Nature

When you think of the Northern Territory, pristine beaches with crystal-clear water is not typically what comes to mind but in East Arnhem Land that is exactly what you get. With some of the most stunning coastline in all of Australia, the region’s beaches feature long stretches of powdery, white sand bordered by the vivid blue waters of the Arafura Sea and Gulf of Carpentaria. Add in the rich red of the common bauxite shelves and you get jaw-dropping landscapes of vibrant, contrasting colours.

There are several beautiful beaches close to the region’s main hub of Nhulunbuy that do not require 4WD vehicles to visit including Gadalathami (Town Beach), Galuru (East Woody Beach), Middle Beach and Wirrwawuy (Cape Wirrawoi).

For the keen 4WDer, some of the spectacular recreational areas are located a bit further out from Nhulunbuy along the Dhupuma Rd. These include Wanuwuy (Cape Arnhem), Bariŋura (Little Bondi), Ŋumuy (Turtle Beach), Garanhan (Macassan Beach) and Binydjarrŋa (Daliwuy Bay).

Along with its beaches East Arnhem boasts many spectacular freshwater streams, waterfalls and rivers including Wathuwuy (Latram River and Goanna Lagoon), Manaŋaymi (Scout Camp) and Guwatjurumurru (Giddy River). Many of the recreational areas and overnight camping spots are located close to freshwater, giving you the chance to wash off after a long day of exploring the region.

Although crocodiles do inhabit all waterways within the East Arnhem region, there are some recreational areas where people do swim. If you choose to swim at your own risk, it is important to remain Crocwise at all times  – read more about crocodiles in East Arnhem and being Crocwise here.