Balibo

Balibó is a town in East Timor about from the Indonesian border. The town is home to a 400-year-old fort, which was the scene of several battles during the Indonesian invasion in 1975. The Balibo Five were also filming from the fort when Indonesian forces landed in Balibo on the day they died. The fort was converted into a hotel in 2016.

Understand
It was estimated by Human Rights Watch that 70 percent of the town was destroyed during the militia violence that preceded the vote on East Timorese independence

On 16 October 1975, five Australian-based journalists were killed here during an incursion by Indonesian Special Forces in the run-up to the main invasion in December that year.

Get in
The road from Dili is good all the way to Batugade on the coast. From Batugade, a paved but bumpy road leads up to Balibó and further on to Maliana.

Public buses from Dili to Maliana stop (or can be flagged down) in Balibó. The public buses leave Dili very early in the morning (03:00–04:00) from Tasi Tolu bus station and take about 3 hours to Balibó. Alternatively, you can catch a bus from Dili to Batugade (Paradise Travel runs several buses from Fatuhada, Dili, at 8am that stop in Batugade before continuing into Indonesia, US$13), and then continue by motorbike taxi ("ojek") from Batugade to Balibó for ~US$6-7 per person.

The buses returning from Maliana to Dili pass Balibó between around 08:00–10:00.

Get around
Balibó is quite small and walkable.

Do

 * Balibo Trails Tours (next to the flag house, ) organise guided walks to Gruta Morutau, Duanele Cave, Leohitu Waterfall, and other sights in the area.

Buy
The market in central Balibó sells groceries and basic necessities.

Eat
Food options are very limited. Most foreigners will eat at the Balibó Fort Hotel's restaurant, but there is also a small local warung near the market.