Blogs from Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia, Oceania

Saturday 23rd July Thursday Island Today has been a marvellous day, unfortunately not long enough. I think 2 or 3 days on Thursday Island (known as TI) would really give you a full taste of it. The little bit we had was lovely! Started early from the wharf which is fortunately right next to the campsite, so no transport/tent packing issues. About an hour on the boat and there we all were. We began with a necessarily quick bus tour of the island, starting with Green Hill fort. It was built in 1893, as the colonial authorities feared a Russian invasion(!) and de-commissioned in the 1920s. The old fort has wonderful 360 degree views of TI and Torres Strait, and a fascinating historical museum. I wish I’d had more time to spend there, but alas no, ... read more

Hey guys, we went to Thursday Island today. Had a great day. The boat trip & the bus tour was awesome & the people of the Torres Straight were very friendly. We are heading off tomorrow, we will go to Eliot Falls first then the mighty Gunshot. Not sure what camp we will be staying in though, probably Moreton Telegraph Station but it all depends on how long the Telegraph Track takes as we have been told it is very rough. We will be in Cooktown on Tuesday so I will be on again then. I don't think we will have internet service at the other camps leading up to Cooktown but I could be wrong, I didn't think we would have mobile service at the tip or Thursday Island but we have. Anyway I will ... read more

Our day at sea proves interesting as we hear Cultural Historian Nate Randall discuss the history of food practices in this part of the world. He notes that the aborigines were hunter gatherers living in groups of 50-100 with their nomadic movements dependent on food needs. Among interesting practices was their tracking of bees back to the hive (for its honey) after attaching a feather and the annual burning of forests to chase the kangaroos and emus out into the open. Women gathered yams, bush tomatoes, grass seed bread while kids sucked nectar from flowering plants – a natural lollipop. Macadamia Nuts originated in Australia and were exported to Hawaii. January 26, 1888 the fleet arrived with the convicts for settlement so it’s now celebrated as Australia Day. Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management became the ... read more

DAY 334 5.50 am I was out of bed, many years ago I found out that this was most creative time of the day, (Not particularly at 5.50am) but certainly in the early mornings. I jumped straight out of bed, quietly put the kettle on and finished some blog work, my head always seems to be clear in the mornings. With cup of tea by my side I sit and type in the early morning breeze, the sun is climbing and Caroline will be left for a little while longer. At 6.30 and I call to Caroline to see if she is awake, if she wasn’t she soon was. We are off to Thursday Island today, but its only Wednesday I know, we are on the 08.00 fast jet from Seisia, to Thursday Island and we ... read more