The self-declared Prime Minister for Indigenous Australians has spent time with communities in the Torres Strait focusing on health, education, security and how best to address Indigenous disadvantage.
The Torres Strait is the birthplace and resting place of Eddie Mabo, the man who paved the way for Indigenous land rights in a High Court case that led to Native Title.
It's the second time Mr Abbott has relocated the machinery of government to a remote Indigenous community, having visited Nhulunbuy [NULL-un-boy] in Arnhem Land in September last year.
During his visit Mr Abbott repeated his election pledge to govern for all Australians, not just those in the south of the country.
"And I want you to know that as long as I am your Prime Minister I will never be a prisoner of Canberra. I will never be someone that gets so caught up in the routine of Canberra that I neglect the real life of our people. Particularly the real life of our people in remote Australia."
Last year Mr Abbott had to cut his Nhulunbuy trip short after announcing Australia's involvement in the war against extremism in Iraq, and flying out to farewell troops bound for the Middle East.
The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples has welcomed the Prime Minister's Torres Strait visit, saying it's an opportunity to deepen the relationship with Indigenous Australians.
Congress Co-chair Kirstie Parker says she hopes the engagement with Indigenous Australians continues beyond the visit.
"Of course one week a year does not give you all the answers that you need. Nothing can do that except a genuine relationship with our people. That means being prepared from the PM, but also from our side, to have complicated and kind of scary conversations. But they need not be scary if you trust one another because you don't have to go to northern Australia to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Eight federal ministers, including Health Minister Sussan Ley and Attorney-General George Brandis, joined the Prime Minister on his week-long visit.
Mr Abbott says he understands the feeling of powerlessness historically experienced by Indigenous people.
But he says things are changing and they're changing for the better, particularly in the area of education.
"I guess for me the great thing about this trip has been the obvious improvement in the schools, the obvious improvement in the quality of our classrooms, the fact that classrooms in these remote schools are now places of focus, purpose, energy and discipline."
But Bernard Charlie, Mayor of the Northern Area Peninsula Region, says that's not enough.
He says he wants more to be done.
"The social and economic indicators for the Northern Peninsula region is appalling and unacceptable as a developed country. We continue to experience high costs of living, poor health outcomes, where our Indigenous people's life expectancy is greatly reduced to around 45 (years). Our people are considered lucky to reach 50 years of age and continue to experience high levels of unemployment, low skilled jobs and low standards of education outcomes in the critical years of learning."
During the week, the Prime Minister visited the grave of land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo, attended local schools and spoke at a remembrance service for Torres Strait war veterans.
Border security and Defence issues were also raised in talks between Mr Abbott and leaders in the community, which is the gateway between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Despite increased patrols by Border Force vessels, drug-smugglers and other criminals are still able to island-hop their way into Australia.
The spread of tropical diseases including drug-resistant tuberculosis is also a concern, as villagers from Papua New Guinea travel between islands to seek medical treatment in Australia.
Mr Abbott says the week has been an extremely valuable experience and he's looking forward to returning to the Top End next year.
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