Tiwi Islands ferry: Sealink ferry to Bathurst Island costs & timetable

The Tiwi Islands ferry from Darwin to Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island leaves three or four times a week. Visitors usually go there as part of an Indigenous cultural tour.

The Tiwi Islands ferry connects Northern Territory capital Darwin to the Tiwi Islands in the Timor Sea.

The two inhabited Tiwi Islands – Melville Island and Bathurst Island – are Aboriginal land, with the Tiwi Islands ferry primarily serving to connect the Indigenous communities to the mainland.

To book a Tiwi Islands cultural tour, click here. To book the Tiwi Islands ferry, click here.

Day tours to the Tiwi Islands

However, in recent years, there has been a growth in cultural tourism to the Tiwi Islands. The Sealink ferry from Darwin is increasingly being used for day tours, as visitors aim to learn about Tiwi art and culture.

The Tiwi Islands ferry departs from Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal and arrives at Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island. For most of the year, there are three departures per week – on Sunday, Thursday and Friday.

The Sealink Tiwi Islands ferry from Darwin. Photo courtesy of Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught.

Tiwi Islands ferry timetable

Of these departures, the Sunday ferry turns around as soon as it reaches Bathurst Island. There is no time to do a tour, so stick to the Thursday and Friday services. These leave Darwin at 08.00, with the return journey from Wurrumiyanga departing at 15.15.

In June, July and August, however, there is an extra weekly Darwin to Bathurst Island ferry departure. This leaves on Mondays, using the same timings.

Tiwi Islands ferry fare prices

The Cullen Bay to Wurrumiyanga ferry crossing takes about two-and-a-half hours. Return fares cost $120 and should be booked online.

That said, most visitors will be going on a tour. The Tiwi By Design tour operated by Sealink costs $385.

It is possible to visit the Tiwi Islands independently on the Sealink ferry from Darwin, but the experiences are very much set up for tour groups. You’re allowed to visit Wurrumiyanga without a permit, but to go further afield on the islands you’ll need to apply for one via the Land Council.