Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land

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 local mini bus that runs from town all around the communities, so it's possible to encounter and enter in direct contact with some of the aboriginal people that stay in the middle of the town, sitting on the grass or on the floor. However, the Boat Club is really nice and most of the sailors are friendly and easy going, it's worth to have a stop, also just for the sight of the beach and relax a little.

Check out how to reach Gove and consider a drive along the Arnhem Highway that connects the Kakadu National Park, recognised as World Heritage, and the Stuart Highway near Darwin, two of the major touristic route of the Northern Territory.