Spending One Day in the Tiwi Islands

With sandy beaches that seem to stretch for eternity, gorgeous golden sunsets, vivid hues of turquoise waters, rich culture and smiles all around, you’ll wish you were in the Tiwi Islands for longer than a day.

80km north of Darwin, you’ll find a small collection of 9 islands which are home to a total of 3000 inhabitants. Visiting these islands is a unique experience that takes you off the beaten track! The Tiwi Islands are completely different to anywhere else in Australia and allow you an insight into Indigenous culture. There’s plenty to do on the Tiwi Islands. Take yourself on a cultural trip to one of Australia’s most untouched islands.

Welcome to the Tiwis!

The Tiwi Islands have the largest Indigenous population in the whole of Australia. Often also called the island of smiles – and when you get there, you’ll see why!

Here’s how you’d typically spend a day on the Tiwi Islands.

Arrive on the scenic ferry journey, and see the traditional smoke ceremony

Going from Darwin, you’d board the Tiwi Mantawi ferry which is a 2.5 journey. You’d then stop off at Bathurst Island. This scenic journey gives you time to marvel at the jaw-dropping scenery in the surrounding Beagle Gulf.

When you get to the island, visitors experience a traditional smoking ceremony.

The smoking ceremony is to cleanse the space and ward off any bad spirits from the area. When you arrive on the island, you might also watch a totem dance.

Patakijiyali Museum

Head to the Patakijiyali Museum to learn about the Tiwi culture. It is interesting, enriching and informative. It is a must-do if you are only visiting the islands for the day.  You’ll learn about the rich history of the Tiwi Islands.

Pristine beaches and serene setting

Gorgeous ocean blues, pristine beaches with turquoise blue waters…

Remember, you need a permit to get onto the Tiwi Islands.

Getting to the Tiwi Islands is relatively easy – you just get on a ferry or fly from Darwin International Airport.

A thriving culture

Experience the arts and crafts on the island. There’s pottery, canvas painting, and wood carvings. The art is synonymous with song/dance and Jilamara (body painting).

The Tiwi people express their inner spirit through Turtyanginari (which means colour). This is where patterns, circles and dots come together to decorate an expression. For the Tiwi people, dancing, painting and singing are all interconnected. Artwork and paintings are rooted in song and dance, and vice versa.

Sometimes even non-verbal parts of the Tiwi language are engrained in the artwork.

To look at the artwork of the First Nations and to learn about the history of Tiwi Island, head over to one of the art centres… there’s Tiwi artwork painted on schools, churches and more.

Play a game of footy

Australian rules Football runs deep on the Tiwi Islands. There’s a deep passion for football on the Tiwi islands, and it’s the heartbeat of sport on the island.

It’s so much more than just a football game – it’s a day of celebration for culture, art and community. There’s an annual football grand finale and art show that happens every March. Normally visitors need a permit to get to the island, but this is the only time that you can go without a permit.

AFL football is a part of the furniture in Tiwi culture. It’s become engrained into the upbringing on the island.

Enjoy the coastal scenery on the way to the island… You’ll see some of the most gorgeous scenery on the way there – with beautiful coastal views, sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

Enjoy a day in the Tiwi Islands

To experience the Tiwi Islands for yourself, come along on one of our guided tours!

(Banner Image Credit: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)