Restricted Travel in remote Aboriginal Communities the Kimberley (COVID-19)
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has the potential to do great harm to the Kimberley’s 221 remote Aboriginal communities.
- Aboriginal people living in remote areas are more at risk of serious illness from the coronavirus than other people.
- If the coronavirus gets into an Aboriginal community, it is likely to spread quickly and make residents very sick.
- To help protect our Aboriginal communities, there are strict travel restrictions in place.
- Tourists and travellers are not allowed to enter any remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia.
- Fines of up to $50,000 may apply to anyone who breaches the restrictions.
- Only some Aboriginal communities are excluded from the restrictions.
- For more information, call 13 COVID (13 268 43) or visit wa.gov.au or read COVID-19 coronavirus: Remote Aboriginal communities travel
LATEST UPDATE
Frequently Asked Questions
List of Aboriginal Communities open to visitors here
List of Aboriginal Communities closed to visitors here
Which remote Aboriginal communities, or parts of them, are currently excluded from the entry rules?
The following exclusions are currently in place. That means these remote Aboriginal community amenities are open to tourists and travellers. Visitors should contact the community before travelling there.
Dampier Peninsula, West Kimberley - read pdf here
- Burrguk (entire community)
- Djarindjin roadhouse
- Dampier Peninsula police station
- Djarindjin airstrip (private airstrip)
- Embalgun (entire community)
- Gnylmarung (entire community)
- Goojarr Goonyool (entire community)
- Goombaragin (entire community)
- Gumbanan (entire community)
- Lombadina (entire community)
- Middle Lagoon (entire community)
West Kimberley
• Imintji campground
• Imintji store
• Imintji arts centre
• Kupungarri (Mt Barnett) Roadhouse
• Mimbi visitor access road
• Mimbi visitor reception building
• Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre
East Kimberley
• Carranya (entire community)
• Wuggubun (entire community)
• Doon Doon (Woolah) caravan park
• Doon Doon (Woolah) roadhouse
Mid-West Gascoyne - read pdf here
- Karalundi shop / café
- Karalundi caravan park
Goldfields
- Ilkulka (entire community)
All other remote Aboriginal communities and their amenities are closed to tourists and travellers.
Native title holders have cancelled Canning Stock Route permits, and all remote Aboriginal communities and their amenities along the route are closed to tourists and travellers.
Community requirements
Some remote Aboriginal communities have their own requirements for people entering. These requirements are in addition to the rules set out in the Remote Aboriginal Communities Directions.
Non-residents wanting to go into a remote Aboriginal community should contact the community before going there to find out what travel restrictions or entry requirements are in place.
See below for a list of remote Aboriginal communities and their entry requirements.
Ardyaloon Community – Entry Requirements
Western Desert Communities – Rules for Travel (Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji and Kiwirrkurra)
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remote communities
Extra COVID-19 health and safety resources are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remote communities. Please view them here. The latest newsletter list is here
Useful Maps: Remote Aboriginal Communities
Below are links maps of remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region. These maps are publicly available on the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage website.
EAST KIMBERLEY
Download map - ABL-AboriginalCommunities_East_Kimberley_r.pdf
KIMBERLEY REGION
Download map - ABL-AboriginalCommunities_Map2_A4_r.pdf
WEST KIMBERLEY
Download map - ABL-AboriginalCommunities_West_Kimberley_r.pdf
Travel Restrictions information from the Western Australian Government
Strict border controls are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 coronavirus: Controlled interstate border
Information on WA’s controlled interstate border arrangement, conditions of entry and quarantine.
Last updated: 9 January 2021 at 12.50pm
Based on the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Queensland, there is updated health advice regarding travel from QLD into WA. Read more
Remote Aboriginal community restrictions within WA are still in place, as well as a modified 2 square metre rule.
The Chief Health Officer will continue to closely monitor community transmission in other states and territories and will advise the WA Government if any changes to our borders are required to keep Western Australians protected.
Traveller Health Messaging
The Department of Health has made the following documents available for use by tourism businesses and Visitor Centres -
