Spend the day with the traditional Tiwi people and enjoy the rare opportunity to interact with a modern-day Aboriginal community. Gain unique insights into the community, their way of life, and their culture, and purchase handmade arts and crafts.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- Covid-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 10 hours
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
Experience
Highlights
- Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a modern-day Aboriginal community
- Meet and learn about the Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga
- Watch the Tiwi ladies work on their arts and crafts, and perform a smoking ceremony
- Learn about the community's complex rituals and unique traditions
Full description
Make your way to the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal, a five-minute drive from Darwin CBD, then cruise over to Bathurst Island, one of the Tiwi Islands. Upon arrival, meet your guide and the modern-day Aboriginal community of Wurrumiyanga.
Visit the onsite museum and see the many displays of traditional art that depict the Tiwi ‘dreamtime’ stories. Stop by the Early Mission Precinct with its Tiwi-style Catholic Church, and learn how the Tiwi people have blended their culture with Christianity.
Later, spend some time with the Tiwi ladies while they work on their weaving and painting. Then, watch the ladies demonstrate a totem dance and perform a smoking ceremony to bless the visitors.
Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, enjoy a tasty lunch, served with local billy tea and damper. After lunch there’s time to see more of the community’s arts and crafts and have the opportunity to purchase some. Finally, learn about the complex rituals associated with the Pukamani (burial ceremony), before being taken back to the ferry port for your return to Darwin.
Includes
- Round-trip ferry between Darwin and Bathurst Island
- Transportation in an air-conditioned coach
- Local guide
- Snack (billy tea with damper)
- Lunch
- Museum entry
- Hotel pickup or drop-off
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
Covid-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
The details below may change if you update your current selection:
Meeting point
Please be at the Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal at 7:30 AM to check-in for an 8:00 AM departure. The terminal is very small so the ferry is hard to miss.
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What to bring
- Sunscreen
- Cash