girls

family

man and woman

two women

buffalo

ox jellyfish

crocodile

mosquito

bawaka

Useful information and travel tips

Visitor Protocols

Please respect Yolngu land and Yolngu culture. Yolngu customary law exists on Yolngu land, so please take the time to understand that society here does not operate in exactly the same way as what you are familiar with in your home town. Whenever in doubt, do not hesitate to ask Yolngu for clarification and assistance; community members will be pleased at your attempts to learn and understand their world view. Visitors must respect the privacy of the communities and homelands, always remembering that they are driving on and visiting private property. Please do not to take advantage of the Yolngu’s hospitality, nor intruding into their lives if not invited. Aboriginal people are mostly polite to non-aboriginal groups and will accept many requests from visitors. Please do not take advantage of this wonderful trait and remember that they are trying to run a business to support their future family generations with their own self generated income. Aboriginal people love being with non-aboriginal groups who want to learn about their historical culture and traditions. They will answer most questions when asked. If they do not want to answer your question this may be for cultural reasons, if not language barriers. This must be respected and admired as holding onto their ancient secrets and laws. Yolngu men and women have many customs, those that will not be recognised or known by most visitors.

pdfDownload the Welcome to Country protocols publication produced by Aboriginal Tourism Australia

What does Yolngu time mean?

The Land depicts the time. When it’s time to collect yams or go hunting for food, the land shows the signs. When Pandanus is ready to be picked for weaving; when it’s time to get the dye from roots to create colourful traditional dilly-bags. The flowers blooming are signs as to what is ready to harvest. There are no watches, just happenings. Eat when you’re hungry and with what you have on the land that is available for you at that time. It is a very relaxed culture.

LANGUAGE

Yolŋu Matha is a cover term for the languages of the Yolŋu (Yolŋu = people, Matha = tongue, language). Yolŋu Matha consists of about six mutually unintelligible languages divided into about thirty clan varieties and perhaps twelve different dialects, each with its own Yolŋu name. While there is extensive variation between these dialects, there is generally common mutual intelligibility, hence the umbrella group of Yolngu Matha. The linguistic situation is very complicated, since each of the 30 or so clans also has a named language variety. Traditional Datiwuy and Gumatj language is mainly spoken. English is also well known with many Yolŋu people.

Food and Water

Food will be hunted and collected to be shared with all that are hungry in campfire cooking style. Visitors should bring basic food supplies to supplement the hunting. You will need to purchase your food before leaving for the Homeland. There is limited fridge/freezer space; basic camping style kitchens are available. It is customary to offer & bring something for sharing. In local culture you share what is available with all; the Yolngu have a very generous nature. They are masters of giving and taking, there is no self in the Yolngu way. It is suggested that if you have specific requirements, then you will need to keep them separate, not leaving them out for all to share.

Check when booking if the onsite water is suitable for consumption or if bottled water may be required. Some homelands have water tanks and springs.

Ablutions

Be prepared to rough it, very basic amenities. Again, enquire when booking your specific experience. Some Homelands will have flush toilets / laundry facilities and power.

Phones

Telstra operate a 3G network around Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala. Most homelands will have a public phones accepting incoming calls only. There are private lines for emergencies and call outs which costs apply.

Power

Power supplies vary with limited generation eg, Bawaka has a bush Light solar powered system, Nyinyikayhas an 8 KVA Lister-Petter diesel generator and solar.

Health, Beach and Bush dangers

Heat Stress

As beautiful as the region is, the tropics can put extra stress on your body if you are not accustomed to such an environment, and the heat and humidity can take its toll. Always drink plenty of cool water and wear a hat, sunglasses and loose cotton fabrics when out in the heat.

Mild Stress

Weakness and dizziness, fainting, lethargy, headache, low blood pressure, nausea and clammy, pale or flushed skin.

Heat Stroke

Irritability, confusion, disorientation, incoherent speech, hot and dry flushed skin, convulsions, loss of consciousness, elevated body temperature and cardiac arrest.

Treatment

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. This condition can result from illness, a hot, dry climate, prolonged exposure to sun or high temperatures, not drinking enough water. Dehydration can upset the fluid-salt balance needed to maintain healthy cells and tissues, and can lead to heat exhaustion. If you get thirsty then by this time our body is probably already five percent dehydrated. An average of 4 litres of fluid per day can be lost, which is generally replaced by the fluid we drink and the food we eat. Exercising, sweating, diarrhoea, temperature or altitude can significantly increase the amount of fluid required. Severe dhydration is life threatening and requires immediate medical care. When the body’s fluid supply is severely depleted, hypovolemic shock is likely to occur. This condition, which is also called physical collapse, is characterised by pale, cool, clammy skin, rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing. Blood pressure can sometimes drop so low it cannot be measured, skin at the knees and elbows may become blotchy. Anxiety, restlessness and thirst increase. Damage to the brain and other vital organs can occur.

Avoiding Dehydration

Marine danger

A number of marine stingers are prevalent around Nhulunbuy, so swimmers and paddlers should be well aware of the dangers.

Cone-shaped shells crawling through the beaches shallows. Some species have a harpoon that darts out and the sting can be fatal.

Stonefish in rock pools, capable of causing intense pain.

Stingray barb will also leave you in much pain.

Box jelly fish is a boxy, bell shaped head the size of a basketball, with three million stinging cells for every centimetre of its tentacles. These tentacles can be anywhere up to 3 metres in length. Will leave significant scarring and can cause death. Stinger season is between October to May. They are almost invisible to the eye. Irukandji is another dangerous jellyfish, small as a peanut at 2.5cm and transparent and shaped like a bell.

Jellyfish sting symptoms include

Treatment for Jellyfish sting

Ciguetera Poisoning

Very rare! Ciguetera poisoning is triggered by eating tropical reef fish that have fed on toxic algae which produce a neurotoxin. As larger reef fish feed on smaller ones, the toxin concentrates in the organs of larger fish such as red snapper, barracuda, sea bass, eels and kingfish. Most people recover within a few days or weeks with supportive treatment. SYMPTOMS tingling of the lips, tongue and throat, often followed by stomach upset, headache, fever and muscle aches and pains. Numbess, collapse, coma and confusion have also been described. Seek medical attention on the onset of symptoms.

Crocodiles

keep your eyes open and don’t smile! Please pay extra attention when close to water while fishing, camping or walking in the bush. Never camp closer than about 50m to water, no matter how shady and attractive it looks. Always clean and prepare fish well away from your camp and boat ramps. Resist the urge to go for a swim unless you see other people in the water.

Snakes

Look down and know your snakes Arnhem land holds some of the most deadliest snakes in Australia, including the Brown, Copperhead, Death Adder, Red-Bellied Black, Taipan and Tiger snakes. Care should be taken at all times to prevent snakebites, be careful where you walk.

First aid for snakes

Buffalo

Buffalo don’t have a sense of humour! Local Gove bushland is home to another potential danger, the buffalo. These large feral animals are found throughout Arnhem Land and have been known to charge people who are on foot in the bush. They are mainly active at dusk and at night, spending the rest of the day wallowing in mud or resting in woodlands. If you come across a buffalo, do not aggravate it. There has certainly been the odd jogger around Nhulunbuy who has had to dance around a tree to avoid a cranky bull.

Mosquitoes

Eucalyptus oil is a wives tale that works! These little creatures come out in force around sunset time. In the Northern Territory there are 20 different pest mosquitoes that live and breed in varying habitats. Mosquito-borne diseases currently present in the Norther Territory include Ross River Virus, Barmah Forest viral disease, Murray Valley Encephalitis and Kunjuin virus disease.

Protect yourself from mosquitoes by

Emergency numbers

Emergency: Police, Fire, Ambulance 000

Fire Station 08 8987 1000

Gove district Hospital 08 8987 0204

NT Emergency Services 08 8987 2727

Poisons Information 131126

Police 08 8987 1333

St Johns Ambulance 08 8987 3922