Local walking tour company, Iconic Walks, has revealed joint venture plans with the Jawoyn Association in the Northern Territory, including an ecolodge for the Jatbula Trail, in addition to walking tours in Nepal and Canada.
Iconic Walks and Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation (jawoyn.org.au) have formed Worayang Pty Ltd, a joint venture company to develop the Jatbula Trail. The eco lodge accommodation will begin construction during 2024-25.
Jawoyn Association leader and chair of the board, Lisa Mumbin, said the decision to partner with the Iconic Walks co-founders had been long considered by the Jawoyn Association Board and Council of Elders.
“We feel the time is right and people are right to develop Jatbula carefully. This will help us in new ways to share Jatbula Trail, in keeping with our broader vision,” Mumbin said.
“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.
Iconic Walks said their product range is commissionable to agents at 20 per cent. The company is using the Tour Amigo booking platform, chosen for its ease of distribution capability with tour agents.
Jawoyn Association have 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 for peoples’ well-being.
Peter Mooney, CEO of Iconic Walks, 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 62km Jatbula Walk as one of Australia’s iconic seasonal hiking trails. Jatbula 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 2,928sqm 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. The co-founders of joint-venture partner Iconic Walks are CEO Peter Mooney, one of Australia’s leading wilderness conservationists, and aviation and tourism leader Rob Sherrard.
Mooney is former general manager of Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, which established leading major initiatives for conservation and tourism in the state.
He led improvement and development of commercial walks including Cradle Mountain Huts, Bay of Fires and Maria Island Walks and planning and development of Tasmania’s 42km Three Capes Track and facilities.
Sherrard co-founded the Virgin Blue Airline group in 2000 and oversaw growth of a company that became Australia’s second major domestic airline, expanding to New Zealand and throughout the Pacific Islands.
He owns a range of tourism and commercial businesses, is an active participant in the preservation of historic sites and properties in Tasmania and previously co-founded the expansion of the Tasmanian Walking Company and Australian Walking Company.
Iconic Walks will offer guided multi-day hiking in Australia and abroad, through exclusive local partnerships inluding:
- Jatbula Trail Walk – tracing the iconic Jatbula trail in Northern Territory Jatbula-Trail-Walk
- Iconic Himalaya – trekking across the mountains of Nepal to the Kingdom of Bhutan Iconic-Himalaya
- Bespoke Himalaya – expertly designed private, guided walks for discerning travellers Bespoke-Himalaya
- Langtang Valley – trek through Langtang Valley in the mountains of north-central Nepal Lang Tang-Valley
- Canadian Alpine Experience – exploring British Columbia’s breathtaking Bugaboos Canadian-Alpine-Walk
Feature images: Jatbula Tourism NT.
