Remote communities in the north-east Top End are battening down as Tropical Cyclone Lam intensifies, but the storm is good news for at least some residents.
Surfers are hoping the big swell along the coastline of the Gove Peninsula will keep away the saltwater crocodiles that usually ensure the area is off-limits.
"Usually we don't get in the water here, but when it's like this you've got to make the most of it," local surfer Kevin Vernacombe said.
But Paul Augustin from local Ranger group Dhimurru stressed the potential dangers of being outside.
"It's really very dangerous, there could be flying debris and all sorts. We strongly advise people to stay at home," he said.
Tropical Cyclone Lam has now intensified to a Category 3 storm.
With wind gusts of 165kph, the storm remains about 130km west north west of Nhulunbuy, passing over Cape Wessel, and the town is expecting very destructive winds of over 170kph to begin within the next 24 hours.
Everyone whose house isn't secure should be in a shelter by now, Mr Augustin said after a Disaster Committee meeting.
"We are asking people to stay off the roads and wait somewhere safe until they hear the all clear."
Tuesday was the busiest day of the year at the local dump, as a steady stream of residents cleared their properties of anything that could become a wind-borne danger.
On Wednesday, streets were lined with boats, trucks and trampolines anchored by rope to lampposts.
Robert Clements opted to evacuate his home and travel 20km to Nhulunbuy from the indigenous community of Yirrkala with his partner and their three-month-old baby.
"We've been advised that all the homes in Yirrkala are built to cope with cyclones, but with a newborn I just felt more comfortable relocating to a brick home in the township," he said.
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