Getting to Nhulunbuy By Air
If traveling to Nhulunbuy by plane Qantas Link provide daily jet services to Gove Airport from Cairns and Darwin with connections to anywhere in the world. The Cairns - Gove flight is only 1 hour and 40 mins and Darwin - Gove flight is only 1 hour 10 mins.
Transfers
An airport shuttle bus meets every flight for transfers to accommodation houses in Nhulunbuy and costs approximately AUD $10 pp each way.
Sightseeing
If you plan to travel to Nhulunbuy and the Gove Peninsula by road please note all Arnhem Land is Aboriginal land and visitors require permits to enter.
Driving Safely
What will you do if you breakdown? and other tips for driving on Arnhem Land Roads are available at the Travel Tips page.
Permits are required
To travel the Central Arnhem Road requires travel over many Yolngu Clan lands and so a permit from the Northern Land Council is required. There is no cost for this permit but a permit is necessary to preserve the area and monitor the numbers of people on the track. Allow up to two to four weeks for the permit to be processed by mail. Click here to read more about permits required for East Arnhem Land
By Road
The Central Arnhem Road leaves the Stuart Highway
52 km south of Katherine. The first 30 km is sealed but from
then on the road is corrugated, slippery with loose gravel
and in some places heavy with bull dust.
There are two major river crossings; the Wilton
River near Bulman Aboriginal community and the Goyder River,
about 400 km from Nhulunbuy. It is advisable to check road
conditions with the Department of Planning
and Infrastructure before traveling for a Road Report.
The last fuel stop is at Katherine or Mataranka. There is no
more fuel after this until you reach Nhulunbuy, so it will
be necessary to carry jerry cans of fuel.
Permits are required
Traveling in Arnhem Land also requires a Permit which you can apply for through the Northern Land Council. You may also require a recreational or special permit from the Dhimurru Land Management Council for areas outside the Nhulunbuy Town when sightseeing in East Arnhem Land.
Caravans
In 2010 the town will have has a camper trailer park located in the grounds of the Walkabout Lodge with 12 powered sites and amenities. Bush camping without facilities is available in the recreation areas managed by Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation and a permit must be obtained.
Please note that the Central Arnhem Road is not recommended for caravans, only sturdy off-road camper trailers. The Northern Land Council will not approve a permit to tow a caravan into East Arnhem Land and Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation will not issue a Visitor Recreation Permit to anyone with a caravan.
This is to minimize the environmental impact of long term camping at recreational camping areas. Penalties apply for moving throughout the region without a permit and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of the Traditional Owners in this regard. Our camper trailer park will not be ready until the dry season of 2010.
Information for yachts, motor sailors and motor cruisers. An outline of the procedures and legal requirements which apply to the Master of these vessels arriving in and departing from Australia.
By Boat
If entering Nhulunbuy via Gove Harbor in a yacht or boat be
sure to contact the Australian Customs Service for quarantine
information on 08 8987 1744.
regulations should be strictly adhered to when on the water.
Be cautious when traveling at high speed, as there may be
hidden marine debris. If possible, avoid standing in the water
when launching and recovering your boat.
