Northern Territory Numbulwar to Nhulunbuy

Hi Rob

First and foremost, do you have a special permit?

Northern Land Council are very strict on what roads tourists can travel and the only road that they permit tourists to use is the Central Arnhem Highway.

Have some permits and have applied for others - does not appear as strict as it used to be. Numbulwar website almost promotes it! Bizarrely Google Maps even shows it - that could lose a few tourists!

I know a permit is required! Let me worry about that - have already been offered accomodation in town. What i want to know is the condition of the road

My understanding is that Numbulwar community is closed but knowing a local might get you in.
The Roper highway is the access road and some of it is a public road.
The Central Arnhem highway to Nhulunbuy is a different road all together and permits are available to travel it.

The road from Roper highway to Numbulwar is currently closed due to flooding, so I would say there is no chance at the moment of getting to Nhulunbuy for the same reason.

Rob, sent you a PM.

Hi Ken

I have traveled part of this road many years ago.

Permits aside.

When I was last out that way in 2019, I spoke to a local. He said the road had been closed to through traffic due to it condition (most likely non existent in some places) as no maintenance had been carried out for years.
At the time in 2019 he said it had been closed for 5 or 6 years and that "the Northern and southern mobs had to go around as they could no longer get through"
Around would mean, out via the central road and back down the Roper Hwy or vise-versa.

Given that the locals get their 100k cars for free and don't care what happens to them, if they can't get through, forget it! Obviously things may have changed, your contact in Numbulwar will know if anyone can get up and down it. Even if it has been "fixed", due to the wet up here, I'd say it would need to be June before it drys out enough.
Let us know how you get on.

Cheers
Lyndon