Tiwi Islands Football Grand Final and Art Sale Cruise
It’s that time of year again, and we are now open for bookings for the 16 March 2014 Tiwi Grand Final. The big day out includes:
- An exhilarating return trip from Darwin to the Tiwi Islands on Sunday 16th March departing Stokes Hill Wharf at 0900hrs
- Arriving at Warimiyunga(Nguiu) around 1100 hrs
- From the beach an easy stroll to the museum, art centres & footy game
- BYO lunch or buy it there. Note; No BYO alcohol!
- Licensed bar on boat, nibbles also available
- Water, sunscreen & insect repellent included
- Return to Darwin usually by 1800hrs
Australian Geographic did a piece on the 2012 Tiwi Islands Football grand final in 2012:
It’s the afternoon of the 2012 Tiwi Islands Football League grand final, and you couldn’t buy a smile on the small warm-up fields. Men are jumping, pacing, stretching and having a kick around with some of the kids, shaking off nerves as they prepare for a showdown between the Tuyu Buffalos, from Bathurst Island, and the Imalu Tigers, from Melville Island.*
And so it was for the 2012 Tiwi Island Football Grand Final. While there were no smiles on the warm up fields the trickle of sea-sprayed passengers embarking at Nguiu from the vessel Snubfin were grinning from ear to ear. Some because they were so glad to have arrived after ocean rafting across the Beagle Gulf and others because the adrenalin of a fast and furious boat ride was still working its magic. It had been a rough trip, with following waves teasing the boat and white horses galloping all around. But those on board were on a mission; they were there to witness one of the iconic events in modern Australian history – the annual Tiwi grand final – and to cast their eyes over some of the nations most intriguing and evocative art work, all for sale for a fraction of the price charged in mainland art galleries.
The rough seas of the morning gave way to a hot and steamy Tiwi day. The footy lived up to expectations and around 4pm the Snubfin was filled to the gunnels with smiles, filled camera cards and treasures bubbled wrapped and wrapped again and safely stowed for the trip back to Darwin. With the bar open and the boat full of chatter it was a fast boat ride back to Darwin over calm seas to end an adventurous day.
In 2013 the journey to the Tiwi’s in the Snubfin was not as dramatic, with the chaos occurring on land as the passengers from the Snubfin arrived at one of the art galleries where they witnessed a flurry of activity with last minute number changes on Tapalinga jumpers, aided by copious amounts of white and black paint and a hair dryer. It was just the start of a warm and welcoming culture filled day that will be remembered by those on board for a long time.
And so on 16 March 2014 we will go again. With departure from Stokes Hill wharf scheduled for 0900 we hope that the wet season weather gods are kind to us – glassy seas and a pod orcas have been ordered and have been experienced in years gone by. But what ever the weather, our annual trip to the Tiwi Island Football Grand Final and Art Sale will be a day to be remembered. Tickets $180 pp and you can Book online or call 1300 065 022.