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Groote Eylandt, Bickerton Island and Numbulwar

Groote Eylandt

Australia's fourth-largest island
TEST 3
SeaLink Northern Territory is contracted by Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust

The Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust, or GEAT as we’re known, is a community-controlled charitable trust that exists to support the Warnindilyakwa people—now and for generations to come. We look after Royalty income and assets on behalf of Traditional Owners and make sure those benefits are reinvested back into the community in meaningful ways. That means supporting culture, education, wellbeing, jobs and local businesses, and backing programs that are led by community and grounded in Warnindilyakwa values. Everything we do is about making sure decisions are made locally, culture stays strong, and opportunities continue to grow for our children and families. We’re proud to walk alongside our community, working together to build a strong, sustainable future for Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island. Thank you SeaLink for sharing our values and for being part of that journey.

The Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust, or GEAT as we’re known, is a community-controlled charitable trust that exists to support the Warnindilyakwa people—now and for generations to come. We look after Royalty income and assets on behalf of Traditional Owners and make sure those benefits are reinvested back into the community in meaningful ways. That means supporting culture, education, wellbeing, jobs and local businesses, and backing programs that are led by community and grounded in Warnindilyakwa values. Everything we do is about making sure decisions are made locally, culture stays strong, and opportunities continue to grow for our children and families. We’re proud to walk alongside our community, working together to build a strong, sustainable future for Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island. Thank you SeaLink for sharing our values and for being part of that journey.

About Groote Eylandt

The Groote Archipelago is a remote island region in the western Gulf of Carpentaria, known for its strong Aboriginal culture, distinctive language and close relationship with the surrounding sea country. Groote Eylandt, Bickerton Island and nearby mainland communities such as Numbulwar are connected through family, ceremony and long‑standing cultural and trading ties that continue today. Groote Eylandt has a tropical landscape, much like the rest of the Top End and is a fantastic spot for fishing. Visitors are required to apply for a permit from the Anindilyakwa Land Council to visit Groote Eylandt.

  • The Anindilyakwa people are the Aboriginal traditional owners of the Groote Eylandt archipelago, with Warnindilyakwa ancestors understood to have lived on the island for around 8,000 years.

    In the late 18th century, Nunggubuyu families from the mainland moved to Groote Eylandt at the invitation of Warnindilyakwa elders, and together these groups now make up the Anindilyakwa people.

    Today, around 2,100 Anindilyakwa people live in the region, within a total Groote Eylandt population of roughly 2,800 recorded at the 2016 Census.

  • The largest Aboriginal populations are in the communities of Angurugu and Umbakumba on Groote Eylandt and Milyakburra on Bickerton Island, with smaller homelands such as 4 Mile, Malkala, Little Paradise and Bartalumba Bay also important for family and cultural connections.

    Alyangula, established to support the manganese mine, is the largest town on Groote Eylandt and has a more mixed population linked to the mining and service industries.

  • The main community language is Anindilyakwa (Amamalya Ayakwa), which is unique to the islands and spoken as a first language by nearly all Aboriginal residents.

    Anindilyakwa society is made up of 14 clan groups belonging to two moieties, with strong ongoing ties to country, ceremony and neighbouring communities such as Numbulwar and Bickerton Island.

  • Groote Eylandt is about 50 km east–west and 60 km north–south, with an area of roughly 2,326 square kilometres and a highest point of around 219 metres at Central Hill.

    The archipelago has beaches, woodlands, rocky headlands, spring‑fed waterholes, mangroves, estuaries and extensive sea country that support rich wildlife and are central to Anindilyakwa cultural life.

    The island’s bedrock is mainly ancient sandstone, overlain in places by younger Cretaceous sediments that host significant manganese ore bodies.

  • A long‑running open‑cut manganese operation near Alyangula contributes to regional employment and Australia’s manganese exports.

    Mining activity occurs alongside Anindilyakwa Land Council leadership and traditional ownership arrangements over the islands and surrounding sea country.

  • Bickerton Island lies about 13 km west of Groote Eylandt, is roughly 21 km by 21 km in size and covers around 215 square kilometres, with Milyakburra as its main community closely linked to Groote Eylandt.

    Numbulwar is a mainly Aboriginal community on the western Gulf of Carpentaria coast, part of Nunggubuyu country facing the same sea country as the Groote Archipelago and connected through family, culture and trade.

Groote Eylandt FAQs

  • Groote Eylandt is a large island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, off the northeast coast of the Northern Territory, about 50 km from Arnhem Land and roughly 600–650 km from Darwin

  • The name comes from Dutch explorer Abel Tasman and means “big island” in Dutch.

  • The weather on Groote Eylandt is tropical and humid with wet summers that are marked by thunderstorms. Temperatures in summer range from 25 to 40 degrees Celsius. During winter, the temperatures range from 10 to 30 degrees.

  • The vegetation around Groote Eylandt is tropical savannah woodland, and mangroves around the fringes with patches of monsoon vine forests. Groote Eylandt is known for its prolific wildlife - there are 83 bird species, including the endangered Northern Quoll. The marine environment is close to pristine and features large animals such as crocodiles, dugongs, turtles and manta rays.

  • Its isolation means:

    • Very low tourism numbers
    • Healthy fish populations
    • Largely untouched natural environments
    • Strong, living Indigenous culture

  • Yes, but tourism is limited and controlled. Visitors typically stay at accommodation like fishing lodges and participate in guided experiences, respecting local cultural protocols.

  • Yes. Visitors must apply for a permit through the Anindilyakwa Land Council, as the island is Aboriginal-owned land.

  • Yes, you can travel between Numbulwar and Bickerton Island using the SeaLink Groote Eylandt ferry service. The ferry calls at both locations as part of its regular run across the archipelago, so the trip is easily done in a day.

    The route

    The ferry doesn't run directly between Numbulwar and Bickerton Island. You'll need to travel via Groote Eylandt, so your journey will involve a stop at Alyangula or one of the Groote Eylandt stops before continuing to Bickerton, or vice versa. You can check current departure times on our Timetable page and fares on our Ferry Fares page.

    Permit requirements for non-Anindilyakwa visitors

    Both Numbulwar and Bickerton Island are on Aboriginal land, so if you're not Anindilyakwa, you'll need permits before you travel. Here's what applies to each destination:

    • Bickerton Island (Milyakburra): Bickerton Island falls within the Anindilyakwa Land Council's jurisdiction and is part of the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area. Milyakburra community is covered by a Commonwealth Lease, so you don't need a permit to visit the community itself. However, if you intend to travel beyond the community onto Aboriginal land or access recreation areas, you'll need either a Recreation Permit or a Special Access Permit from the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC). Recreation Permits can be arranged on arrival at Groote Eylandt through the ALC Land and Sea Rangers at Pole 13. Special Access Permits for areas outside designated recreation zones must be applied for in advance.
    • Numbulwar: Numbulwar is an Aboriginal community administered under the Northern Land Council (NLC). To visit, you'll need to apply for a permit through the NLC before travelling. The NLC permit system is online and you should allow at least 10 days for processing. Unauthorised entry to Aboriginal land can result in fines of up to $11,100 under Commonwealth law.
    How to apply

    We'd recommend sorting your permits well before your travel date, particularly for Numbulwar where processing times apply.

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SeaLink Northern Territory acknowledges the Larrakia, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and recognise their continued custodianship and connection to the land, waters, and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Learn more.