An adventure around four islands in Australia's Torres Strait Islands, including some that have never been seen by the media before!

*Business hours and prices are current as of August 2023.
*Prices include tax.

The closest "distant islands" to Japan

The Torres Strait is about 150 kilometers wide and lies between the Cape York Peninsula on the northeastern tip of the Australian continent and the neighboring country of Papua New Guinea. The countless islands scattered in between are called the Torres Strait Islands.

If you are coming from Japan, you will need to transfer at Cairns International Airport. The most common way to get there is to take a domestic flight to Horn Island Airport, which is also known as the "gateway to the Torres Strait Islands" (takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes).

In fact, these islands are home to a different indigenous people than the famous Aboriginals (the word "Aborigines" is considered derogatory and is no longer used these days). They are the Melanesian "Torres Strait Islander" people. One of the joys of this trip is experiencing their culture and traditions.

A scene from a certain island. Can you guess what they are doing? The answer will be revealed later.

Horn Island, where relics from World War II remain

The first place I'll introduce is Horn Island, the "gateway" to the Torres Strait Islands. The population of this island is only about 500 people. However, it has had an airport that can accommodate about 100 people for quite some time. The reason for this is that an air force base was built here during World War II. The two islands were at war with each other, Australia and Japan.

The Australian military prepared for air raids by the Japanese and set up anti-aircraft guns to fight back.

The ruins have been restored and now offer tours.

These are the remains of a trench made of piled sandbags.

The entrance to the underground munitions storehouse. Looking inside, rainwater was pooled on the floor. This area is tropical, so it seems that measures to prevent rainwater from entering were difficult even back then.

Another attraction on Horn Island is the Torres Strait Heritage Museum.

The small building, no bigger than a school gymnasium, is filled with Torres Strait Islander folk crafts and World War II relics, among which I discovered this mysterious exhibit.

Do you know the answer? We'll tell you the answer when we visit Thursday Island next.

Tour operator: Torres Strait Heritage

Torres Islands Heritage Museum

Thursday Island, a place with Japanese connections

Next, we will introduce Thursday Island. Horn Island is the gateway to the Torres Strait Islands, but Thursday Island is the administrative and economic center. However, the population is only 2,805 (2021 census). It is a small island with an area of about 3.5 square kilometers and a circumference of about 8 kilometers.

It takes about 15 minutes from Horn Island on a small boat with a capacity of about 30 people. The sea is a vivid emerald green, rather than light blue.

The most famous attraction on this island is "Green Hill Fort." There are explanatory signs here and there, and it feels like an "outdoor museum."

The spacious hilltop is packed with things to see. Not only can you see the exhibits, but you can also take a leisurely stroll and feel the tropical breeze. You'll feel like you've come a long way.

Located on a hilltop, it offers a panoramic view of the island's small downtown area and the surrounding islands.

Since it is a "fortress," old anti-aircraft guns are also on display.

It was built between 1891 and 1893, and its intended enemy was Russia.

Well, here is the answer to the quiz we asked at the end of "Horn Island." There is a strange object on display in the museum that looks a bit like a space suit. That is an "old diving helmet." In the days before oxygen tanks, air was pumped into the helmet using a hand pump connected to a hose from the boat.

So why were they diving? This is a story that has a lot to do with Japan. A whopping 150 years ago, divers from Japan moved to this island to harvest pearls and other fish. The total number of people was 7,000. It is said that at one time, 60-70% of the island's population of about 1,500 people was Japanese.

Therefore, there is also a Japanese cemetery.

A memorial tower and the graves of abandoned dead bodies stand in the middle of lush grass. The actual cemetery is in the back left. What are the thoughts of those who are sleeping on this island, far away from their hometown?

There are many pleasant beaches surrounding the island.

However, the beach around here is home to ferocious saltwater crocodiles, who sometimes attack people, so it's best not to go in the water and just relax and enjoy the view.

Another highlight of Thursday Island is the Island Stars Cultural Experience, a dance performance by Torres Strait Islander boys.

Each dance has a different theme. The "Crocodile Dance" looks like a real crocodile and is very impressive.

At the end, we asked everyone to pose.

Ferry operator: Torres Strait Tours - Rebel Tours

Green Hill Fort

[Dance performance operator] Island Stars Cultural Experience

Friday Island: A glimpse into the "secret" art of pearl harvesting

The next island we'll introduce is Friday Island, a small island with a population of just 20 people. We can get there by small boat.

The previously mentioned "Thursday Island" was the center of the pearl farming industry, but in the 1960s, a tanker ran aground, causing an oil spill and leaving the island in ruins. However, about 40 years ago, a Japanese man named Takami Kazu moved to the island and started running a pearl farm on "Friday Island."

Many technicians keep the technique of inserting pearl "seeds" into oysters a closely guarded secret, but Takami has opened it up to tourists for the sake of the future of pearl farming.

Takami explains the process of extracting pearls from oysters.

People are listening intently to the explanation.

The Japanese lunch course served by Takami during the tour is also popular with tourists.

The regular courses are mostly familiar to us Japanese people, so if you want to enjoy something a little different, I recommend booking the "vegetarian course." This is sushi made with red bell peppers.

Kazu Pearl Farm

Experience indigenous culture on Wassig Island, first shown to foreign media

Now, let's introduce the island that is being shown to foreign media for the first time. Its name is "Washig Island", with a population of 270 people. It takes 45 minutes to get there from Horn Island Airport, the "gateway" to the Torres Strait Islands. It is not a scheduled flight, but a charter flight operated by a tour company called "Straight Experience".

It is a small Cessna plane with a capacity of about 12 people including the crew.

Wasig Island is not a typical tourist destination. Although the houses are modern, the purpose of this tour is to get a glimpse into the culture and life of the Torres Strait Islanders, who still cherish their ancient traditions.

Non-residents must go to the town hall upon arrival to register, then unload their luggage at Lowatta Lodge, the island's only accommodation.

And finally we set off on our island adventure! Our two Torres Strait Islander guides stopped occasionally to pick up plants and flowers along the roadside, explaining things like "You can eat these fruits as they are, but they taste better when crushed into a paste," and "These leaves are used as a painkiller." These are not plants in a botanical garden, but flowers that grow naturally in the surrounding area.

They use wild plants and medicinal plants that grow naturally. It is only recently that concepts like "eco" and "sustainability" have started to gain popularity, but it is clear that Torres Strait Islander people have always valued them.

Next we had the opportunity to observe and experience the traditional "underground steaming" cooking.

Palm leaves are skillfully woven into bags and root vegetables are stuffed inside.

Chunks of pork seasoned with soy sauce and garlic are wrapped in a large banana skin.

The ingredients are placed on a furnace dug into the ground, and then covered with large leaves to steam-cook. The photo shown at the beginning was taken at this time.

The snack is freshly picked...or rather, coconut juice and fruit that has just fallen from a naturally growing tree.

And it is the tour participants' job to grill the spiny lobsters, the main dish for dinner that day, over a charcoal fire. It is likely that no one will ever again or again be able to grill so many spiny lobsters in such a grand manner.

The next morning, we had a basket-making class using palm leaves.

Although it looks simple, it is actually a surprisingly complex task that requires concentration.

We also tried throwing a harpoon to catch spiny lobsters! The tip of the harpoon was made of metal and was surprisingly heavy, so it didn't fly exactly where we aimed. We were so engrossed in this series of rare experiences that the time flew by in an instant.

[Tour operator] Strait Experience

Four "gems" floating in the sea

The four islands of the Torres Strait Islands. There are no luxurious resorts there. There are stunning views that look great on social media, but there are no adrenaline-pumping thrills.

However, each of the four islands has a completely different character, and when you visit, these islands, overflowing with nature, will show you a completely different side to the one we experienced.

These "gems" floating in the sea are waiting for you.

Related article

Go beyond Sydney. Experience the thrill of a lifetime in the World Heritage Site of the Blue Mountains.

New South Wales, home to Australia's largest city, Sydney, is full of spectacular sights that captivate visitors. One of the most recommended spots is the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage Site that boasts overwhelming scale and breathtaking beauty. If you travel to this area, you're sure to experience a lifelong experience. A Japanese writer living in Sydney visits the area and tells us about its highlights.

ontrip.jal.co.jp

Beyond Sydney: Experience the bounty of nature in the wine town of Hunter Valley

Sydney is Australia's largest city and the capital of New South Wales. If you drive two hours north from there, you'll reach the Hunter Valley, a rural town famous for its wine. The charm of this region, full of beautiful nature, can also be felt from the delicious food it produces. A Japanese writer living in Sydney will guide you on this journey of nature and fine food.

ontrip.jal.co.jp