Explore the Shire

• View all Service Centres
• Peppimenarti
• Yarralin / Pigeon Hole & Lingara
• Timber Creek
• Pine Creek
• Palumpa
• Nauiyu / Daly River
• Wadeye
• Kalkarinji / Daguragu

Nauiyu / Daly River

Nauiyu is a small community nestled on the banks of the Daly River, considered by many as the best barramundi fishing river in Australia. Nauiyu is 220klm south of Darwin and is accessible by sealed road with new upgrades of the road making Daly River accessible in most weather conditions, although the road to Peppiminarti, Palumpa and Port Keats is unsealed and closed in the wet season.

The Traditional Owners (TO’s) of the area, are the Malak Malak people who live both in Nauiyu and at Woolianna downstream from the community.  Many aboriginal people began living in the area when first settled by Europeans. English is the prominent language spoken by residents with Ngan’gikuruggurr being the most prominent of the 10 local languages.

The population is approximately 510 of which 86% being Indigenous.  There are two schools within the region, a Catholic School with education to Grade 10 and at Woolianna School where up to Grade 7 is available.

There is a small community store within Nauiyu township, a fuel outlet and mechanical workshop. Merrepen Art is also situated within the township, this is a meeting place for the creation of great Indigenous paintings and craft. Each year, on the last weekend of May, a sports carnival and Art show with an evening concert held on the bank of the Daly River, attracts up to 5000 visitors. 

Two Police Officers are stationed on the outer boundary of the community. Nauiyu also has a Health Clinic with Doctors’ visits every Thursday.

It should be noted by visitors, that Nauiyu is a dry township and no alcohol may be brought into the community without a pre-arranged permit.

Food and mail comes to Nauiyu on a weekly service from Darwin.  There are a number of camping and caravan parks and a hotel within the region offering excellent facilities for short or long term vacationers.

Victoria Daly Shire has a regional Office at Nauiyu employing approximately a staff of 45. The Shire is responsible for power and water service, aged care facilities, child care, sports and recreation, swimming pool, Centrelink agency and maintenance of the all weather sealed airstrip with night landing facility. The Shire also has a large, modern equipment depot for road maintenance and road construction of the region.