Groote Eylandt - Some Pics

[Stuart]

Some folks know that I am rather privileged to live on a remote island in the Northern Territory called Groote Eylandt where we have been incredibly lucky so far not to have been impacted by cane toads or other nasties that are stalking the Mainland. Its not a place suitable for everyone considering that once a month our Power Station goes down and we lose power for 4 to 5 hours until they sort it or that standard mail takes anywhere upwards of 3 weeks to arrive by barge but whatever shortcomings there are from "normal life" are certainly made up for by the remoteness and beauty of the place.

Below are some photos of the place and the various areas I have been lucky enough to explore and invited to by the TO's as well as some of the critters I have come across around home and bush as it would be selfish not to share. Alot of photos Im sorry, but more to come too..

Rocks great for herping

Fishing at Emerald River

A Typical Sunset

Bickerton Island where I was lucky enough to spend a day by invite only

Rock Wallaby Lair on Bickerton

Cave Paintings hide in there

Rocks on front beach. Great spot for catching some of the Gilberts Dragons and things catching some rays

A typical sign at all out recreational areas

Great sight during Aug & Sep when the sea fog rolls in

Cave Paintings that folks are allowed to visit

Parked up at South Point for a Picnic

Rats Cove from the boat

Camping out at Marble Point

Woke up on the last morning at Marble and saw this 4m+ chap cruising the shores

View from the cave paintings

Heading into the cave paintings

Typical bush 20m from the house

The Cave paintings

And lastly, some more fishing

 

[Xeaal]

Beautiful! I love the pic of the fog rolling in off the sea.. San Dransisco has a similar thing going on every evening at about 5pm and it's so incredible to watch something like that. Thank you for sharing

 

[moosenoose]

Looks too good!

 

[Stuart]

Thanks Guys and Gals. When I get home tonight I will pop some more pics up of the various critter I have found here are well but I must admit, Im privileged and lucky to experience this unique part of the world.

 

[The_Geeza]

ENOUGH .... Close the thread LOL

 

[Wing_Nut]

Accepting visitors?

 

[Stuart]

Doors always open, beds always made. You just need to be tolerant of snakes in the lounge

 

[Endeavour]

Doors always open, beds always made. You just need to be tolerant of snakes in the lounge

Can you fit me in for two weeks starting mid September?. You do live in a truly wonderful place. People say you eventually take where you live for granted but I would imagine it would be very difficult to do that living where you do. The wildlife looks amazing and the natural beauty just inspirational. I was reading a medical article yesterday which highlighted that SAD in the UK is on the increase I bet they have never heard of it on Groote Eyelandt. Cannot wait to see more pictures, I see the population of Groote Eyelandt is less than 2000, how is this disbursed over the island?.


Kindest regards

Endeavour

 

[Wing_Nut]

Doors always open, beds always made. You just need to be tolerant of snakes in the lounge

I might just take you up on that offer!

What's the logistics of getting to the island?

 

[Gruni]

Nice shots mate... must be a barstool pain in the backside not to be able to swim safely in such gorgeous loactions?

 

[phatty]

small plane the one's where you think the wings are going to fall off lol

by the way nice pics snipe

 

[Grogshla]

looks like paradise mate

 

[RedFox]

All I can say is WOW. It must be amazing to live and go exploring there. I love the pic of the bush 20m from your house. All I see in Melbourne are concrete jungles.

 

[$NaKe PiMp]

Amazing place snipercap ,how did you end up on groote ? What is it you do there ? There must be some great herping to be done there, what are your local species?

 

[Stuart]

I might just take you up on that offer!

What's the logistics of getting to the island?

Small aircraft from Darwin or Gove generally. Only 2 flights a day except Tuesday

Nice shots mate... must be a barstool pain in the backside not to be able to swim safely in such gorgeous loactions?

You have no idea mate. Paradise on the front beach but it was only last night we were watching a 3m+ Salty cruise up and down the beach and Box jellyfish wash up on the boat ramp

Amazing place snipercap ,how did you end up on groote ? What is it you do there ? There must be some great herping to be done there, what are your local species?

Thanks Mate. Long story to how I actually came to live here but in a nutshell I came to visit some family who were here at the time and got offered a job during the visit. I wan't too fussed (I was drunk) so I said yes and the next day I got a call and interview. Started off as an operator on machinery before falling back into my forte of IT here at the mine site.

Local species that we come across quite often are Olives, GTS, BTS, EB, Death Adders, the very occasional Carpet, Spotted Python and then onto Blue Tongues, Frillies, Gilberts Dragons, a multitude of Geckos and a few other bits and bobs. As mentioned, we are really lucky to not have had the cane toad here and have strict quarantine measures in place to keep them out so we have quite a few Bandicoots and Northern Spotted Quolls on Groote. Getting all my reptiles here was a mission as not only did I need to go through the licensing (easy), I have to request permission from the local land council which comes with a multitude of requirements before permission is granted to bring them here, but in all honesty, who can blame them.

 

[Stuart]

And just because I can and after I got home I grabbed some more pics...

South Point

The drive to South Point

Naked Pools - I really need to get some newer pics...

Below are some pics of one of the flights I took to Bickerton Island (About 10km flight) to help a Telstra Tech there.
1. Connexion Island

2. Ship awaiting loading, you can see the Groote Port in the background

3. Landing back at Groote, the "hill" in the background is where you will find the Cave Paintings

4. Front Beach

5. Always fun landing

All get some pics up of the various critters that we get here too a bit later on.

 

[Gruni]

So is there anywhere safe to swim or do the crocs get to the water holes too?

 

[Stuart]

So is there anywhere safe to swim or do the crocs get to the water holes too?

A couple of the waterholes are considered safe and no one has been taken in them, but there is always the possibility as they do come inland sometimes

 

[Gruni]

Do you have fresh water crocs there too? I've heard tell it's only the salties that are dangerous but not sure I'd believe that one...

 

[Stuart]

Nah, no freshies up here