The Retreat
Banubanu Beach Retreat offers the simple pleasures of space, time and an escape from the modern world. Helen and Trevor the owners and your hosts will share the history of Bremer Island dating back to the early days of the Maccassan visiting Arnhem Land and when Matthew Flinders first came to the area in 1803. The facilities are simple so that our guests can appreciate beach living and being close to nature. If you're looking for a unique remote island holiday destination, then Banubanu is for you.
Concept and Delivery
Trevor and Helen discovered Bremer Island while operating a fishing charter business in Gove, NT, established Banubanu in 2005. Helen and Trevor have spent the last 17 years building Banubanu to what it is today. They want people to experience all that East Arnhem Land has to offer including its pristine beaches and beautiful sunsets. Banubanu is located on Aboriginal land that belongs to the local Yolgnu clan of East Arnhem Land.
The traditional owners have given Helen and Trevor permission to operate Banubanu on Bremer Island. Visitors pay a permit fee when visiting Banubanu which is paid to the traditional owners.
Tropical North Weather
Arnhem Land has a tropical climate, and has two distinct seasons, the ‘Wet’ and the ‘Dry’. The Wet seasons spans from November until April and is characterised by increased humidity followed by monsoonal rains and storms. Temperatures typically range from a minimum of 25C (77F) to a maximum of 33C (91F), and humidity levels can reach in excess of 80%.
The Wet season is a stunning time to see the Top End. The landscape turns a lush green, at night the skies host spectacular lightening shows. The ‘Dry’ season, from may until October, is characterised by warm, dry sunny days and cool. Nights. Temperatures typically range from 21C (70F) to 32C (90F), and the humidity levels are much lower: around 60-65%.
Discover More
Our crew welcome you with warmth and happiness.
Committment to Sustainable Living
Banubanu is an eco-friendly retreat, it runs 100% on solar power; the main water supply is bore water with an ethos for water-wise usage.
The meaning of Banubanu
The name Banubanu was given to the large rocky outcrops at Banubanu Beach Retreat by Maccassan traders well before European colonisation. Banu is a Persian name for a woman whereby Banubanu would mean women, which these large boulders represent.
A supportive team always willing to help you
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Sean Hudson
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Stephany Moore
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Jeff Johnson
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Petra Meikle de Vlas
Distinctive and passionately created works of art that compete with the surrounding views for your attention!
Inspired by the waters around her, Petra creates mixed media works in her coastal studio around 15 nautical miles from the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.
She rarely follows conventional art methods and has developed techniques that creates different effects to closely resemble reef and ocean like formations. The texture is the exposed reef and rocks, the water is the liquid paint, the spray bottle is the force of nature like rain, the hairdryer is the wind, the blowtorch is the sun, the gravity (tilting the board this way and that) is the tide. She is forever experimenting with different methods and tools, forever learning.
Bremer Island Location
Bremer Island is just a 15-minute flight from Gove Airport in the pristine waters off Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory. East Arnhem Land is known for its natural beaches, abundant sea life, rich Yolgnu culture and its lush tropical surrounds. Banubanu is an eco-sensitive beach retreat built in partnership with the Yolgnu people to ensure our guests experience and appreciate the natural wonders and the culture of East Arnhem Land in this tranquil location.
Flights
Bremer Island is located in North East Arnhem Land Northern Territory. Nhulunbuy being the nearest town with the Gove airport being our closest airport, 15 kilometres away. Check Airnorth for flights and bookings.
Travel Times:
- Darwin to Gove, 1 hour flight
- Cairns to Gove, 1 hour 20 minutes flight
- Gove to Bremer Island, 10 minute flight
- Gove Harbour to Bremer Island, 40 minutes
Light Aircraft Plane Transfers from Gove to Bremer Island
A 15-minute flight in a light aircraft from Gove Airport to the Bremer Island airstrip. This scenic flight gives you an aerial view of Bremer Island and the beautiful Arafura Sea. There are weight and volume restrictions on baggage on these flights. Each person is allowed a maximum of 15kg.
Self-Drive into Arnhem Land
The Central Arnhem Highway is situated 50 kilometres south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway, Northern Territory. The distance from Katherine to Nhulunbuy is 710 kilometres.
Make your own way to Bremer Island
Do you have your own boat or plane? Then why not make your own way to Banubanu. Guests with their own boats are welcome to arrive at either of our beaches under their own steam (or sail). Guests with their own light aircraft can land on the Gutjangan Community airstrip on Bremer Island. Guests with their own helicopter can land safely close to the retreat with prior notice.
Hear what our past
guests have to say
The Perfect Location
Absolutely heavenly! My husband and I spent the weekend at Banubanu resort and had the best time. The beach is just beautiful and you’re able to swim in the water (just being aware of your surroundings at all times). There’s a great selection of things to keep you entertained from snorkelling, kayaking, swimming and then walking to a few lookout spots around the retreat. The restaurant was top quality food, honestly the best food we’ve had in the Territory! Hats off to Andrew for also being able to provide gluten free options for every meal! Ruth, our waitress, was just incredible too. She was so attentive to our needs but never imposing. The accom was more than comfortable and quite private. The view is just stunning - we just loved waking up to the ocean every morning. I cannot recommend Banubanu enough. This is the perfect location - whether it’s just popping in for lunch on a boat trip for the day, having a romantic getaway or even a wedding, you cannot find anywhere better! And visiting Banubanu supports the local community too, I do recommend you!!
Spectacular Beachfront
My husband and I stayed at this beautiful beach retreat on Bremer Island in April 2021. Our accommodation was in a spectacular beachfront bungalow on the Western Cove, literally a few meters to the beach. Our bungalow included a very comfortable bed, ensuite and lounge area as well as a deck which over looked the beach. The owners/hosts were very accommodating, friendly, and always on hand to satisfy our needs. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was all about rest and relaxation while soaking in the view. We can highly recommend this holiday Retreat to anyone. There was absolutely nothing we did not like about our whole experience.
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