It's only a short flight away but it will transport you into the customs, beliefs and artistry of an ancient and rich culture. A visit to the Tiwi Islands, just 80 kilometres north of Darwin, will reward you with plenty of new insights.

Australia's Bathurst and Melville Islands, known as the Tiwi Islands, have a combined area of around 8000 square kilometres and diverse landscapes of rainforest, beaches, waterfalls and rock pools.

Ownership of the islands was passed back to the Tiwi People in 1978, and the islands are now run by the Tiwi Council, under Australian governance.

You can travel to the Tiwi Islands on 20-minute flight in a light aircraft from Darwin, or by crossing the Timor Sea on a two-hour ferry ride from Darwin Harbour. You'll need to join an organised tour to visit the islands, as well as a visitor's permit, easily obtained when you book one of the Tiwi-owned day or overnight tours operating out of Darwin.

The local arts and crafts are a highlight of the Tiwi Islands experience. The traditional Aboriginal owners of the islands, the Tiwi people, have lived here for thousands of years and are known for the intense colours and distinctive designs of their artworks. Wander around the paintings, textiles, carvings and pukumani, or burial poles, at the art centres at Nguiu on Bathurst Island and Palarumpi and Milikapitti on Melville Island, where you can also purchase these unique art pieces.

Indigenous art aficionados should also note that a major art sale is held in Nguiu annually in March, in conjunction with another popular event on the Islands' calendar - the Tiwi Football Grand Final. The artworks are displayed on the football field prior on the morning of the match - but don't be fooled, football is taken seriously here and the game draws large crowds of excited fans.

There's no better way to get to know a place than having a chat with the locals over a cuppa. During the tour, Tiwi women boil the billy to make tea for their visitors and share stories of local customs, along with slabs of damper. As a bonus, you'll be relieved of any evil spirits you've brought along during the traditional 'smoking' ceremony.

If you're a keen angler, you can get among the large variety of tropical fish found in creeks, rivers, estuaries and blue water. Large barramundi are one of the drawcards for fishermen here.

Most tours will include a stop at the Patakijiyali Museum on Bathurst Island. As well as giving visitors an insight into the culture and beliefs of the Tiwi people, the galleries also portray the impact of Europeans on the local culture.

You'll also find evidence of European influence at Fort Dundas on Melville Island, where the British built a settlement in 1824. Sickness, pirate attacks and resistance from the local Aborigines forced its closure in 1829. Today, the site is known as Pularumpi and is home to a community of about 300 Tiwi people and herds of wild buffalo.

After immersing yourself for a day or two in the storytelling, customs and storytelling of the Tiwi Island people, you'll feel you've travelled much further than the short hop from Darwin, and you'll leave with a greater understanding of this intriguing and ancient culture.

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• Nearest City:Canberra
• Distance to Canberra:175kms
• Nearest Airport:Cooma
• Distance to Cooma Airport:90kms

Local Attractions in the Area

• Cycling and Mountain Biking
• Snowy River Horseback Adventure
• Kosciuszko Alpine Guided Walks
• Trout Fishing
• Wild Brumby Watching
• Four-Wheel Driving

Helpful Links for the Area

• Snowy Mountains Tourism
• Thredbo
• Tourism NSW
• Snowy Mountains SkiFields
• Bushwalking in the Snowy Mountains

Seasonal Events

• Thredbo Blues Festival: January
• Snowy River Festival: November
• Snowy Ride Thredbo: October
• Thredbo Turns 50: 1st January 2007