Tiwi Island Retreat

Remote barramundi fishing lodge-turned-laid-back island retreat

Barefoot and relaxed

Halfway between Australia and East Timor, the Tiwi Island Retreat sits on the south-western side of Bathurst Island looking over the sea

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

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

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

Eezy breezy island tunes

2020

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

The 12-metre pool, while small, is the perfect place for a dip (especially given how the sea is out of bounds)

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

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

No

Not very accessible

No

Yes and very welcomed

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

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