Gonubalabala Island (on maps as Gona Bara Bara) is an island on the southern side of East Channel,

Milne Bay Province 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 ...

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

. It is located South east of Logea Island. It is a home island of the Mailulu clan.

Administration

The island is part of Logea South Ward, Bwanabwana Rural Local Level Government Area LLG, Samarai-Murua

District A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

, which are in

.LLG map
/ref>

History

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.

Geography

The island is part of the Doini group, itself a part of

Samarai Islands The Samarai Islands archipelago, part of the larger Louisiade Archipelago, is located southeast of mainland New Guinea island, within the nation of Papua New Guinea. Geography The archipelago consists of: 4 larger volcanic islands frequently ...

of the

Louisiade Archipelago 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. It is located 200 km southeast of New Guinea, stretching over more than and spread ...

Economy

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: Conditions as reported by Nelson Napoleon, Mailulu Clan Elder and Ward Member Gonubalabala and Logea Ward. # Every month during a full moon and just after a full moon # The months of June, July and August — when there is less rain # During low tides any time of any month

Transportation

Dinghy from Alotau takes about 90 minutes. Arrange at Sanderson Bay in Alotau. Liveaboard charter boats often anchor off island. Shore entry, no dock.

References

Islands of Milne Bay Province Louisiade Archipelago {{MilneBayProvince-geo-stub