4 Day Darwin & Tiwi Islands, Hotel Accommodated

Day 1: Arrive Darwin

Join a city sights tour this afternoon for the perfect introduction to Darwin, with expert commentary by a local driver/guide. See the Chinese Temple and the lush Botanic Gardens. Tour the historic sights of the city including the East Point Military Precinct and see the Stokes Hill Wharf area.

Accommodation:
Value Inn (Budget)
Mirambeena Resort (Standard)
Holiday Inn Esplanade (Superior)

Day 2: Darwin - Tiwi Islands

Today you are transferred to Darwin General Aviation Airport to check in by 7.30am. After a 30 minute scenic flight (airfare not included) you arrive at Bathurst Island. Here you are met by your local guide and taken on a journey through the progressive, modern day Aboriginal community of Nguiu. Visit the museum with its interesting displays of traditional art and depictions of the Tiwi 'dreamtime' stories and Early Mission Precinct with its unique Tiwi style Catholic Church. Hear about the colourful history of the early mission days and learn hoe the Tiwi people have blended their culture with Christianity. Be taken through the successful arts and crafts centres and see where the artists work. You also have the opportunity to purchase Tiwi arts and crafts and screen-printed fabric at Island prices. At morning tea we spend time with some Tiwi Ladies enjoying billy tea and damper while they work on their weaving and painting. Your guides and the ladies also demonstrate their totem dances and perform a smoking ceremony to bless the visitors and explain the meanings behind them. Set out for a scenic drive through the wilderness of Bathurst Island. Enjoy lunch and visit a local waterhole for a swim (bring swimmers and towel). Visit a picturesque lookout, which is also the setting of a Tiwi burial site, and learn some of the complex rituals associated with the Pukamani Poles (burial poles). Learn about traditional bush tucker, bush medicine and natural fibres and dyes. Join your return flight to Darwin (airfare not included).

Meals: L

Day 3: Darwin 'Free Time'

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Darwin.  Perhaps join a tour to Kakadu, Litchfield  OR Katherine George National Park  .

Day 4: Depart Darwin

Your tour concludes this morning in Darwin.

Purukuparli and Bima

Long long ago there was a man called Purukuparli and he had a wife called Bima. They were the first people on the Tiwi Islands. Their son was called Jinani. One day Purukuparli told his wife that he was going out. He left his wife and Jinani at home on the eastern side of Melville Island and went looking for food. While Purukuparli was away, Bima went in search of her lover, Tapara, the moon man. She went for too long and left Jimani in the sun. He started to cry for Blodi (milk), he cried and cried until he died from the hunger and heat. When Purukuparli came back he found his son dead and he called out to his wife. Bima tried to call back but Tapara was blocking her mouth. Purukuparli called again and this time Tapara let her go. She ran to find her dead baby and angry husband. Then Tapara, the moon man, came and he said to Purukuparli, "give me our little boy, I'll take him up with me for three days and he will come back alive". Purukuparli said "no". Then Purukuparli picked up a fighting stick and he threw it at Tapara. Tapara was hurt and went back up into the sky. Then Purukuparli picked up his dead son and walked towards the sea saying "my son is dead and now we shall all follow him". Purukuparli kept saying over and over as they both disappeared into a whirlpool in the winga (ocean). When death came to the Tiwi islands we Tiwi had to start to have ceremonies to bury our dead and make sure they entered the spirit world in the right way. Purukuparli passed down information about how to do this properly and today we still remember the dances, songs and designs which go with our ceremonies. We also have other traditions for ceremony passed down from Purukuparli, this includes placing burial poles around the graves of our dead and placing a taboo on the name of the deceased.