Tiwi By Design Day Tour
Darwin, Australia
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy a rare chance to visit the Tiwi Islands and witness an Indigenous Australian community that holds on tightly to its traditions. Located off the coast of Darwin, the Tiwi Islands experience is led by an Indigenous guide who shares local history and traditions. Partake in a traditional morning tea with Tiwi Islanders before visiting the Tiwi Museum and joining Indigenous Australian artists for an art-making workshop.
- Few travelers get to visit the Tiwi Islands, making it a rare and special experience
- Includes round-trip ferry between Darwin and the Tiwi Islands for ease
- Listen to the personal insights of your local Tiwi guide
- Shop for authentic Tiwi paintings, fabric, carving, pottery, and clothing (own expense)
What's Included
- Local guide
- Lunch
- WiFi on board
- Restroom on board
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Cullen Bay Ferry TerminalLarrakeyah NT 0820, Australia
Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal, at the end of Marina Boulevard, Cullen Bay, Darwin. 5 minutes drive from Darwin CBD, free all day parking in off-street carparks.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.7:30 am
Itinerary
Travel by ferry from Darwin to Bathurst Island, one of the Tiwi Islands. Seating is available on an outside sun deck or in an air-conditioned indoor cabin.
Keep an eye out for wildlife such as sea turtles, dolphins, and seabirds. The Tiwi Islands provide important breeding grounds for a variety of native Australian animals.
A local Indigenous guide accompanies you on your tour, which includes a scenic walk, a museum visit, and an art-making class.
At the end of the tour, your guide returns you to the ferry dock for the trip back to Darwin.
Keep an eye out for wildlife such as sea turtles, dolphins, and seabirds. The Tiwi Islands provide important breeding grounds for a variety of native Australian animals.
A local Indigenous guide accompanies you on your tour, which includes a scenic walk, a museum visit, and an art-making class.
At the end of the tour, your guide returns you to the ferry dock for the trip back to Darwin.
1
SeaLink Northern Territory
5 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Tiwi Design
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a walking tour, an easy stroll over short distances between the ferry landing, art centre and mission precinct. **Please note that the Bathurst Island Museum is closed until 2022, and is no longer included in this tour**
- Covid Procedures: We have always had stringent and rigorous hygiene standards, cleaning procedures and health and safety practices. During this time, we have stepped our practices and procedures up even further. Where possible we have made additional hand sanitisers and cleaning stations available to our customers and employees to exercise good hand/hygiene practices. We have also placed hygiene communications in our vessels, vehicles, accommodation, food venues, shop fronts/counters/terminals from the relevant health authorities.
- Dietary requirements: Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.4
based on 166 reviews
Rose_G, Oct 2025
We had a fantastic day on Bathurst island learning about Tiwi culture. After a 2 1/2 hr ride on a SeaLink ferry we were met by Vivian (?) our guide who brought us all as one group to watch a ceremony that started with a smoking ceremony and dance, that was fabulous. One elder- Romy ( not sure of correct spelling) was very entertaining and funny. We had really lovely damper and tea for morning tea. The group then spilt into two with our group going for a walk through the streets with our guide to see the museum and the heritage- listed Catholic Church. Our guide Vivian told us about Tiwi culture and history, it was very educational and interesting. We then returned to the cultural centre to have a really lovely lunch ( quite big and couldn’t be finished). Our group then did some screen printing with Victoria and Alan who had been doing it for 40 + years. This was a fun experience enjoyed by all. The art centre had a lot of local art & sculptures for sale. I count resist a lovely painting to take home. We had a lot of time to rest whilst waiting for the group to finish the screen printing so we were able to watch and chat to the local artists who were painting in the garden. I would highly recommend this culturally immersive day of Tiwi.
Amelia_S, Sep 2025
My parents, partner and I loved our Tiwi Design tour. It was the perfect taste of the Tiwi Islands and very special to learn about the Tiwi culture and try our hand at Tiwi art. The damper and fresh sandwiches were delicious!
Carolyn_S, Sep 2025
Wonderful day morning tea and lunch was great. The screenprinting experience was wonderful. Would certainly recommend this trip to Tiwi.
Laura_R, Sep 2025
Painting experience was great and everyone was friendly.
Viator messed up our tickets and caused us a lot of trouble when trying to get on the tour, arriving at the island and when leaving. It really made the whole day quite frustrating.
Gemma_W, Aug 2025
A truly wonderful day with soooo much learning. Thanks Tiwi Designs! I will cherish my tea towel and hopefully come back to see more of the beautiful islands
Kelly_M, Aug 2025
Until very recently the Tiwi Islands were not even on my radar, but once I saw this tour advertised I discovered that, largely thanks to the movie, Top End Wedding, I was in the minority.
I was slightly trepidatious about the tour, as I feared that it might feel intrusive and somewhat cringe worthy to go traipsing into people’s culture and heritage as a tourist.
Thankfully it was absolutely not at all like that.
From the moment I stepped onto the ferry I felt welcomed and relaxed.
By some great good fortune, I happened to be going on a very busy weekend for the island, and members of the community were heading home for a weekend of AFL, which, it rapidly transpired, is the “second religion,” of the islands.
Our Welcome to Country on arrival began with a good natured quizzing on which teams we all supported. - The nonagenarian nun’s team is unashamedly the Sydney Swans - and with that we were warmly welcomed by Elders and Aunties with a Smoking Ceremony and dances before being split into two groups to create screen printed artwork at the art gallery, or to take a walking tour of the island to the delightful and extremely interesting little museum and the heritage church made famous in the movie my friends had told me to watch. (If you haven’t seen it, I recommend you do.)
My group did the tour first, then came back to the art gallery for lunch and a chance to create our own screen prints, while the other group did their museum tour.
It was a fabulous day of good natured banter, as well as being extremely informative, and I got to bring home my own screen printed memento, as well as a beautiful carved bird that I absolutely couldn’t resist buying from the gallery shop.
My only regret?
I wish I had known about the weekend of football and had somehow been able to stay for the whole thing - and the kicker there? I don’t really care about AFL, at all.
Kathleen_T, Aug 2025
Be prepared for a truely educational experience, wear comfortable clothing and embrace the culture with genuine enthusiasm.
John_M, Aug 2025
This is an authentic interaction with the essence of local artistic and historical aspects. It was not a drive around in a bus experience rather an experience to get the feel of this community.
Tim_M, Jun 2025
Take some seasick tablets with you for the trip over and back if you get motion sickness. Wear a hat and comfortable shoes, there's a little bit of walking to do.
David_C, Aug 2024
We were welcomed with a smoking ceremony and dancing. Vivian, our excellent guide, explained everything in a friendly and easily understood way.
Vivian led our guided tour of the small town with its interesting history, he made the history come alive with his knowledge of his people and their customs as well as the war time history.
Lunch was fresh and tasty, we were well looked after by the friendly team at the arts centre. We particularly enjoyed the screen printing activity after lunch. The team couldn’t have been more helpful and everyone created work they could be proud of.
Overall an enjoyable and relaxing day in a friendly and welcoming environment.
MarieTherese_S, Jul 2024
Wonderful to experience life on Tiwi at Bathurst Islands. Had opportunity to create screen print. Loved the museum and church(site of Top End Wedding). Great day exploring.
Sadly the ferry rides weren't too flash but it couldn't spoil the beautiful day for us
Paul_G, May 2024
We really enjoyed the various animal dances. Welcome to Country and the smoking ceremony were inclusive. Screen printing was educational and fun. The staff were patient with the group.
Sophie_B, Apr 2024
Amazing day trip, local guides and artists, it felt authentic and its was super educational!
Great lunch,
Trip tan very smoothly
I learnt so much!
Anonymous, Apr 2024
I enjoyed the entire experience - the ferry ride, welcome ceremony, morning tea, tour and history of the islands, lunch and the screen printing. All of the people involved in the tour were fantastic. The artists spent a lot of time ensuring our screen prints were works of art.
SHARON_B, Apr 2024
Seeing and experiencing the local culture and creating a screen print t-shirt souvenir to remember my tour.
Marcus_D, Nov 2023
Vivian was an amazing tour guide; he really made us feel like his family.
Thanks so much Vivian - everyone on the tour thought you were amazing.
Alan, thanks also for helping us so much for helping us with the screen printing.
I love this tour - 10 out of 10.
Barry_S, Oct 2023
A brilliant day out to see the lovely Bathurst island and Tiwi people. I made a tea towel, eat a great lunch and purchased a beautiful painting.
Karen_F, Oct 2023
The stories told by our guides and the visit to the screen printing area. Everyone we meet one the island were friendly and welcoming.
dherszfeld, Sep 2023
The tour was interesting but for a day long tour I would have liked more content.
Would like better and more extensive experience about the life of one nation people on the island.
Karleen_O, Aug 2023
Interacting with the local people. Seeing them dance and share their stories and sharing in craft work with them. I also chatted to another man who lives on Bathurst Island, fishing and catching sea creatures which he shares with his local community. It was a very meaningful time.
Sheila_S, Aug 2023
I enjoyed the screen printing, and the smoke ceremony , all staff were lovely
I was dissapointed that there were no weavers or painters as this was among the main reason I went to the island . Lunch was great beyond expectations
Annie_T, Aug 2023
Great day and was a good experience. Beautiful hospitality from the Tiwi Islanders.
Really enjoyed doing the screen printing on T-Shirts!
Cheryl_A, Aug 2023
The welcome to country, dancing, information on culture, screen printing and meeting Sister Anne xo. Alan was a great screen printing teacher and has a wicked sense of humour. Being greeted by Sister Girl Vivian made us feel very welcome and Kevin shared some wonderful stories and Tiwi history with us. It was a memorable day.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Hey Cheryl,
Thank you for the 5-star review from your most recent experience with us.
Thank you for choosing us to travel to Tiwi Islands. We appreciate the time you have taken to provide us with this feedback, and we look forward to seeing you on another SeaLink vessel again soon.
Kind regards,
SeaLink Team
John_M, Jul 2023
Meeting the really welcoming Tiwi Islanders and learning about their culture was the highlight for us
donelle_c, Jul 2023
I loved the yummy damper and lunch we were given, the museum was fascinating and the church beautiful. The screen painting was an added bonus where you could see everyone was enjoying themselves and engaging in their take home piece whether it’s a piece of clothing, fabric or tea towel. The staff encourages you to ask a team member to guide you through how screen printing works and use patience as each customer gets an in depth understanding of modern technology design and printing. There is a large gallery filled with Tiwi Art and Culture where you can browse or purchase something. You are invited to a smoking ceremony where First Nations people greet you with a few jokes and the rich history of Tiwi. Would highly recommend Tiwi in general whether you choose Tiwi by Design or another package. Instead of screen printing, the other group had a go at a traditional ochre body painting. Thank you to all the lovely staff and artists who made the trip very enjoyable.
Betty_K, Jun 2023
A wonderful experience and enjoyable day
Tiwi island welcome was a highlight,
Screen printing was great fun too
A lovely lunch provided!
Highly recommended well worth the trip to Tiwi island.
Kat_G, Apr 2023
One it was cancelled because the boat broke down
Two still waiting for the notification
Three how do we rebook for Monday 10th April?
Jan_S, Oct 2022
Loved the whole cultural experience from the Welcome Ceremony to screen printing to learning about the history of the islands.
It was a very personal experience meeting the hosts and artists. It was great to see the sense of hope for the future well being of the community.
Our host was knowledgeable and entertaining. Lunch delicious.
micsmate, Sep 2022
Meeting the artists and doing a one off screen print on either a t shirt or a tea towel was a highlight.. Morning Tea was lovely, tea, coffee, and damper with a choice of toppings, most enjoyable. Lunch was provided and it was great. There was a sandwich, a piece of quiche, a chocolate muffin, a mandarin and water. Our guide, Kevin, was informative and had a great sense of humour.
Judith_M, Aug 2022
Nicely done… welcome to country, smoking ceremony, museum, church, explanation of calm system among Tiwi islanders, lunch well done, screen printing a great idea and well done. Enjoyed the gallery and whole day including ferry rides.
From $341.75
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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