Mangrove-wood rafts are highly specialized, traditional watercraft primarily known as the gaalwa (or kalwa), made by Indigenous coastal communities in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia, such as the Bardi Jawi people.
They are uniquely engineered for navigating harsh, tidal marshlands and deep ocean currents.
Crafted from light, buoyant mangrove wood logs. The logs are pinned together with wooden pegs to form distinct upward-curved "bow" and "stern" sections, which are then laid on top of each other and tied together. The natural curve of the mangrove trees gives the raft its unique, stable shape.
Buoyancy & Stability
Mangrove wood is relatively heavy when alive, but dried logs offer just enough buoyancy to carry paddlers, passengers, and belongings. The open structure of the bound logs allows water to wash directly through the raft rather than tipping it, providing incredible stability in the region's massive tides and rips.
Usage
The raft is designed for one or two riders who stand in the center (where the bow and stern meet), utilizing a long-handled paddle.
They were, and still are, used as a stealthy, low-profile method for hunting and spearing dugong and turtle. The raft design can be split in half when hunting dugongs—one half is used to tie off the harpooned animal, safely tiring it out.
They served as essential transport vessels for traveling between the mainland and islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago
CONTINUE EXPLORING THE KIMBERLEY
❖ Montgomery Reef Guide – Witness an entire reef emerge from the ocean.
❖ Horizontal Falls Guide – Experience one of Australia's most famous tidal phenomena.
❖ Prince Regent River Guide – Explore the Kimberley's great wilderness waterway.
❖ King George Falls Guide – Discover one of Western Australia's tallest waterfalls.
❖ Kimberley Cruise Routes & Itineraries – See where Kimberley cruises travel.
❖ Best Time to Cruise the Kimberley – Find the ideal month for your journey.
❖ Kimberley Cruise Wildlife Guide – Learn about crocodiles, whales, turtles and more.
If you want to delve more into ancient aboriginal history in the Kimberley or want to lear more about our Raft Point Guide call our office now,