Cobourg Penninsula to Nhulunby via Maningrida

Nigh on impossible to obtain permits to go "across" Arnhem land, you have to go in and out of Gove/Nulunbuy and in and out of Coburg, both routes have restriction on what can be taken/towed and where you can stop/not stop.

We went out to Cobourg a few years ago. From memory there were several permits & it was very expensive & very restrictive. You were not allowed to deviate from main track. The trip out & back was fantastic, however, we were very disappointed with Black Point & the campgrounds, which weren't even near the point or the ocean. Seemed that if you were a fisherman it was probably worthwhile, but we saw the biggest crocs that we have ever seen out there so take care. There was a huge croc slide track across the pathway to the toilet block one morning!! I have heard that the store is no longer open, but that may have changed so just check it out. One of the highlights for us was to take the trip across to Victoria Settlement - what a hoot. The early british established these lovely rock houses complete with chimneys for the settlers. With 40+ degree heat and about 90% humidity, don't think the elaborate fire places were a great idea. I remember that we had to wait around the Alligator river crossing at the commencement of the track for the tide to drop sufficiently to cross. We towed an Ultimate Camper out there and had no problems. I think our permit was for 5 days, but 3 days were enough for us.

We didn't take the Nhulunby/Gove track diversion as we already had enough permits to organise and the cost was quite high. We would have been pushing the limits with our fuel as well if Cobourg didn't have supplies. As a matter of interest it was the dearest fuel that we have ever encountered anywhere in Australia during our 10 years of travel.

cheers, ian g

MYexperience-------you cannot get permits to go across from Cobourg to Nhulunby across the top so will have to trac k back through Katherine.Cobourg for me was a waste of time as said far too many restrictions and I also left before my time on the permit.I MUCH prefered the East end at Nhulunby and spent a lot of time along the beach at Cape Arnham as well as other coastal areas.MYopinion is to forget Cobourg and use your time at Nhulunby.