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It's Australia's second largest island and, across
Clarence Strait, only 80 kilometres north of Darwin,
capital of Australia's Northern Territory.
Among a number of the continent's
offshore islands, Melville Island is
Australia's second largest island after
Tasmania
Melville Island
is Australia's second largest island after
Tasmania.
There is little infrastructure on the island, and is
not open to the public for tourism, except on an
organised tour. Separated from
Bathurst Island
by only two kilometres, Melville Island has a
similar history. It was first sighted by Abel Tasman
in 1644 on his way from Batavia.
In
1818 the son of New South Wales Governor Philip
Gidley King, Phillip Parker King explored the island
(he named it after Viscount Melville) and was
surprised to discover that the local Aboriginal
people knew some Portuguese words. He deduced they
had made contact with Portuguese sailors after a
Portuguese ship had been wrecked nearby.
Ownership of Melville Island was returned to the
Tiwi people in 1978, and like Bathurst Island, it is
run by the Tiwi Land Council. Milikapiti,
Pirlangimpi and Paru are the main communities, which
are serviced by schools, sports ovals, museums and
art and craft galleries.
Temperatures for
Melville Island
Melville Island has hot summer temperatures. The
summer high temperature for Melville Island
is approximately 34 °c. The summer low temperature
is approximately 24 °c.
Melville Island has warm winter temperatures. The
winter high temperature for Melville Island
is approximately 33 °c. The winter low temperature
is approximately 16 °c.
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Bookings Phone:
08 89783783