1. Animals
2. Arnhem Land (N.T.)
3. Art techniques
4. Beaches
5. Country
6. Emotions
7. Families
8. Food
9. Health
10. History
11. Hunting and gathering
12. Memories
13. Nature
14. Storytelling
15. Travel
16. Visual literacy
17. Water sources
18. Wild foods
19. Yolngu people (N230) (NT SD53)

On the Way to Yalanbara is the story of driving a car on a journey, being bogged and not making it to the very special place that is Yalanbara. As it was too hot to dig themselves out of the sand the family and friends sit in the shade, made a cup of tea, cook some damper and think of all the activities they could be doing at Yalanbara. They could be eating oysters, catching fish and crabs, or collecting shells as they feel the healing and calming that Yalanbara brings to its people.

They also reminisce about the past, about building a tin shack in the 1970s, planting the coconuts in the 1980s and even further back to when the Macassans visited from Macassar (Indonesia) and traded for trepang (sea cucumber) and mother-of-pearl.

Eventually as the day cools they dig the car out and return home, looking forward to a more successful trip to Yalanbara in the future. Although they didn’t make it to Yalanbara this time the memories of this special place are always with them. Yalanbara is in the south-east of Arnhem Land on the Gulf of Carpentaria and is of great cultural significance as well as environmentally important for the north-east Arnhem region.

The artwork principally pen and ink expands the story further as reminiscences of trips Yalanbara in the past are remembered. We see the animals and plants and the history of the beach and the share the peace found there.

‘Bala Yalanbarali’ is the Dhaŋu language edition of this book and is also available from the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Both books have a QR code on the back with information about the creators of the book as well as recordings of the story in Dhanu and English.

Rarriwuy Gurramu Marika is a Yolnu elder, a teacher, artist and linguist amongst her many roles. She is well known both nationally and internationally for her role in bilingual education. Merrikiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs is also a Yolnu leader and has made a significant contribution to bilingual education in Arnhem Land. 

In 2024 ILF Ambassador, Alison Lester, visited the school and Rarriwuy and Merrikiyawuy decided to create this book based on the photos of their adventures of their non trip to Yalanbara.

Shortlisted 2026 NSW Literary Awards Indigenous Writers’ Prize

1. Reading Time 16 July 2025. Bronwyn Joseph reviews ‘On the way to Yalaŋbara’ by Rärriwuy Gurramu Marika, illustrated by Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs https://readingtime.cbca.org.au/on-the-way-to-yalanbara/
2. Indigenous Literacy Foundation 25 July 2025. ‘On the Way to Yalaŋbara: New picture book celebrates scared Yolŋa Place. https://www.ilf.org.au/news/on-the-way-to-yalangbara-new-picture-book-celebrates-sacred-yolngu-place
3. Wikipedia ‘Yalangbara, Northern Territory’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalangbara,_Northern_Territory
4. The Conversation ‘Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs’ https://theconversation.com/profiles/merrkiyawuy-ganambarr-stubbs-137412