Tiwi By Design Day Tour

Fantastic experience

We joined the trip today. Buffy and Rocky were great hosts. We really enjoyed the trip and felt we only got to experience a small part of the tiwi Islands. Ideally a couple of days on the Tiwi Islands would be much better and I’m sure we will be back. Not a cheap trip but I’ll remember the experience much longer than I remember the price.

Many thanks to Tiwi By Design Day Tour

We had a wonderful day at Bathurst Island. The crossing was smooth and we really appreciated our guide Vivian, the smoking ceremony and our walk around the town visiting among other things the museum and historic church. Lunch was scrumptious under the trees in the garden of the Arts centre, and then followed up with choosing a Tiwi Design and being involved with the process of screen printing the design on to a T shirt and a Tea towel for the two of us. It was great!

Crocodile rock

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.

A Must do don’t miss out on this

This is a must do. thank you to all the mob for welcoming us to your land. Such an amazing experience and full of history and culture so much to take away for this amazing experience. Our guide was just wonderful Viviam thank you so much for sharing your culture and land with us.

Special visit to an unusual place. Privileged to have visited.

Highly informative and enjoyable visit. Vivian (Buffy) was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Fantastic lunch. Great artwork Great experience

Authentic, educational, Thankyou

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!

Tiwi Islands experience.

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.

Wonderful experience!

Seeing and experiencing the local culture and creating a screen print t-shirt souvenir to remember my tour.

A great cultural and artistic day

I did this tour today and it was fantastic. The tour combined a great mix of experiences including the history of the island, the cultural background and making our own screen prints. Everyone involved in delivering the tour experience was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We had enough time to choose and create our screen print with fantastic input and guidance from several screen printing artists. It was interesting to see the different items produced by our tour group. I thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Amazing

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.

Highly Recommend

Had an absolutely fabulous tour with Vivian, who was an informative and patient guide, especially while I struggled in the heat! I learnt a lot about the Tiwi Islands culture and history. The Welcome to Country ceremony was great, being NZ Maori, we have a similar ceremony and it was wonderful to experience another culture. The art centre was great, and I am going to frame the art we did with AJ when I get home. I hope to visit again.

A must see for all

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.

Enjoyable day

The stories told by our guides and the visit to the screen printing area. Everyone we meet one the island were friendly and welcoming.

Tiwi by Design: Island Magic, Artistry, and a Whole Lot of Fun!

I had an absolutely awesome day on the Tiwi by Design tour! This laid-back yet captivating experience was perfect, especially for someone like me with bad knees. The walk to the museum and church was easy and gentle on my knees, allowing me to fully enjoy the day. The Tiwi Island's rich history and culture are impressively preserved in the museum, and seeing the bullet holes in the church roof from the 1942 Darwin bombings added a powerful touch of reality. Learning about how the Catholic priest integrated Tiwi culture into Catholicism was a valuable lesson for all. The highlight was screen printing a tea towel with the talented local artists. They generously shared their knowledge, creativity, and culture, making us feel truly welcomed into their lives. Overall, it was a wonderfully relaxing and enlightening day. Special thanks to Kevin, Vivian, and Allan for making it the best!

The tour was interesting...

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.

A perfect glimpse at Tiwi culture

My husband, adult daughter and I had a great time on this tour. The sea journey there and back seemed to be so quick, and was very calm and pleasant. We were greeted by elders who gave us a welcome ceremony and then were taken on a tour around the island, visiting and hearing about the old church, funeral totems, the war history and given time to go round the museum, where the exhibit about Tiwi Island AFL players really interested us. The lunch was good and my GF meal I had pre-ordered was perfect. The highlight for us was the arts centre. We had a great time printing our t shirts/ tea towels - I wanted to do mine myself and I was shown how and had everything explained but was able to produce it myself. we loved the arts centre, seeing artists working and being able to buy paintings and bird carvings at extremely good prices. A perfect day.

Interacting with the...

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.

Not quite as expected

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

Hugely disappointed

I did the Tiwi by design tour on Monday 10th July and have to say that the tour was much less than what I expected considering how the tour was described and marketed and the price paid. The guides were friendly and welcoming and whilst the stories had potential to be interesting, they were delivered in a way that was difficult to follow, with other stories interspersed, stories cut short or mumbled and difficult to decipher. The welcome ceremony was underwhelming with the community members looking like they would rather be somewhere else. I had expected (from description) to experience a busy thriving indigenous arts community (talk to the locals, see the ladies weaving or community members doing carvings). The place was deserted. No locals to chat to, get a feel of the place or a sense of the culture. The museum was good but unfortunately the guide did not participate in this and I think we would have gotten so much more out of it with a guide. The church was lovely to visit. Lunch proved to be adequate, but for the price was also underwhelming. And then we just filled in time with nothing to do. A visit to the gallery where the artwork was great but hugely expensive and I felt no link to the experience. The biggest disappointment was the screen printing. This was the thing I was really looking forward to as I am a school art teacher. I had hoped to learn and then pass on to my students all that I learnt about indigenous art and design. I was so disappointed. No-one was organising. No-one to explain to the group what to do. All the guests were wandering around waiting for the local artists to return from lunch, waiting for someone to explain what to do or even just welcome us to the site. And only 3 staff to assist all the people who had no idea what this was all about. Then most people simply got to choose the colour and the screen and the local artist did the print. Hardly an 'art experience', not a 'create your own'. And certainly no link to developing a connection to the culture. One of the staff later mentioned that it was Naidoc week and one of the ladies on the ferry said she was going to Tiwi for Naidoc week activities. Was this the reason why the place was deserted? If so, the tours should not be planned for this week as they quite obviously cannot deliver what is described in the information. If this was not the case, then they need to seriously revisit how they describe and deliver the experience to their guests or heavily reduce the cost to truly reflect what is actually offered. Quote from the information supplied: "This is a leisurely day of absorbing the workings of a busy Indigenous art centre – you may see art pieces destined for international exhibitions, talk to artists who are carving or painting, and sometimes the ladies will be there weaving and chatting. It is always loud and busy with Tiwi people coming and going, Ngarukuruwala music playing on repeat. Take the time to connect, share where you’re from and which footy team you support, ask about the stories you see on the paintings, or ask the artists there to show you their work." This did not happen! The only correct thing in this description is "leisurely". I don't think I have ever written such a negative review and am hugely disappointed that I am. I went away with a very expensive tea towel. (I provided this feedback to Sealink but have not had a response)

Day trip to Bathurst Island

It was a really good experience. The people running the Tiwi activities did a great job and made us feel welcome. The screen printing was a highlight - everyone made something beautiful, whatever skill level. Would love to have stayed longer.

Great day and was a good...

Great day and was a good experience. Beautiful hospitality from the Tiwi Islanders. Really enjoyed doing the screen printing on T-Shirts!

Great taste of Tiwi culture

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.

Tiwi by Design tour

Our tour to Bathurst Island was even better than I had imagined. The Sealink 2hr ferry ride from Darwin was comfortable. We were met by our excellent Tiwi guides Vivienne and Kevin and walked to the nearby Art Centre where we got to participate in a welcoming smoking ceremony. We had chosen the cultural tour which is a walking one but distances are not great. We visited the old church (a must see for the magnificent Tiwian art), the little museum, first telegraph station and memorial to a local WW2 hero. Kevin explained the local culture so well, very memorable were their totem poles, and the significance of AFL which has had a huge positive influence for them. A nice picnic box lunch was provided then a session in the arts shed trying local screen printing. There was beautiful art for sale and a little carved bird is coming home with us. The buildings and facilities are very basic but the local Tiwians are so healthy and happy and welcoming. Highly recommend this tour

Fabulous experience!

Wow! Great ferry ride, fantastic & moving welcome. Fun experience screen printing, delicious lunch & very interesting tour. Meeting Sr Anne Gardiner was a highlight. Highly recommend, the best day!

A wonderful experience

Meeting the really welcoming Tiwi Islanders and learning about their culture was the highlight for us

Fabulous Tiwi experience

Such a wonderful day. It was uplifting to see the locals and their way of life. They are creative, entertaining and respectful of their heritage. I learnt a lot about aboriginal heritage, and culture. Vivian was so entertaining, and gave us so much information about the marriage rules, and the missionaries. The screen printing was also great experience, and such a great lunch box! The day couldn't have been better.

Do not miss

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.

Tiwi by design - fun

Had a great day learning about this very special area of the world. We loved how friendly and welcoming the people were and we enjoyed meeting them and spending some time with them. All aspects of the tour were excellent. My husband loved screen printing his own singlet together with one of the artists, a highlight!

Smiles all round, what a great day!!

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.

Tiwi Island cultural experience

This trip was lovely. Nestled off the coast of Australia's Northern Territory, the Tiwi Islands form an exquisite tapestry of natural beauty, cultural richness, and an ancient heritage that whispers through the breeze. The history of Aboriginal people on the Tiwi Islands is deeply rooted in ancient traditions and a connection to the land that spans thousands of years. The Tiwi people have a rich cultural heritage and a unique language, which is distinct from other Aboriginal languages. They were hospitable and welcomed the tourists with open arms. We had a lovely morning tea and lunch provided which was refreshing. We got to experience art making and took our treasures home. Highly recommend this tour to reconnect with an ancient tradition of our First Nations People.

Tiwi island love ❤️

What a fabulous day! This tour was informative & interesting. We started with a traditional smoking ceremony & a dance display. Then it was morning tea of yummy damper & a cuppa. We then got split into 2 groups, one to do screen printing & the other a tour of the museum & the church. After a lovely lunch we swapped activities. We loved our day & found everyone helpful & friendly. One day we’ll return to explore of the beautiful Tiwi islands. Thank you to the energetic Vivian & all the staff involved. Thoroughly recommend this tour.

A fantastic cultural experience.

We loved our trip to Bathurst Island. The interaction with everyone was relaxed and fun. We started the day with a Welcome to country. Dances were then performed around the campfire. Then a delicious morning tea of damper and jams, golden syrup. The shop has beautiful woodwork and screen prints to choose from. We bought a CD. Then we did our screen printing. We had a choice of printing using a T-shirt or a tea towel. There were lots of beautiful designs to choose from. We had a huge lunch box of wraps, sandwiches, cakes. Then we had the tour of the museum and church. The museum is amazing. A very special mention to the wonderful Fifi (Vivian) who showed us around all day.

A good and different cultural experience

Good adventure and cultural experience. Interesting view of catholic mission life and history. Ferry ride long and a bit uncomfortable on the way out. But a lot quicker on the way back. A little overpriced, but happy to support the local people.

A day on TIWI

Absolutely worth the effort to go. People so welcoming - learnt a lot about their culture participated in a craft workshop which was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyable, interesting day. Would highly recommend the trip out.

We just still want to go !!!

One it was cancelled because the boat broke down Two still waiting for the notification Three how do we rebook for Monday 10th April?

Nope

If I could give the service less than 1 star I would. Tour cancelled without any notification. The reason was the boat was having repairs done and it wasn’t ready for today. Well if this was the case, notify customers. If you book through a travel agency you have to get your refund from them and not SeaLink.

Wonderful day trip

What a lovely day. Fantastic ferry ride, amazing welcome, art activities and a visit to the museum and church. Vivian was a wonderful host and was very generous in sharing knowledge of the island, its history and the culture of the people. Everyone we met and interacted with was welcoming.

Wonderful Experience

100% recommend this tour. Our guide, Vivian is amazing. I learned so much about the island, the people, the history and the culture. Vivian explained everything we were doing and seeing as we went along and answered all of our questions as well. The other artists at Tiwi Designs were also happy to chat about the art center and themselves. This is such a unique experience and a great way to learn about the Aboriginal people of the Tiwi islands and support them with your ticket purchase. 10/10

I could not recommend this tour enough!

I could not recommend this tour enough! It was the most incredible experience and many thanks to Vivian. From the welcome to country and smoking ceremony, the screen printing, tour of the museum and old church - it was just a glimpse into the many thousands of years old Tiwi culture. It was hard to say good bye at the end of the day and I’ll definitely be going back!

Tiwi Art, culture and History day

Ferry from Darwin to Bathurst Island was enjoyable. On the island we went to a smoking ceremony and welcome to the island talk. Damper and tea/coffee was offered. We did screen printing onto a Tee shirt using one of the many designs available. The group were helped through this activity by the locals. Lunch was provided which consisted of wraps. Next, a tour of the museum and church. The old church features in the movie Top End Wedding. Back to the ferry and a return trip to Darwin. Overall, a good day but probably a bit expensive.

Cultural immersion

This is a great day tour from Darwin. Included is the return ferry trip as well as a fully guided day of Aboriginal culture including a welcome to country and smoking ceremony. Screen printing your own tea towel or tshirt is a highlight of the day. A walking tour around the small museum of the history of the islands and the church featured in Top End Wedding, along with the woodworking studio was interesting and our guide, Vivian, was easy going and happy to answer any questions. Lunch is included and was a good selection of sandwiches, fruit and cake. There is drinking water refill station available which is so important in this climate. There is the opportunity to purchase woodworking and native painting. A local bus (no 14) is available from Darwin to take you to Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal.

A Unique Experience

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.

Tiwi trip

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.

Perfect TIWI

You had us from the boat ride over’ The friendliness, and local knowledge that the Tiwi’s shared with us, a non stop cultural learning experience. From the smoking ceremony to the totem dancing by the elders. Visiting the museum with all its history and the art galleries, to doing our own screen printing to finish a full and rich day. Kevin was the perfect host telling us of the history of the Tiwi Islands and its origins.

Wonderful cultural experience

Was a wonderful day to the Tiwi Islands & our guide was very informative & we loved his jokes. The smoking ceremony & the dances we’re a fantastic highlight then the screen printing of our own tee shirts were my highlights of the day. The lunch was delicious & so much of it I had to give to my husband to finish it 😂 a wonderful cultural experience. Loved the people there

#1 day tour of the tiwi Islands

Kevin our guide was so knowledgeable of the culture and island. Food was so delicious. Allan who taught us screen printing was such a character and I enjoyed having a laugh with him.

A must visit while in the N.T

From the smoking ceremony to the screen printing & all the history of the Tiwi, an unforgettable experience hosted by our guide Vivienne. Lunch was superb also. Thank you Tiwi

A great day

The people on Bathurst Island are wonderful!! We were given a warm traditional welcome and our host, Kevin, was most knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of his people. The screen printing we did was first class with great take-home product! We had a great day and highly recommend this tour.

A fantastic tour.

We were referred by friends and very glad we took their advice. An engaging tour that helped us understand the history and culture of the Tiwi people. Thanks to Kev and Viv (and everyone else) for a great day.

Well worth it.

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.