About Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands, known locally as ‘the islands of smiles’, comprise Melville and Bathurst Island, approximately 80 kilometres north of Darwin in northern Australia. Home to the aboriginal Tiwis who have lived there for almost 7,000 years, the islands offer a wonderful insight into Australian cultural history. The locals live a non-traditional lifestyle and there are plenty of museums showcasing indigenous artwork and artefacts. The Tiwi Islands also boast a stunning coastline which is well worth exploring. You’ll find sandy beaches, secluded waterfalls and refreshing rock pools hidden inside the lush forest which is home to plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Given their proximity to northern Australia, travelling by ferry is the easiest way to jump across to the mainland from the Tiwi Islands. The port of Wurrumiyanga offers numerous sailings across the Beagle Gulf to Cullen Bay in Darwin.

About Australia

Australia is the world’s sixth largest country, by land area, consisting of the mainland, Tasmania and thousands of smaller offshore islands. For such a massive nation, the population only reaches around twenty-four million, culminating in a huge expanse of breath taking, untouched wilderness, known as ‘the outback’, with almost ninety percent of Australians residing in coastal cities. Sydney, the largest of which, boasts a collection of beaches and trendy bars alongside its iconic Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden. Australian excursions include jaunting off to the Whitsunday Islands for Great Barrier Reef diving, or hopping over to Kangaroo Island for its wonderful National Park, while the Tiwi Islands, in the north, showcase the fascinating Aboriginal way of life. With numerous islands around the Australian coast, travelling by ferry is the best way of reaching the mainland, allowing you to enjoy the brilliant oceanic views along the way.