basis) to make it work so we still hit all of the highlights, various trip members’ wish list (lots of wild crocs for my son, Ubirr and Gunlom for myself), and just have a truly unique one-of-a-kind experience.

We swam in beautiful waterholes, saw inspiring indigenous rock art, spectacular scenery, and tons of wildlife (wallabies, crocodiles). Also camped under the stars for one night, but opted for lodging the other nights for a little extra convenience.

Hamish was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the region, the local flora and fauna, and just all around great guide with 20+ years experience. Food was delicious, including Cape Grim Tasmanian grass fed beef cooked to perfection, nutritious breakfasts and sandwich lunch picnics. The Land Cruiser was spotless and extremely comfortable. We’d definitely come back again with Hamish and highly recommend his company! More

  A fantastic 4 night tour through Kakadu with Hamish as our guide. We travelled in a new 8 seater land cruiser that comfortably fitted the 7 of us and... read more that took us to destinations and sites I could not access on my previous visit. The...More

  Awesome 5 days touring Kakadu with Hamish and sleeping in swags under the stars. His local knowledge was superb and he provided a fascinating insight into the area, its history... read more and geography. Even though we had visited Kakadu before he was able to take us to deserted gorges and swimming holes we hadn't seen and provided a totally different view of things. Considerate and generous host with an excellent repertoire of camp fire recipes. Perfect for small groups and an excellent guide to the area. Thoroughly recommended.

  What a great way to spend a weekend seeing the magical parts of Kakadu. Hamish is the most incredible host, taking care of our family, and engaging everyone in... read more the wonders of Kakadu. The evident passion Hamish has for this part of Australia is infectious...More

  We had the most fantastic trip with Hamish guiding us through the splendid Kakadu National Park during the dry season. We are from the U.K., and although we know Australia... read more well, the NT is another matter. Hamish was so knowledgable and we learnt so much more that we could ever have hoped on our own. I think he answered pretty much any question we could throw at him about the flora, fauna, aboriginal culture and Southern Hemisphere constellations. Literally he is a walking encyclopaedia!
We also felt very safe in his capable hands, and were able to do all the things we wanted, which he arranged to run like clockwork. Bush camping, wild swimming, fishing and boat trips were all on the list and he managed to get us everywhere at the right time to avoid the crowds and feel like we had the whole park to ourselves.
It was an awesome experience for all of us.
Also.....fab food! Thanks so much. More

  We are just back from the 5 day/4 night camping safari with Hamish from Sugarbag safaris
Great itinerary which captured the highlights of the 3 National Parks .
Hamish... read more is the most super organized, efficient, and fastidious tour guide I have ever met ! His Land Cruiser vehicle is immaculate and the inner workings of his trailer etc is a lesson in experience and organization ! He is also a pretty good cook which is no mean praise from me ! Menu was varied and plentiful. Particularly enjoyed the lunches - plenty of meat, salad, cheese and bread to fill the hungriest of travelers.
Hamish also proved himself to be amazing in a crisis - he was calm collected, super kind and knowledgeable in the most stressful situation. For this we will be forever grateful.
Hamish also impressed me in his understanding of the complex social situations in the NT and provided interesting perspectives
His knowledge of the flora and fauna was immense and I learnt a lot of very interesting things
Hamish is a guide of great integrity and experience and I would recommend his trips for those wanting a genuine outback experience and don’t mind getting a bit of dirt under the fingernails

  I've dreamt about spending my 40th birthday in Kakadu for years. Hamish was the perfect tour guide to help me plan a memorable tour for me and some of my... read more closest friends. He was so flexible and helpful throughout the entire planning process and everyone...More

  We couldn't have asked for a better way to discover the magic of Kakadu! Thanks Hamish for sharing your deep insights into an amazing part of the world. What... read more a perfect setting for an introduction to the Dreaming ... the kids were enthralled and still...More

  Not having been to Northern Territory before we were keen to do it properly and see as much of Kakadu as we could. So pleased we found Hamish at... read more Sugarbag Safaris! Specializing in small groups made it even better. Hamish had a knack of getting...More

  We booked Sugarbag Safaris to take us places that we couldn't get to on our own. Turned out to be so much more than expected. Hamish was able... read more to introduce us to places and history we had no idea about. Hamish is so easy going but the operation is tight. Highly recommended. Patricia, Susan

  Highly recommend Hamish to give you the best tour of Kakadu. He is both very knowledgeable and respectful of the local culture and area. We saw places we would never... read more have seen on our own. Personal favourite was Motorcar Falls. Such a beautiful spot to swim.

  An absolutely wonderful way to experience the Kakadu. Hamish meet us at our hotels in Darwin before taking us towards Kakadu. We didn’t have any firm plans but Hamish had... read more organised 3 days to sites to visit, and walks. As we headed out of Darwin we mentioned we had permits to fly drones in a number of parks (but no Kakadu), Hamish took an unexpected turn off the Hwy, stopping at Knuckey Lagoons and letting us fly our drones before we entered Kakadu where we couldn’t. This was the flexibility that having a private tour was fantastic for.
On the second day we were heading out to our first walk of the day and we spotted a dingo just off the road. Hamish was able to pull over, and drive back to allow us to get some amazing photos. This happened a few times where there was an opportunity to stop and get some photos that we never would have been able to in a larger group in a bus.
Hamish was a fantastic, knowledgeable guide. He was able to adapt the tour to our wishes and our abilities. He prepared a great lunch each day, and had the coldest water to fill our water bottles. I have no idea how it was still cold on the third day, but it was.
If you do visit I Kakadu make sure you take the opportunity to do the Yellow River cruise, it was a real highlight.

  Short story - this was one of the most exceptional experiences of my life.

Hamish's knowledge of the local geography, flora and fauna, history and the Aboriginal... read more cultures added depth and interest to the sites we saw. He spent time with me prior to the trip to learn what my interests were and developed an itinerary that matched my interests well. The time with him, driving, hiking, eating - all exceptional and interesting. A good person all the way through and it was a total pleasure to get to know him and share ourselves with him ( I was with a close friend and workmate). I came away from this trip feeling like I begin to know Kakadu and the Top End of Australia and look forward to returning for more adventure.

All in all, I highly recommend Hamish as a tour guide to Kakadu National Park.

  Just returned home from Darwin after 3 (full) day/s tour with Sugarbag Safaris. Hamish was on time at both drop off and pick up and very organised right throughout our... read more 3 days of travelling through Kakadu and Litchfield. We were a group of eight so...More