Permits for Northern Territory Feedback

The website does specifically mention that motorbikes are not allowed.

Sorry ducatijim, I don't know about the Coburg area but this is what the NLC say about access to Gove on their website.

Bulman Track (Central Arnhem Road):
The Bulman Track is often closed due to weather conditions, especially during the Wet season (October to April). Permits are needed.

Strict conditions apply:

Areas of obvious significance to Aboriginal people are to be avoided.
No firearms or liquor to be carried in vehicle.
No hunting or fishing.
Litter to be disposed of in the correct manner.

Overnight campsite in the Doindji area is Rocky Bottom Creek. No camping is permitted at Goyder River, but you may stay overnight at the first creek west of the Goyder.

Signs indicating the main track must be strictly adhered to in the Bulman and Weemol cattle station areas, as there are a maze of roads in the region. Gates are to be left open or closed as found.

The distance from Katherine to Bulman is 312km and from Bulman to Nhulunbuy it is 420km. Gulin Gulin Store at Bulman is open for business from 9am-5pm for diesel and petrol (leaded and unleaded).

You must complete this trip within 24 hours. Permit holders must stay on the Track. Diversions are not allowed in any circumstances other than a serious emergency.

Transit permits will only be issued to residents of Nhulunbuy, to those visiting residents there or tourists who have arranged commercial accommodation at Nhulunbuy.

Transit permits will also only be issued for normal passenger vehicles and vehicles which have a gross loaded weight of 5 tonnes or less. Exceptions may be made for special circumstances but, even if an exception is made, any vehicle weighing more than 15 tonnes must first obtain a clearance certificate from the NT Department of Transport and Works. This certificate must be attached to the permit application. Caravans, campervans and motorbikes will not be granted a permit to transit the Track.

Nhulunbuy:
Nhulunbuy is on the Gove Peninsula. Permits are not required for access by air and are not required if you intend to remain within the township boundary.

Access by road is via the Bulman Track only. Access to Nhulunbuy via Oenpelli (Gunbalanya) and Maningrida is not permitted, and access via Numbulwar and Walker River is not permitted. These are private roads and only for the use of people living in those communities.

In Nhulunbuy itself, access to the beaches around Nhulunbuy require a recreation permit which is available on arrival from:
Dhimurru Land Management
PO Box 1551 Nhulunbuy 0881
Phone: 08 8987 3992

YES we have to pay to go to the beach.

But I do believe some bikes have travelled to Gove, I don't know what their permit situation was.

Gaz.

Thanks Baz, I already have the NLC permit appln form on my pc and their rules are similar to those for the Coburg area.
It seems that now the permit scheme has been abolished in the NT and I wonder if the permit rules will go? I would suppose they would have to.
While I cannot speak for the Aborigional folk, I do understand that motorcycles are often 'associated' with troublemakers and 'lawbreakers', but when you have shipped your bike over from NZ and committed to 2 months touring around Oz, you are hardly likely to go about 'disturbing the peace' and rooting up sacred sites, now are you? Well, I'm not, thats for sure!!
Any feedback most gratefully recieved thanks folks.
Jamie.

Funny thing is, these "fellas" that require me to obtain a permit to travel across "their land" and yet so often cut across the corner of my property late on a Friday night, dropping empty green cans etc. dont seem to require a permit or anything.
Well, they used to, until I got the dog!
furph