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Tiwi Island Retreat
- Where:
- Why:Going wild
- When:August 2021
- Who:Just me
"A remote and wild island paradise in Australia's Top End"
Highs & Lows
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The remote location. You would be hard pressed to find anything else as remote as this.
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The simple luxury — that's where the beauty lies.
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The wildness. Quiet, pristine and totally removed from the rest of the world.
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The wildlife — keep an eye out for crocs, turtles, dingoes, dolphins, barramundi, mud crabs and more!
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The staff — so laid-back and friendly. A big shout-out to Siggy and Robbo for making my trip so special.
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The experiences. You can do as much or as little as you like.
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The fact that there is only one bathroom at the retreat (one each for women, and one for men) and it is communal — while not an issue for me — might be a deterrent for some people.
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Having to go back home.
Important Bits
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Type
Remote barramundi fishing lodge-turned-laid-back island retreat
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Vibe
Barefoot and relaxed
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Location
Halfway between Australia and East Timor, the Tiwi Island Retreat sits on the south-western side of Bathurst Island looking over the sea
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Rooms
The retreat has 18 basic but stylish rooms, including nine queens, five twin-share and three family rooms that each contain a queen and a bunk bed. All rooms have been recently refurbished and feel fresh. I recommend booking one of the Retreat Pool View Queen Rooms. Bathrooms are a short walk away and they are shared (there is only one each for women and one each for men), but don't let this put you off, they are kept immaculately clean at all times and there was never an issue with waiting
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Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience
I found the booking website a little hard to navigate. Best to email the bookings office directly with any questions around availability and pricing. The arrival itself was super friendly and relaxed. Robbo met us barefoot at the red-dirt airstrip, grabbed our luggage, and wheeled it down a narrow jetty on to a small tin boat that took us around the (croc-infested!) mangroves to the retreat (a 10 minute ride). Claudia, the resident croc, was one of the first to greet us, before the very chatty and friendly Siggy met us on the beach with a buggy to collect our bags. Siggy talked us through some of the safety precautions for the island (mainly croc safety and falling coconuts), and then ran us through the menu for dinner that night. It’s a super laid-back yet unforgettable way to arrive
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Future Forward
Protecting the local environment is of foremost concern to everyone at the Tiwi Island Retreat. Short showers are encouraged, as are refillable drink bottles (not plastic). And no straws are used
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Music
Eezy breezy island tunes
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Year Opened
2020
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Designed By
The Tiwi Island Retreat was opened by wildlife personality Matt Wright (of National Geographic's Outback Wrangler) in 2020. It was formally a barramundi fishing lodge
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Health & Wellness
The 12-metre pool, while small, is the perfect place for a dip (especially given how the sea is out of bounds)
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Food
You can opt for an all-inclusive package which includes your room plus all meals. Otherwise, the room-only rate includes breakfast only. The breakfasts are a mix of cold continental and something hot. For lunch and dinner you can choose from a number of firm favourites (with fish being a big feature) — fish tacos, fish and chips, salads, pasta. If you have any luck out fishing or mud crabbing during the day, you can choose to eat your catch for dinner that night. The food is simple but very good, given the retreat’s remoteness and the challenges they face in getting fresh food onto the island. Food deliveries come via plane a few times a week. Meals are served in an air-conditioned dining area with communal tables and the feeling is super relaxed
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Bar, Events & Nightlife
The Great Northern Bar is a cute covered deck bar from which to enjoy a few icy cold beverages as the sun goes down over the Timor Sea. Fully licensed (you can't byo to the island), you will find a good selection of wine, beer, basic spirits, and sparkling wine
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Minibar & Retail
No
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Accessibility
Not very accessible
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Pet Friendly
No
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Children
Yes and very welcomed
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Price
Minimum two-night stay from $500 a person a night. All inclusive packages from $4700 for two people for two nights and $4910 for a family (two adults and two kids) for two nights. These include flights from Darwin, boat transfers, all meals, buggy picnic and two three-hour fishing and mud-crabbing excursions
- Website
Tiwi Island Retreat
Tiwi Island Retreat, Timor Sea, Tiwi Islands, Australia
Barra fishing and mud crabbing
Tiwi Island Retreat, Timor Sea, Tiwi Islands, Australia
Tiwi Designs
Tiwi Island Retreat, Timor Sea, Tiwi Islands, Australia
Sunset beach buggy cruise & cheese platter
Tiwi Island Retreat, Timor Sea, Tiwi Islands, Australia
In the Area
Hotel Location Tiwi Island Retreat, Timor Sea, Tiwi Islands, Australia
The remote Tiwi Islands, halfway between Australia and East Timor, are 100 kilometres (or 62 miles) north of Darwin. You can reach the islands on a quick 30 minute flight out of Darwin, or a much slower ferry that travels between Darwin and Bathurst Island 3 times a week. The Tiwi Island Retreat sits on the south-western side of Bathurst Island looking over the Timor Sea.