The Tiwi Islands are located approximately 80km north of Darwin in the Arafura Sea. There are two main islands - Melville Island and Bathurst Island separated by the Aspley Strait with 9 other uninhabited Islands making up the Tiwi Islands - Buchanan, Harris, Seagull, Karslake, Irritutu, Clift, Turiturina, Matingalia and Nodlaw. The two Islands have a population of approximately 3,000 with the main portion of the population living in Wurrumiyanga or Nguiu as it was first named.

Transport between Bathurst and Melville Island is by the car/passenger ferry operated by the Tiwi Island Regional Council or by private boat . The Tiwi Islands are connected to the mainland by Fly Tiwi which operates daily to both Bathurst and Melville Island or through Sealink Ferry services operated 3 times per week to Bathurst Island. All food and other materials are transported to the Islands by barge through Seaswift or Barge Express. Who do weekly deliveries and by private barge charters available through a number of Darwin based barge companies.

Transport between Bathurst and Melville Island is by the car ferry operated by the Tiwi Islands Regional Council or by private boat. Passenger or car tickets can be purchased from the Tiwi Islands Regional Council, or if you are hiring a car from us, let us know at the time of booking if you require ferry tickets and we will include the cost of the tickets in the car hire and have them ready for you when you collect your vehicle.

The Tiwi Islands are privately owned, they are not Crown land nor public land. If you want to visit, work, conduct research, camp, fish, hunt, or live on the Tiwi Islands, permission must be obtained in accordance with the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

Exceptions: Day visitors travelling on the SeaLink NT ferry to Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island or visiting the islands on a hosted tour, such as Tiwi Tours, do not need to apply for a permit. Day passes will be issued to visitors.

Permit Free Days From time to time Tiwi Island communities designate Permit-Free days, such as the annual Football Grand Final and art sale held in March at Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island. Permit-Free days are advertised in advance. Visit https://www.tiwilandcouncil.com for more information. 

The Tiwi Islands are connected to the mainland by Fly Tiwi which operates daily to both Bathurst and Melville Island or through 

Sealink Ferry services operated 3 times per week to Bathurst Island. All food and other materials are transported to the Islands by barge through SeaSwift or Barge Express.