The Tiwi Islands Melville Island is the largest island in Australia next to Tasmania. Only about 20 kilometres from the mainland at its closest point, it is separated from the smaller Bathurst Island by the narrow Apsley Straight which divides the islands north south. Both islands have heavy afforestation. There are Paper Bark forests, stringy bark, eucalypts, ironwood, woolybutt, and now significant areas of commercial pine forests. Tropical Splendour Pandanus palms abound and closer to the salt water influence, mangroves. Around the freshwater springs are many pleasant areas of monsoonal rainforest. There are numerous big rivers that snake their way inland, changing from salt to fresh as they get further from the sea. Floodplains and wildlife The floodplains they create are a haven for birds, amongst them brolgas, jabiru, geese ducks, pelicans, and many other species of waterfowl. The bush itself is alive with wildlife. Wallaby, bandicoot, buffalo, and possums are to be found around the many waterholes. Red cliffs There are many varieties of snakes and pythons, though rarely seen unless they are specifically targeted. The coast is characterised by immense stretches of red cliffs that provide some interesting and spectacular scenery at sunup and sundown. Only fingers of rock and reef that reach out into the Arafura Sea break the incredibly white beaches. Changing seasons The land changes with the seasons, from wet to dry, with subtle variations in between. The build up to the wet season begins in September, with rising humidity and the occasional shower or storm. By November the storms are larger and more common, often lighting up the night sky for hours on end with lightning displays of awesome power.  Spectacular fishing The storms intensify until the monsoon arrives from the north, bringing with it the north east trade winds and torrential tropical downpours. This can occur at any time from November through to April, but the wettest months are usually January and February. There is still a lot of activity during this period, and fishing for large barra can be very productive during this period.   As the land begins to dry, from March to May, the floodplains empty their massive burden into the rivers, streams and billabongs. Peak times This is called the run-off and is famous for its spectacular barra fishing, with often hundreds of fish hooked each day. June through to August is the dry season, interspersed with an occasional shower, but mostly less humid and more comfortable. Most visitors arrive at this time, and as the locals burn off the land to improve the hunting, the smoky atmosphere produces the sunsets that Munupi is rightly famous for.