Native name: Gonubalabala | |
---|---|
Geography | |
Location | Oceania |
Coordinates | 10°41′13″S150°40′40″E / 10.68694°S 150.67778°E [1] |
Archipelago | Louisiade Archipelago |
Adjacent to | Solomon Sea |
Total islands | 1 |
Major islands | |
Area | 0.24 km2 (0.093 sq mi) |
Length | 0.45 km (0.28 mi) |
Width | 0.71 km (0.441 mi) |
Coastline | 2.3 km (1.43 mi) |
Highest elevation | 74.6 ft (22.74 m) |
Highest point | Mount Gonubalabala |
Administration | |
Province | ![]() |
Island Group | Samarai Islands |
Island Group | Doini Islands |
Ward | Logea South |
Largest settlement | Mailulu clan(pop. 30) |
Demographics | |
Population | 30 - 75 (2017) |
Pop. density | 0/km2 (0/sq mi) |
Ethnic groups | Papauans, Austronesians, Melanesians. |
Additional information | |
Time zone | |
ISO code | PG-MBA |
Official website | www |
Gonubalabala Island (on maps as Gona Bara Bara) is an island on the southern side of East Channel, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located South east of Logea Island. It is a home island of the Mailulu clan.
The island is part of Logea South Ward, Bwanabwana Rural Local Level Government Area LLG, Samarai-Murua District, which are in Milne Bay Province. [2]
Home to the Mailulu clan for at least 6 generations. They have been and remain stewards of the land as well as the reef. For over 100 years they have observed the habits of manta rays which gather in larger numbers just off shore.
The island is part of the Doini group, itself a part of Samarai Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago.
In addition to wood working and guiding divers/snorkelers on the reef and nearby islands, the Mailulu clan offer home stays in private, handbuilt bungalows. Reef fees are required for anchoring live aboards.
Coordinate home stays with the islanders directly at time of anchoring or make the connection in advance through the front desks of Driftwood or Napatana Lodge in Alotau. Home stays, diving and snorkeling are possible year round.
Manta rays arrive at a large coral bommie for cleaning by smaller fish when the underwater current is strong. Best conditions and times for a strong current / Manta Ray cleaning, as observed by the Mailulu, are: [3] [4] [5]
Dinghy from Alotau takes about 90 minutes. Arrange at Sanderson Bay in Alotau. Liveaboard charter boats often anchor off island. Shore entry, no dock.
The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of ten larger volcanic islands frequently fringed by coral reefs, and 90 smaller coral islands in Papua New Guinea.
Milne Bay is a province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Alotau. The province covers 14,345 km2 of land and 252,990 km2 of sea, within the province there are more than 600 islands, about 160 of which are inhabited. The province has about 276,000 inhabitants, speaking about 48 languages, most of which belong to the Eastern Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Economically the province is dependent upon tourism, oil palm, and gold mining on Misima Island; in addition to these larger industries there are many small-scale village projects in cocoa and copra cultivation. The World War II Battle of Milne Bay took place in the province.
Samarai is an island and former administrative capital in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Alotau is the capital of Milne Bay Province, in the south-eastern tip of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern shore of Milne Bay and the township is conveniently situated within the Alotau Urban LLG.
Sideia Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Tuyam Island is an island on the southern side of East Channel, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Logea Island is a large island separating West Channel, East Channel and China Strait, just south of Milne Bay, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Deka Deka Island is a small island off the SE end of Logea Island, in East Channel, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Bonarua Hili Hili Island is a small island just north of Logea Island, in China Strait, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kwato Island an island in China Strait, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Galahi Island is an island off the northeast coast of Sariba, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Lesimano Island is an island off the north coast of Sariba, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Igwali Island is an island north of Sariba Island, and on the eastern side of China Strait, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Saliba Island is a large island in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Buiari Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kitai Lilivea Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago, off the east coast of Basilaki Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kitai Katu Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago, off the east coast of Basilaki Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kitai Bona Bona Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago, off the east coast of Basilaki Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Samarai Islands archipelago, part of the larger Louisiade Archipelago, is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) southeast of mainland New Guinea island, within the nation of Papua New Guinea.
Bwanabwana Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The LLG is situated in the western part of Louisiade Archipelago with Basilaki Island. The Bwanabwana language is spoken in the LLG.