ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  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

  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.

  Want to swim in pristine Kakadu waterholes with only one or two other people and then towel off for a picnic lunch served on a colourful cloth with Indigenous designs?... read more Then Hamish Clark from Sugarbag Safaris is the guide for you. My husband and I had waited until our sixties to see Kakadu and I was worried that the volume of people at each attraction would leave me underwhelmed, besides which our trip was at short notice and left little time for planning. Enter Hamish. He took care of everything for our four-day trip including permits to Jarrangbarnmi and Bilkbilkmi Gorges, places most visitors don’t get to see. We got to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the landscape as Hamish drove us for up to two hours down 4WD tracks closer to the heart of Kakadu. We saw dingoes, antilopine wallabies, agile wallabies, brumbies, a wide variety of birds and even a python, lazing in the sun. When we reached the end of the car access, we took to our feet and hiked alongside rivers and through bushland, Hamish finding the track when none seemed visible. Along the way, he answered our many questions and proved himself incredibly knowledgeable on just about every aspect of Kakadu you could imagine—flora, fauna, geography and history, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. The gorges themselves were spectacular, and few things can beat swimming the length of the safe pools in Jarrangbarnmi or floating on your back at Bilkbilkmi and looking up through towering cliffs to a blue, blue sky. Hamish had the safety aspect covered too, making sure we stayed clear of water that might contain crocodiles and carrying a pack with a sat phone and a first aid kit. As for the level of fitness required for the walks we undertook, a certain degree of stamina is required to walk a few kilometres in the heat, but while I can clamber over boulders, I would describe my level of fitness as only mild to moderate. I’m sure Hamish was adjusting his pace down to accommodate. We spent a magical few days in Kakadu thanks to Hamish, and thoroughly recommend his services. …

  Our guide, Hamish Clark took pains to work out our interests and shaped our journey to ensure that we had the opportunity to visit, appreciate and to begin a deeper... read more understanding of a range of rock art sites. He took us into magical swimming holes and taught us much about the wildlife and landscapes from woodlands to stone country. He is a safe driver and his years of life experiences up in the NT position him as one who can confidently offer nuanced insight into the complexities of life here( past and present). We valued every minute of our time in his care and under his guidance.

  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.

  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

  Heading to Darwin and Kakadu in April before the open of season was showing lots of tour options from May. From the moment I sent a message to Sugarbag Safaris... read more to enquire of options a couple of weeks before the dry season I had a...More

  Our 6 day tour of Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Parks with Hamish as our guide, surpassed all our expectations. The six days were packed with breathtaking experiences to the... read more point that it was tough to name our top 3 spots on the tour. We were often the first people at a site, making each stop really special.
Hamish is an outstanding guide with exceptional knowledge of the beautiful landscape, flora and fauna. We learnt a lot! Camping under the stars with our very comfy swags, will be a lasting memory of the tempo of the bush around us and the stars and moon above us as we drifted off to sleep. Hamish is a great cook (great vegetarian options!) and seemed to intuitively understand how to pace the trip and give us family time along the way. His insight into the Aboriginal communities and way of life gave us all a perspective that we had not considered. He also adjusted when we had special requests. Thanks Hamish for taking me to Alex and Petrenas Top Didj gallery. I came away with art that I will treasure always!
If you want to immerse yourself in a truely wonderful experience, bypass the big tour groups and make your Kakadu experience one to remember, we all recommend Hamish. Big thanks!
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  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.

  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.

  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

  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

  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

  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.

  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

  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.

  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

  Sugar Bag Safari (Hamish) treated us to a 5 star private tour of Kakadu National Park during a very hot summer day in 2019! Hamish's knowledge of the park's birds,... read more plants, animals and legends is amazing! He made our visit unforgettable!

  Hamish made our visit to the NT a most memorable adventure Hamish from Sugarbag Tours has an amazing knowledge of all aspects of the NT bush. Whilst visiting... read more great locations with indigenous art and cooling off in wonderful waterholes, Hamish shared his great knowledge of the local areas, indigenous culture and the flora and fauna around us. Hamish looked after all aspects of our tour including the itinerary, camping equipment and gourmet bush meals in a professional manner from start to finish. Thanks again Hamish. …

  Want to swim in pristine Kakadu waterholes with only one or two other people and then towel off for a picnic lunch served on a colourful cloth with Indigenous designs?... read more Then Hamish Clark from Sugarbag Safaris is the guide for you. My husband and I had waited until our sixties to see Kakadu and I was worried that the volume of people at each attraction would leave me underwhelmed, besides which our trip was at short notice and left little time for planning. Enter Hamish. He took care of everything for our four-day trip including permits to Jarrangbarnmi and Bilkbilkmi Gorges, places most visitors don’t get to see. We got to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the landscape as Hamish drove us for up to two hours down 4WD tracks closer to the heart of Kakadu. We saw dingoes, antilopine wallabies, agile wallabies, brumbies, a wide variety of birds and even a python, lazing in the sun.
When we reached the end of the car access, we took to our feet and hiked alongside rivers and through bushland, Hamish finding the track when none seemed visible. Along the way, he answered our many questions and proved himself incredibly knowledgeable on just about every aspect of Kakadu you could imagine—flora, fauna, geography and history, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
The gorges themselves were spectacular, and few things can beat swimming the length of the safe pools in Jarrangbarnmi or floating on your back at Bilkbilkmi and looking up through towering cliffs to a blue, blue sky.
Hamish had the safety aspect covered too, making sure we stayed clear of water that might contain crocodiles and carrying a pack with a sat phone and a first aid kit. As for the level of fitness required for the walks we undertook, a certain degree of stamina is required to walk a few kilometres in the heat, but while I can clamber over boulders, I would describe my level of fitness as only mild to moderate. I’m sure Hamish was adjusting his pace down to accommodate.
We spent a magical few days in Kakadu thanks to Hamish, and thoroughly recommend his services.

  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.

  It's been two months since our absolutely stunning Australian trip. We had only 4 days in NT and we must say - Hamish did a fantastic job showing us the... read more best of Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Park having so little time. He took us to the places we wouldn’t find if we traveled alone. With Hamish as our guide we had a chance to experience swimming in beautiful and wild waterholes, take a sunrise water cruise where we could see awaking of nature, and just feel the spirit of wild Australia – it was an unforgettable experience.
Thank you Hamish once again – we had a really great time! 🙂

  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

  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

  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

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  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

  Want to swim in pristine Kakadu waterholes with only one or two other people and then towel off for a picnic lunch served on a colourful cloth with Indigenous designs?... read more Then Hamish Clark from Sugarbag Safaris is the guide for you. My husband and I had waited until our sixties to see Kakadu and I was worried that the volume of people at each attraction would leave me underwhelmed, besides which our trip was at short notice and left little time for planning. Enter Hamish. He took care of everything for our four-day trip including permits to Jarrangbarnmi and Bilkbilkmi Gorges, places most visitors don’t get to see. We got to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the landscape as Hamish drove us for up to two hours down 4WD tracks closer to the heart of Kakadu. We saw dingoes, antilopine wallabies, agile wallabies, brumbies, a wide variety of birds and even a python, lazing in the sun. When we reached the end of the car access, we took to our feet and hiked alongside rivers and through bushland, Hamish finding the track when none seemed visible. Along the way, he answered our many questions and proved himself incredibly knowledgeable on just about every aspect of Kakadu you could imagine—flora, fauna, geography and history, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. The gorges themselves were spectacular, and few things can beat swimming the length of the safe pools in Jarrangbarnmi or floating on your back at Bilkbilkmi and looking up through towering cliffs to a blue, blue sky. Hamish had the safety aspect covered too, making sure we stayed clear of water that might contain crocodiles and carrying a pack with a sat phone and a first aid kit. As for the level of fitness required for the walks we undertook, a certain degree of stamina is required to walk a few kilometres in the heat, but while I can clamber over boulders, I would describe my level of fitness as only mild to moderate. I’m sure Hamish was adjusting his pace down to accommodate. We spent a magical few days in Kakadu thanks to Hamish, and thoroughly recommend his services.

  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 were lucky to find Hamish and to be able to visit Kakadu with his expert guidance. Our private tour allowed us (with a daughter of 6) to explore the... read more most relevant spots in the beautiful parc. And at night, sleep inside our tent away...More

  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