Frequently asked Questions
For a nice beach drive – not getting bogged
Please place your vehicle into low-range four-wheel drive for the beach drive, even if the sand is firm. This will help to stop unwanted wheel track grooving. In the dry season, please reduce your tyre pressure to 20psi/138kpa.
The softest sand is not on the beach during the dry season, but when you come off the beach, you have to drive on sand roads near the Bawaka Lodge. Many people get bogged up there.
Important. If you find yourself not moving forward when driving on soft sand, stop immediately. Do not keep the wheels turning; you will only dig yourself in.
Stop immediately and reverse back, with the help of Max Tracks, if you do not move backwards.
When you have moved backward, get out and fill in the track ahead of you.
If You have a high-powered vehicle, go easy on the power. Do not go digging up all the Bawaka roads with your wheels spinning flat out. Spinning Wheels will only dig you in, in mud or on sand, making big holes everywhere for everyone.
Make sure your tyres are at 20psi/138kpa; then, you should have no trouble moving forward.
When you stop moving forward in soft sand, there is no clearance under the vehicle, so you lose traction. If the track looks deep in front of you, get out and fill in the tracks. It’s much better than spending your day getting unblogged or having the Bawaka staff spend all day getting you out.
Always follow the existing tyre tracks and the signs to get you to the Bawaka Lodge.
Safe driving.
To book a Ngalarrkpuy Lonely Beach tour, you must first book Accommodation, Camping, or just a Day Visit to Bawaka. Then, add a Lonely Beach tour to your primary booking as an add-on. This can be done in the third step of your booking process.
At a minimum, you will need to book a One Day Visit to Bawaka and then add the Ngalarrkpuy Lonely Beach visit as an Activity in the third step of your booking process.
Cultural Experience bookings have a Ngalarrkpuy Lonely Beach visit as part of its program, so no separate booking is required for those doing a Cultural Experience.
If you have booked a Ngalarrkpuy, Lonely Beach tour, you must be at Bawaka by 10 AM as there is only one tour per day at low tide to give you the best experience. So the time for the tour will change during each month.
Cultural Experience Bookings.
To book a one-day Saturday Cultural Experience, please book a One Day Visit to Bawaka first, then add on your Saturday Cultural Experience.
To book a two-day Weekend Cultural Experience, book your choice of accommodation for Saturday night first, then add on your Two-day Cultural Experience.
PS. We have to do it this way because all online booking platforms have their limitations.
The Saturday or the two-day weekend Cultural Experience bookings include a visit to the famous Ngalarrkpuy Lonely Beach. So, no extra booking is required for Ngalarrkpuy Lonely Beach.
If you require a mid-week or a special college, corporate or private Cultural Experience, please ring 0457458543.
Bawaka homeland is located 51klm from Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula in North-East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.
Half of the road is well-formed, and the rest is a bush track that runs along a sandy tidal beach.
You will be in crocodile and buffalo country, so please take extra care as you drive into Bawaka.
No boats, trailers, alcohol or pets are allowed. Boats and trailor will do to much damage to the beach drive.
There are some areas off-limits due to their sacred nature.
Bawaka Homeland is limited to 4-wheel drive vehicles and experienced drivers. There is a 17 km bush track drive from the gate, followed by a 5km beach drive. Depending on road conditions and tides, the caretaker might meet you along the track or instruct you to follow the signs into Bawaka.
Please travel slowly and carefully on all bush tracks, as there are washouts at times, and it is sometimes hard to see vehicles coming in the opposite direction towards you on these narrow bush roads/tracks. Be ready to move over if needed, as most accidents on bush tracks are head-ons.
For the beach drive
Please place your vehicle into low-range four-wheel drive for the beach drive, even if the sand is firm. This will help to stop unwanted wheel track grooving. If you have any trouble with dry sand, please reduce your tyre pressure to 20psi/138kpa. Always follow the existing tyre tracks and the signs.
The road to Bawaka is a bush track, and there are some bad washouts at times. Plus, there is a 5 km beach drive. So, access to Bawaka changes all year round. In the wet season, there are boggy stretches, and in the dry season, the sand beach road can get very soft and boggy.
So, we only recommend experienced 4-wheel drive drivers in a good 4-wheel drive vehicle. So boats and other trailers are not allowed at Bawaka.
If you have a trailer, you can leave it behind a locked gate at the end of the dirt road or in town at a number of different places.
If you are staying somewhere in Nhulunbuy, the chances are you can leave it there. If not contact us and we will organise something.
You are in crocodile country everywhere in North Australia. And crocodiles will take advantage of any pets getting too close to the water. Therefore no pets are allowed at Bawaka.
Yes, children can join any tour. Children under 4 are free. Children between 4 – 16 years are half price.
Please remember you are in crocodile country everywhere in North Australia. So please make sure that children are very croc aware and they stay well clear of the water’s edge.
Crocodiles can launch themselves out of the water up to three metres. We recommend that you always stand five metres back from the water’s edge and never with your back to the water, as you might not notice subsurface eyes that are watching. So please make sure that all children are Croc aware and that they understand these dangers and are supervised at all times.
Sun protection – sunscreen, wide-brim hat, sunglasses, etc.
Your own first-aid kit and toiletries.
Sneakers/walking shoes.
Insect repellent.
Personal torch, even if you are only coming for the day.
There is only bore water available at Bawaka. Therefore, we suggest you bring enough drinking water with you for your trip.
Do not bring boats, trailers, alcohol or pets.
If you are providing your own food
If you are providing your own food, please make sure you have enough food to be self-sufficient for the day or the number of days you are staying. Covering: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks as there is no other access to food at Bawaka.
No swimming
You are in crocodile country, so swimming is allowed, except at your own risk and only under supervision from the Yolngu landowners. It is recommended that you wear modest clothing that is respectful of Yolŋu culture.
Crocodile Country
You are in crocodile country everywhere in North Australia. So please stay well clear of the water’s edge. Crocodiles can launch themselves out of the water up to three metres. We recommend that you always stand five metres back from the water’s edge and never with your back to the water, as you might not notice subsurface eyes that are watching. If you have children with you, please make sure they are Croc aware and understand these dangers.
Phones
Mobile coverage is extremely patchy and unreliable at Bawaka. Sometimes, it is possible if you stand in the right place. Texting seems to be possible most of the time. There is a free public phone where you can make calls to mobiles anywhere in Australia. The phone number is (08) 8987 3433. However, it is situated away from the accommodation area, and no one will hear it ring. The Bawaka Care-Taker’s mobile is 0476 266 249.
Please enjoy your stay at our unknown paradise.
Being a very small business with many extra remote-related overheads, we need to maximise our income from our small Yolngu business. Cancellations often result in empty rooms and loss of vital income. Therefore, the following conditions apply:
Cancellation Rules
- For cancellations outside of 30 days, you can receive a refund of the amount paid minus a $150 admin fee.
- Cancellations within 30 days prior to arrival, all monies will be forfeited.
- No refunds can be given in the event of non-arrival, unused services or accommodation nights, due to flight and/or weather disruption.
- Outside 30 days, dates can be amended for no extra charge.
- Recommends that all clients take out adequate traveller’s insurance to cover costs arising from their cancellation of;
- a booking due to unforeseen circumstances
- Loss and damage to property.
- Personal injury and illness.
Other Conditions
Bawaka Experience:
- Reserves the right to alter the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances or cultural reasons.
- Accepts no responsibility for any loss of or damage to your personal property.
- Will not be held accountable for any personal injury or illness to the client during the course of your stay at Bawaka Home Land.
