viaggio and freedom

During the trip on Vallina, after we travelled for 3 days and 2 nights crossing the Golf Of Carpenteria in the Arafura Sea, we reached the Gove Boat Club in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. This land is still wild and pretty remote. As a matter of fact, it is one of the last wilderness areas on earth and it requires permission if you want to travel into the communities or just pass through. Gove gives the name to the peninsula and offers every sort of services for travellers in the town of Nhulunbuy as it is called by the aboriginals. The town was built in 1971 to service employers at the bauxite mine, visible from the ocean as soon land is seen. The mine is big and productive and it's now accepted from the Yolngu people, that have lived in the region for 60,000 years. Arnhem Land comprises unspoiled and wild coastlines, deserted islands and a lot more. The Gove Boat CLub is a bit distant from town. It's possible to reach it with own transportation or with the loca...

While travelling through Australia, you can become a wwoofer such as a willing worker on organic farm and you can experience different location and different jobs, helping in regional or remote areas of the big island. I chose to experience a cattle station because I always loved animal, especially horses, and because I wanted to see how australians live in a cattle station. Life there was sort of relaxing and easygoing, even though the work is hard and tough and not everybody is willing to do it, especially in Europe nowadays. Neutral Junction station sign It isn't one of the biggest cattle stain in Northern Territory, I would probably say it could be classified as a mid range station: if I don't remember bad the owner told me it is about 130 x 130 km and it's cut half way by the Stuart Highway. Doesn't it sound impressive that the guys have to drive more than half an hour to the mustering yard and have to gather the cows all together ...

Thursday Island is located just 30 km off Cape York and is accessible by ferry from Seisia, through Peddells Ferry company. The ferry leaves at 8 am from Seisia on alternative days, arrives in Thursday Island around 9/9.15 am and comes back to Seisia in the afternoon around 4, but the boarding in Thursday Island is at 2.30 pm. The ferry is around 106 dollars with return. I found the boat and the service very good, so even if it's a bit expensive, it's possible to enjoy the little journey and have the opportunity to learn a bit more about the history of the Torres Strait thanks to a DVD running on the ferry. T.I., the name given to the island by locals, offers a rich cultural heritage, beautiful ocean views from the hills and the lookouts and a bit of historical military past that is interesting to discover and knowledge. It was in fact a strategic location and a helpful basel to see if any invader was prone to attack Australia. Green Hill Fort is one of the most intact fort...