Arrival in Gunbalanya

To enter Gunbalanya, you must drive through the East Alligator River, and having the caravan in tow was a worry. There had been late rains and the road was closed up until the afternoon we arrived! But it was going up and the overturned car in the water did not look too enticing. So we camped at the border crossing Merl campground enjoying good coffee and French pastries at the store!

The next day, after obtaining permits in Jabiru we hooked up the caravan and nervously drove to the river crossing. We had an audience, but so did the Bininj mob towing a car across before us. We lent them some WD40 and watched as they crossed safely. This morning a man had crossed when it was higher and conked out in the middle! But we have a snorkle and got through no worries. So happy to have made it to Gunbalanya, Anthony Murphy director of Injalak Arts directed us to the old church house where we parked the van and I cleaned the house which had been left in a state, lights on for weeks and full of insects. Frogs and geckos are everywhere to Tepi’s delight and a couple of large predatory whistling kites have a huge nest in the tree beside the caravan, I watched them swooping for bush rats in the very tall yard grass. Hope the snakes aren’t too friendly. From the verandah is a beautiful view of the lagoon and the escarpment. Sunset and sunrise are special, must be careful of the wasp nest though.