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Tiwi Islands Cultural Immersion: Aboriginal Customs and Life in Wurrumiyanga from Darwin
3.9
96 Ratings
Larrakeyah
Discover Tiwi Islands’ Aboriginal culture from Darwin. Experience unique customs, rich traditions, and unforgettable memories. Book your cultural immersion tour now.
Discover Tiwi Islands’ Aboriginal culture from Darwin. Experience unique customs, rich traditions, and unforgettable memories. Book your cultural immersion tour now.
Duration:
10 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Cullen Bay Marina - Head to the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal, just a five-minute drive from the CBD, and embark on a 2.5-hour cruise aboard the Tiwi Mantawi to Bathurst Island.
- Wurrumiyanga - Upon arrival, a local guide will lead you through the vibrant, contemporary Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga.
- Tiwi Islands - Explore the Museum,…
- Cullen Bay Marina - Head to the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal, just a five-minute drive from the CBD, and embark on a 2.5-hour cruise aboard the Tiwi Mantawi to Bathurst Island.
- Wurrumiyanga - Upon arrival, a local guide will lead you through the vibrant, contemporary Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga.
- Tiwi Islands - Explore the Museum, which features fascinating displays of traditional art and Tiwi ‘dreamtime’ stories, and visit the Early Mission Precinct. Discover the rich history of the early mission days and how the Tiwi people have integrated their culture with Christianity. Spend time with Tiwi Ladies as they engage in weaving and painting. Enjoy a taste of local billy tea and damper. Your guides and the ladies will also demonstrate their totem dances and perform a smoking ceremony to bless visitors, explaining the significance behind them. Tour the Arts & Crafts Centres to see where the artists work, and take the opportunity to purchase Tiwi arts, crafts, and screen-printed fabric at local prices. Learn about the intricate rituals of the Pukamani (burial ceremony) before returning to the ferry landing to board your vessel. Depart Bathurst Island for Darwin at 3:15 pm.
What's Included
- Morning tea with traditional billy tea and damper
- Round-trip ferry between Darwin and Bathurst Island
- Lunch included
- Explore the Tiwi Museum
- Guidance by an experienced driver
- Comfortable travel in an air-conditioned minivan
- Morning tea with traditional billy tea and damper
- Round-trip ferry between Darwin and Bathurst Island
- Lunch included
- Explore the Tiwi Museum
- Guidance by an experienced driver
- Comfortable travel in an air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a modern-day Aboriginal community. It will provide you with an insight into the Tiwi people’s rich culture and lifestyle. The tour will reveal scenes seldom seen by many outsiders and will leave you with a lifetime memory. Many cities are blessed with island destinations close by, but only Darwin has the…
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a modern-day Aboriginal community. It will provide you with an insight into the Tiwi people’s rich culture and lifestyle. The tour will reveal scenes seldom seen by many outsiders and will leave you with a lifetime memory. Many cities are blessed with island destinations close by, but only Darwin has the Tiwi Islands.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Guests need to make their own way to and from Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal as there is no pickup or drop off provided on this tour.
- The tour will return to Darwin at approximately 17:45. This allows ample time for your departing flight from Darwin at 21:00
- Make your way to the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal, a five-minute drive from the CBD. Head to the ticket booth on the upper platform with a copy of your itinerary to be marked off by the Tiwi Island Ferry Staff (Sealink) and receive your ticket
Location
Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal
Meet at Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal
Address: Ferry Terminal, Larrakeyah NT 0820
Return point: Returns to original departure point at 5:45pm
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.9
(96 Ratings)
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Getaway64117642376
Aug 24, 2025
Amazing day trip!! - Visiting the Tiwi Islands was one of the most memorable experiences of my time in the Northern Territory. The day trip gave me the chance to meet the Tiwi people and learn about their deep connection to culture, art, and country.
From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony and dancing. Our guides shared stories about their history, traditions, and way of life, and it felt like a genuine cultural exchange rather than just a tour. We got to see incredible Tiwi art and carvings before having the chance to purchase unique pieces.
What made it truly special, was the openness of the Tiwi people, who were happy to answer questions and share their knowledge.
It’s not just a sightseeing trip, it’s an experience that leaves you with a deeper appreciation for Aboriginal culture and the strength of community life on the islands. I’d highly recommend this day trip to anyone visiting Darwin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
923sheryll
Aug 15, 2025
Informative tour - Great informative tour on Bathurst Island. Smooth trip over and back on the ferry. Really enjoyed the trip around the area, and the insights of both Trevor and Alfie on indigenous life. The lunch was so lovely and fresh. Totally recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Raeleen_h
Jul 31, 2025
Disappointed that other tour for same price provided more ( morning tea, a better lunch and screen printing experience ) - Really enjoyed the island, the information from our guide and the cultural history but would recommend the other tour company
Review provided by Viator
C9261vlneilw
Jun 5, 2025
Excellent Tiwi Island Tour - Excellent day. Very informative and the people were really lovely.
The ferry over took 2 and a half hours over and was an enjoyable ride.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goplaces53451738707
Aug 17, 2025
A chance to experience Tiwi culture - I enjoyed visiting Bathurst Island and learning about Tiwi culture. It is quite a long day with the 2.5 hour cruise each way on the Sealink ferry, but very pleasant. We had great guides on the island, very friendly and informative, and lunch was nice and healthy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeanne_b
Aug 4, 2025
Morning tea mix up - Great experience.
Morning tea damper and Billy tea is actually had with lunch. Tour operators have asked for this to be changed with Viator, but for some reason they are not listening! Had we known we would have brought morning tea with us.
Review provided by Viator
Charmaine_s
Aug 1, 2025
The island tour was very informative. Take a couple of snacks as there is lunch served around 1pm which was very good. - Do not get to the Sealink at 7am as suggested as the booking office does not open until 7.30am and it does not sail until 8am. 7.30am is plenty of time.
Review provided by Viator
Maureens779
Jul 12, 2025
Loved it! - I loved the experience on the Tiwi islands. The museum is fantastic- just wish we had more time. Lunch was delicious, the people serving us were lovely, and their cultural talk and dance was great. Ferry over was rough and lost us at least a half hour on the island. Check-in was also less than ideal. Nice weather there. Not enough time there- so many hours of travelling.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffrey_s
Jun 21, 2025
Interesting but overpriced - The ferry trip takes over 2 hours. Whilst we liked our guides Trevor and Cedric and enjoyed getting to know them it was difficult at times to hear or understand them. Our driver Alan was nice. Lunch was served outside under a tree but, for what the tour cost, some sliced meat and salad with water and tea seemed overpriced. We saw the museum which was interesting but was then taken to a shop and left there to buy some highly priced local art. We did not go outside the town border, were not shown any examples of their hunter/gatherer lifestyle and really only met the tour guides and 4 women. The ferry back was full and difficult to get a seat so was not very comfortable. In summary we felt that, whilst it was interesting to visit, we didn’t really experience the island and the cost of the tour was not reflected in what we got.
Review provided by Viator
Navigator68141988162
Jul 28, 2025
AAT KINGS TOUR RIO OFF - TOTAL RIO OFF The tour is very poor and basit.They have the same things we have and do just live a more rekaxed iskand life Nor wort the money .We waisted mist of the day waiting for the tour guide to take the second tour around in our time .Saw now wraving no lagjes doing art things wr closed never wrnt in the Churchill did not scrern printimi had a ham turkey proced neat Salam and then they uses a lightet ti light the leaves to smoke us home .The 4 lagjes did a few 1 min dances and them the same .The tour Was ok But wr wrte very board. IT WAS ONLY EORT NO MORECTHE ABOT 160 Ruo off.The garbage was every where as the garbage truk had not been working.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
