Tiwi Islands

Bathurst and Melville Islands lie about eighty kilometres north of Darwin, and the Tiwi people who live there have a culture distinct from mainland Aboriginal groups, developed over a long period of relative separation. Tiwi art is internationally collected: ochre painting with combs, carved ironwood birds, and the pukumani burial poles, tall carved posts set around graves for mortuary ceremonies. Art centres at Wurrumiyanga, Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi sell directly. The islands are also devoted to Australian rules football, and the Tiwi Islands Grand Final in March draws thousands of visitors for a single day. Independent visits need permits; most people come on organised day tours.

What you actually see

• The art centres - ochre painting, carving and printed textiles sold directly.
• The pukumani poles - carved burial posts in ceremonial grounds.
• The football grand final - the March event that fills the islands.
• The island country - beaches, rainforest patches and wetlands.

When to go

May to October for the dry season; the March grand final is the biggest single event and requires booked transport. The wet season brings heavy rain and reduced services. Ferries and flights are limited and should be booked.

Honest expectations

Permits are required for independent travel and are not always granted; most visitors come on day tours, which are structured and short. Alcohol restrictions apply. Photography of people and ceremonial sites requires permission.

Nearby

Darwin is the departure point by ferry or air.