Author: kbosh40 at hotmail dot com

We are on count down less than 2 weeks to go til we go on a one way ticket out of the Tiwi Islands, since we have no boat anymore we spend our days taking drives to different places. Last Sunday 10th July, we drove to Pirlangimpi, the other community on Melville Island, as we were driving around the community we found Connie, she used to work at the club in Milikapiti but now lives in Pirlie. She took us to ‘her country’, a 30 minute drive from town – WOW! what a beautiful spot, she has a 3 bedroom holiday house that overlooks the water(Timor Sea), lotx of fish & crocodiles but still a very beautiful area. There are 3 houses here with generated & solar power, water & septic – bit sad that no one lives here permanently but they do get utilised at times. When we got back to Connie’s place her pet pig ‘Christmas’ was playing with the dogs, Christmas should have a long life, they not going to eat him.

The next day we drove to the south eastern side of Melville, it was an interesting drive, the first part of the drive was easy as the road had been graded recently, the last part was much more fun. We saw quite a few buffalo but once they saw & heard our vehicle they took off, lotz of people hunt in this area so I imagine the buffalo are learning. Getting closer to the beach we came across another critter, a goanna was sunbaking on part of the track, there was lotz of buffalo tracks especially noticeable in the low tide sections also their trade mark – their tower like poop….

The beach was amazing, so very beautiful, the tide was low but on the rise. We went for a walk up the beach & found quite a few turtle tracks, even saw a few holes they dug up to lay their eggs. Lotz of soldier crabs running around as well as the hermit crabs. Walking on the rocks I saw quite a few bait fish & several crabs in the rock pools, the mangrove forests are very interesting especially at low tide, their roots are a majestic maze.

Just before we got back to Milikapiti we came across a group of horses, it was ‘old sway back’s’ mob – I am not sure how to describe her.

4th July, we went for a drive to southern part of Melville Island – Pitijmirra, the Tiwi College is located down here as well as a few outstations (a handful of people SOMETIMES live at outstations but usually use them as a holiday house), we drove through the outskirts of the college property to the beach eventually. They have a pretty good setup at the college, its for high school aged children who live in Milikapiti, they are collected on Mondays & are returned to the community on Fridays, the college is well staffed & caters for the kids while in their care. There is a freshwater creek(Takamprimili Ck) on the outskirts of the college which is a very popular swimming hole for the school & residents, although they have recently set up a crocodile trap slightly upstream as there was a siting of a croc, this creek runs all the way to the ocean.

Drove on a few interesting tracks to find the beach. The beach was quite lovely, very windy & definately did not have a swimming invitation. We actually found some cotton growing on the sand at the beach!!!

There has been quite a few fires around but the regrowth is putting on a show. Came across a few small mobs of horses, at the moment they are still in reasonable condition.

Monday 3rd July, 2022 – 3 weeks today we fly out of Milikapiti, Tiwi Islands for the last time – WOW!

Last weekend we caught the Sealink ferry to Cullen Bay, Darwin, it took about 2 1/2 hours, was a little bit blowy but all good. We flew back to Milikapiti Tuesday morning, one stop at Pirlangimpi(the other community on Melville Island), as we were getting closer to the Tiwi Islands you could see the fires/smoke on Melville Island. On the runway at Pirlangimpi our pilot had a change of plan, instead of taking off we taxied up & down the runway a few times before take-off but this was due to a bird hazard, there was a flock of parrots feeding next to the runway.

July 1st – cracker night in the Northern Territory, the locals obviously managed to get some fireworks to set off, it went on for quite a few hours.

During my walks I came across quite a few beautiful flowers, at present the Grevillea pteridifolia (orange) is flowering perfusely as well as the Kapok, the swamp tea tree has just about finished but there are a few still flowering, in the burnt out areas the bright green cycads are springing up everywhere. The green ants are building houses everywhere.

WOW! I finally found an orchid – Phillippine ground orchid – its gorgeous.

Sunday 19th/Monday 20th June- time to go fishing. The weather is looking much better than last weekend when our friends the Brincau’s were visiting. We went out into the bay, it was a little bumpy but still very fishable. The breath taking colours make me wish I could draw or paint but I will settle for the real thing & photos.

WOW! We didn’t fish for long, no need, 2 big beautiful Golden Snappers (fingermark), the we put the crab pots in & went home.

Up early next morning & back out into the bay again, caught a variety of smallish fish – no keepers except for one ‘goldie’ who swallowed the hook & wouldn’t of survived (pan size). Then it happened – Peter’s line went off, took him a while but he eventually landed a 130cm jew fish – WOW! A beautiful creature, we released him & went & collected the crab pots, 1 keeper, the crocs had some fun with 2 pots.

A great way to end our fishing days here on Melville Island, as we have sold the boat & the new owners wanted to collect the boat the same afternoon.

While out walking next morning I discovered quite a few of the Blackwood (acacia family) still flowering – so beautiful.

We had visitors again- Darren & Jenelle, the ‘Brincows’ arrived from Darwin on the Sealink ferry then crossed the channel to Paru on the car ferry where we collected them & drove back to Milikapiti. It was great to have them here with us.

12th June, Sunday morning, we launched the boat, a little windy, we will go out into the bay & see how we go but first of all we put the crab pots in. It was a little fresh but this is the ‘dry’ season. We got out to one of the reef areas we fish but the wind was not pretty, the swell not nice & quite choppy so back into the creek. Darren started of with a smallish Golden Snapper with a ‘happy snapper’ watching him near by. Jenelle soon started catching a few too.

Early next morning back down to the creek, skies were beautiful. 2 dingoes were interested in what was happening & got quite close. The weather forecast hasn’t changed so we staying in the creek fishing again, even the creek was a little bouncy…….haha. I caught a small shark but he caused a bit of havoc with our lines. We had another ‘happy snappy’ closing in on us today, one poor unfortunate small fish that swallowed the hook, his survival not good, the happy snappy wanted more……We collected the crab pots with 3 keepers which were enjoyable.

Went for a few drives, one out to ‘pretty flower’ & Karslake – so nice.

The ‘burn offs’ / fires have being going for the last month, not sure if they are all proper burns but that is how it is.

Saw some black cockies on my early morning walk, don’t see them very often.

0700hrs Monday 23rd May, Peter, Rob( relief manager for 2 weeks) & I went down to the creek, they both went out in the boat & I walked back home, they returned just after lunch with a few Golden Snapper. On my walk home I came across a few beauties, the wattles are flowering profusely at the moment – so beautiful.

The following weekend Peter & I put the crab pots in & caught a few jacks for dinner on the Sunday, next day up early & back out in the boat – WOW, such a beautiful time of day, it was a little cloudy but the sunrise was still awesome, just watching the different times of the sun rising makes the boat outing worth it. It was a little bumpy while going out to the bay but the end result was worth it. We caught heaps of fish & released the majority of them, had loads of fun, we collected the crab pots, 6 crabs, 3 keepers. Amongst the trees at one of the spots where we had a crab pot, there was hundreds of bats, you could smell & hear them from quite a distance.

I passed a few ponies on my morning walk, they not too friendly but I did manage to get a pic.

We got up early the next day & out in the boat again, it was so foggy, never seen fog like this here before, actually we have never seen fog here period. But it was interesting especially when the sun was trying to shine through. We had 2 keepers, Danny caught both of them. We collected the crab pots & managed to keep 4 crabs, they were yummy. We took Danny & Julie over Karslake for a drive, a very popular camping spot for the locals & very lovely, during spring tides at low tide you can walk over to Karslake Island.

Took Julie & Danny back to Paru, they caught the car ferry across the channel to Bathurst Island then jumped on the Sealink ferry to take them back to Darwin. Along the way we passed many flowering wattles, they look awesome.

13th May found us driving to Paru approximately an hours drive from Milikapiti, it is opposite Bathurst Island where the ferry from Cullen Bay, Darwin arrives. The ferry ride takes about 2 & a bit hours. My cousins Danny & Julie Boshie from north QLD arrived via the Sealink ferry & are visiting for 6 days -very exciting. Once you arrive at Bathurst Island you either jump on the dingy or the car ferry which ever is crossing the channel to Melville & hopefully your lift will be waiting. Along the way we passed one of the locals ‘holiday houses’, there was quite a few of these sea containers set up with a tank, outhouse & concrete patio – pre-covid, but of course once covid struck the locals couldn’t go bush to these holiday houses as the health centre staff said they wouldn’t be able to find & treat people if they were covid positive ……????

We stopped at the local freshwater swimming hole which is currently quite nice because of the rain we had, it dry’s up over the dry, Danny spotted a skeleton of some sort!!! don’t know what it is. any ideas would be appreciated. The countryside is full of flowering wattles at the moment, they are truly beautiful & smell great too. We had a quick stop at Family beach & the tide was high still very nice.

Early next morning, we had a quick breakfast & headed to the creek, WOW! what a beautiful looking day. The weather & sea ended up being amazing – soooooo nice. We put crab pots in & then went out fishing, we had great fun, saw dolphins, sharks & a few birds. Came home, cleaned fish, ate fish & played cards. Had an awesome day with awesome people.

Last Sunday 24th April we took the boat out to a place called Cook’s reef( supposed to be good fishing area) & while fishing we saw lots of birds diving onto the water, big splashes etc so we thought it would be good to check out & maybe catch some mackerel. As we got closer there was a large dark mass in the water, the closer we got you could see heaps of fish & sharks, the dark mass was bait fish – 1000’s of them. The fish & sharks were going crazy, we stopped & threw lures in trying to catch some mackerel, Peter caught 2 sharks, I caught a tuna mackerel & 2 sharks – we gave up as it took ages to get sharks off our lines without losing our lures but it was fun & interesting. We then went back to another reef where we frequently fish, Peter caught a Tricky snapper(our dinner) & also a Epaulette shark (a real cutie).

Went out again on Monday – its so nice going out on the boat. We went to our usual reef area & tried a few different spots with success, 5 keepers – 2 x Golden snapper, 1 x Spangled emperor(also know as Green snapper), 2 x rock cod & 2 muddies. This time when we collected the pots the crocs had only played with 2 pots so not too many repairs. Not long after we got home, the boat cleaned & fish cleaning time – the rain started…..haha

Went for a walk Thursday morning, the bird life at present is amazing (all too quick for any pics) but the parrots are gorgeous & there is an abundance of sulphur crested cockatoo’s.

Time is going so quick, mid April already.

Took a drive out to ‘Pretty Flower’, this place is high cliffs overlooking Shark Bay & the locals come here & fish, apparently lately they have been catching a few bara off the banks, we thought we would try our luck, no joy for bara, I caught a trevally & released it, but the walk back up hill was short, steep & interesting. Drove out to Karslake, a very popular camping spot for the locals, very nice area. Its currently very overgrown with cane grass which the many birds thinking its paradise although the seeds are very friendly & kept jumping onto our clothes….hahaha

We flew to Darwin for 2 nights, my turn for having dentist visits, one of those things we should do more often. We fly out of Milikapiti Sunday 1.30pm & fly back Tuesday morning 0800hrs. I got a few pics from the plane flying over the south coastline of Melville Is & the channel between Melville & Bathurst Islands, quite interesting I thought.

The next days off back out in the boat, come across some interesting looking jelly fish & YES, Kerry caught a bara…….hahaha, had to let Peter have a hold. Went out the next day but we had to get fuel first, found some lovely vegetation. While out fishing 1000’s of little crabs were swimming out to sea with the tide, I have never seen that before, they were everywhere. Once the tide turned – no crabs. We caught a few mangrove jack for dinner, collected the crabpots – no joy but the crocs played with a couple of them – more repairs. Still had a great time out on the water.