Friday Island
By 9.45am you are at Kazu Pearls with a special Japanese-cultured welcome. Walk along the beach, visit the shop, enjoy the peaceful ambience unmatched by the other islands. Mr Kazu Takami has lived on Friday Island for over 30 years. A pearl diver turned farmer, all the products available are direct from the farm with the pearl lines in the turquoise waters in front of the island. The island grown cultured pearl and pearl shell jeweller are beautiful to admire or purchase as a memento of the vey special visit. Cape York Adventures 3 Island Tour is the only Thursday Island Tour to visit Friday Island.
Thursday Island
Welcome to TI civilisation
Cruising on to Thursday Island you can begin your exploration with the history walk on the water front, what do you know about Luis Vaez de Torres? What about 1606?
Who named Thursday Island?
Gab Titui Cultural Centre
While you are wandering along the water front visit Gab Titui Cultural Centre, a premier art destination and repository for Torres Strait cultural artefacts. They sell Erub Arts (Darnley Island) artworks and many other local artists works.
Cappucinos and Crayfish Pies
At 10.30am we meet at Ma Kai Café where you can enjoy those city luxuries: barista made lattes and cappuccinos. Crayfish Pies are on the menu for those wanting to try the local delicacy.
TI Taxi Tour in a small group with TI Locals
Thursday Island is TI to the locals, and we will meet some of those locals who will take our guests on a personal taxi tour of the island. Our small groups mean you are enjoying a very personal tour around TI with guides who have shown our guests around TI for a decade.
You will visit the highest point at Green Hill for a spectacular 360 degree view of the surrounding waterways, islands & TI. What threat to the British Empire prompted the building of Green Hill Fort on TI?
You will visit TI cemetary: is there a Japanese Princess buried there? How many Japanese pearl divers graves are there? Is there a Japanese Imperial guard? See the tombstone memorial to Bernard Namok, the designer of the Torres Strait flag. What about Ephraim Bani the Torres Strait historian.
Your guides will share history and culture stories as they show you around the whole island. Our guests always love meeting a TI local.
Lunch at Australia's 'Top Pub'
Your private tour will drop you at what is said to be the most northerly pub in Australia. Known as the Top Pub to TI locals, the Torres Hotel verandah is cool and welcoming on a warm tropical day.
Order your complementary beer, wine or soft drink and the chef will prepare your meal.
Explore Thursday Island or Relax
After lunch you can wander Douglas Street and visit the Quetta Memorial Cathedral, Mona's Bazaar is always interesting, ''Seehops' and Ah Boo's are classic TI stores known by the name of the owner. Tribal Boutique and Uncle Frankie's Café are city chic while Customs House on the waterfront reminds the visitor of the colonial history of Far North Queensland.
Or you might want to just stay on the cool verandah of the Torres and enjoy another cold drink.
You don't need to be back at the boat until 1.30pm giving you plenty of time to wander TI and explore (it isn't that big !)
Horn Island
Saying goodbye to TI its time to cruise across the harbour to Horn Island which is different again with a much more laid back and relaxed atmosphere.
You will wander through the village to visit the Heritage Museum. The privately run Museum has all the WWII history of the area complied by local historian and WWII expert Vanessa Seekee. The Museum also showcases the artwork and Torres Strait artefacts collected by Richard Seekee and his family over decades and decades in Torres Strait.
There is something to interest young and old in the museum from Pearl Divers suits and model pearl luggers to the stories and artefacts from WWII and the turtle shells and paintings and stories from Torres Strait.
Cruising home, keep an eye out for crocodiles, turtles, fish life and the many sea birds that frequent the islands. You arrive back at Seisia at 4pm.
