week forty two | maningrida, northern territory

The whole reason for our trip north was to visit Max’s friend Jess, who along with her partner Tim and her little brother Pete were the most wonderful hosts for our entire trip. Jess and Tim are both teachers and we spent many happy evenings on Jess’s front porch with a glass of wine discussing everything under the sun.

Maningrida is a small community about 7 hours north-east of Darwin that also safely wins the award for the most isolated place I have ever been. Getting in an out of the place is a nightmare and if it weren’t for Jess and Tim’s 4WD (and their ability to pilot it) we wouldn’t have made it. It’s all dirt and there are a few pretty exciting (read: terrifying) river crossings.

About 4 hours into our drive from Kakadu we stopped to take some pictures and I was completely overwhelmed by the vastness of the landscape. There were big rock formations and endless sky – I remember thinking that the dreamtime stories made complete sense in that moment. You could almost feel the land, which I know sounds a little wanky but you’re going to have to believe me until you visit yourselves and write something better. 

Once you arrive there isn’t much except a shop or two, a really cool art center, the school Jess and Tim teach at a couple of other bits and pieces. For Max and I, the trip wasn’t really about any of that; it was about hanging out with friends and fulfilling the promise Max made to Jess about a million years ago.

I knew that there would be some differences but was amazed by just how differently life operated. The entire community is at the complete mercy of the weather, the barge that delivers supplies, the flying doctors service etc etc.

Maningrida was also the perfect place to actually relax. Days filled with sleep-ins and then naps (because sleep-ins are really exhausting) and then wanders and cooked lunch. By the time Jess and Tim has finished their work days, Max and I were just about ready for the day and so afternoons got to be filled with boat rides, fishing trips, visits to the creek, fireworks and bonfires.

I loved our trip because it was absolutely perfect and had the best balance between sleep and adventure. I can’t wait to go back!

5/5 fishing trips