Travel to Gove Peninsula/Nhulunbuy

Now I'm no fisherman or sailor but I believe I can see a basic flaw in using an inflatable boat in crocodile waters?

Mike Harding

Well aware of the problems with dogs and crocs - dog would stay firmly in the camp and no-where near the boat or water.

Hi Allan,

We traveled up there two years ago. Cape Arhnem was spectacular. You need permits for all the recreational areas when you get up there. It would be best to organise them early, as there are very limited numbers allowed.

www.dhimurru.com.au/permitsGen.html

The other thing to be aware of is that the central arnhem highway is only open after the wet subsides. This year it was July before you could drive there. Even then water was over the bonnet. The year before we had nearly no water in June. The drive from Katherine is 1000 Km, and can be done in one day if the grader has been through otherwise it will need a couple of days.

Site Link

This web site refers to the road as the central arnhem road.

There is almost no available accomodation in Nhullunby, as the refinery is being expanded, and the only place to camp is the recreational areas that you need permits for.

It is a fantastic part of the world, but it is a bit of a frontier/mining town. We spent most of the time in the recreational areas, but were lucky we knew some one in town to stop in for a shower.

Cheers

Mickey

Travelled to Nhulunbuy a couple of years ago in July. Your main problem in May is crossing the Wilton and Goyder rivers, usually unpassable till june sometime. You can only camp at one spot on Central Arnhem Rd with your travel permit. You could camp at Mainoru river and drive to Nhulunbuy in a day from there. Once at Nhulunbuy you need to a recreation permit, if not pre organized you will have to stay in hotel overnight before its approved. You cant actuyally camp in Nhulunbuy but at various spots nearby(closest is Rainbow Cliffs about 11ks) Not sure if a dog is allowed and I would not be using an inflatable boat around there, You can hire tinnies in Nhulunbuy. Great place to visit and top fishing as well.
hope that helps
ken

Allan, I lived in Darwin for 6 years and my best friend was the licencee for the pub in Gove, she spoke of the mad miners parties on the banks of the beach where they would drink green cans all night alongside salties. Crocs can kill but just be carefull whenyou enter into their territory, they are worse than guard dogs. You should glimpse the Kedron caravans video ( a caravan manufacturer in brisbane) as they show the roads and places you speak of. Its a great dvd to assist your research before you take off.
Good luck and I wish I was going with u.

Hi Allen

Have a look at www.ourterritory.com/ it may be of some help with your trip planning.

As a few others have mentioned, be carefull with crocs in this region. Boating experience in the Kimberley does'nt necessarily translate to the Gove Peninsula.

We had a problem with a croc on the Albert River (North of Burketown) a couple of years ago and I'm now very weary of them.

Have a great trip

Regards

Kim

Evening Allan,

We left Gove in '92, lived there for a couple of years.

A really top spot for camping/fishing/boating/4wdriving.

Doubt if it has changed too much since we left.

Still have some friends there and stay in touch via e-mail, anything specific and I will drop them a line for you if you wish.

BTW I believe that one of our own, EplorOz forumite, lives in Gove but name evades me at the moment.

Drove in and out a couple of times and did not find it much of a problem, but a few creeks could prove troublesome during the wet.

Don't take an inflatable out and about, I have seen two big salties -guessing 16ft plus- stalking a fishing boat. They were staying just about 20m to the rear of the boat in its wake.

Oh and one other thing that might take a dislike to a rubber duckie is the water buffalo. They also like to take a little swim from time to time in any water.

Enjoy your trip and post plenty of pictures.
If I can be of any help send me an mm.

Cheers
Michael

One of the guys in our 4WD club lives in the area, I've sent him a link to this thread.

If he sees it he may be able to give you some current information.

Cheers,
Mark

Got a msg from Bytemark, what do you need to know about Gove?

At this stage the Bullman track is still open as we have had no significant wet. Depending on the rather peculiar weather May could be a doddle or a no go. The 2 issues being Mainoru and Goyder rivers (the Wilton is now a concrete causeway).

Camping is available and Mainoru roadhouse. You'll need NLC permits to drive the Bullman track and the trip can tack 2 days under the normal permit (from memory), I also believe they have introduced a system where if you show proof of 1 days accomodation in Gove, you can get a permit quicker or something. Access off the mine and town leases in Gove is via local permits through Dhimarru.

The town accommodation is non-existent at present with the Refinery expansion. This will start to wind down this year so by mid year may be better. There are no camping grounds in town just the Pennisula and Walkabout Motels. The Walkabout has provided camping out the back of the motel in the past but I don't recall any the last 2 years.

Fishing is good, camping is good. Bullman track can be good, bad or real unpleasent but if open is a good 11 hour drive. You will get people tell you a lot shorter time, but they drive like idiots. There are also road-trains doing the run to Gove with the expansion work, don't know if they will continue this year.

Let me know if you need anymore info

Thanks Mate.
This is really helpful. We have made a booking at the Peninsula and applied for our permits, both for late May, so hope you don't get a really late wet! Our friends are still debating about the dog, so will show them your info. The inflatable will be with us for other parts of the trip, so as we said - we will judge at the time.
Thanks again.
Allan