Gonabarabara Island

Gonubalabala Island

Native name: Gonubalabala
Gonubalabala Island
Geography
Location	Oceania
Coordinates	10°41′13″S150°40′40″E / 10.68694°S 150.67778°E / -10.68694; 150.67778 [1]
Archipelago	Louisiade Archipelago
Adjacent to	Solomon Sea
Total islands	1
Major islands	Gonubalabala
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
Papua New Guinea
Province	Milne Bay
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	Papuans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
ISO code	PG-MBA
Official website	www.ncdc.gov.pg

Gonubalabala Island (on maps as Gonaarabara) is an island on the southern side of East Channel, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located southeast of Logea Island and can be reached by local boats in about 2.5 hours from the provincial capital, Alotau. It is a home island of the Mailulu clan and has two guesthouses. ^[2]

Administration

The island is part of Logea South Ward, Bwanabwana Rural Local Level Government Area LLG, Samarai-Murua District, which are in Milne Bay Province. ^[3]

History

The island has been home to the Mailulu clan for at least six 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 large numbers just offshore. ^[4]

Geography

The island is part of the Doini group, itself a part of Samarai Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago.

Economy

In addition to woodworking and guiding divers/snorkelers on the reef and nearby islands, the Mailulu clan offer home stays in private, hand-built bungalows. Reef fees are required for anchoring vessels that people live aboard. Diving and snorkelling are possible year round. The island has a small marine reserve which is a manta ray cleaning station. Manta rays arrive at a large coral bombora to be cleaned of parasites by smaller fish when the underwater current is strong. It is also an important manta ray feeding and aggregation site. According to Nelson Napoleon, Mailulu Clan Elder and Ward Member of the Gonubalabala and Logea Ward, the best times and conditions to see the cleaning are said to be during and just after a full moon; in the months of June to November when there is less rain; and during low tides. ^{[2] [5] [6] [7]}

References

1. Prostar Sailing Directions 2004 New Guinea Enroute, p. 168
2. "Gonubalabala Island: Everything you need to know". Travel Obscure. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
3. LLG map
4. "Papua- Neuguinea: Riffschutz auf Gonubalabala" (PDF). Lighthouse Foundation. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
5. Mantatrust.org: Swimming-with-mantas
6. "Gona Bara Bara". Sea Women of Melanesia. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
7. "Papua New Guinea: Manta Rays". X-Ray Mag. Retrieved 6 July 2025.

External links

• Video of manta ray cleaning at Gonabarabara