The Colours of the Dry

In the Dry, after the forest is burnt, leaves glow like fire in the evening sun and new fronds unfurl from the cycads.

Tropical Island Paradise

There are many times when I realise that I am living on a tropical island paradise. These islands are very beautiful – no cats, no cane toads, no broad acre farming, no wide spread logging. In many ways the islands are as they were in 1788.

In the evenings out fishing on one of the many creeks the still water reflects everything.

The waterfall at Taracumbi on Melville Island runs clear and clean all year.

At the Nine Mile waterhole on the road to Milikapiti. This waterhole is clear and fresh during the wet, and becomes stagnant during the dry.

The yellowing grass at the Nine Mile waterhole, clouds and rain coming in. The end of the wet.

Long grass at Purrampurnali near Milikapiti at the end of the wet.

PURRAMPURNALI

On Melville Island is Purrampurnali, site of the first landing by the Dutch on Tiwi Islands. There are new and old Pukamani poles on the site. It is an area rich in food: fish, crab, mussel and longbum.

During the Dry, 10 Mile stops flowing and becomes brown and brackish. But when the Wet starts again, the 10 Mile fills and water begins to run clear and cool.

After the burn

When the rain stops and the grass begins to dry, the Tiwis burn the forest. Its a cool burn and after the fire the forest begins to sprout. Cycads, palms, gums - all return, growing back in startling green. Plants appear from the black earth. Cycads unfurl like strange beasts. It is a beautiful time in the Tiwi forests.

Tumarripi: Deep in the heart of Bathurst Island

Deep in the heart of Bathurst Island is Tumarripi, on the road to Ranku from Nguiu. It was hot the day I went and I stripped off and jumped into the water. Sweetest water I have swum in since coming to the Territory. Clear and cool, soft white sand under foot. The Wet is beautiful!

With the Wet Comes the Water

The monsoon comes and everything is green again.
Stagnant water holes fill with rain and start flowing.
Grass seems to grow by the hour.
The forest begins to flower.