Horn Island

Horn Island is in Torres Strait just north of the tip of mainland Australia.

Horn Island is the second largest of the southern Torrest Strait Islands, and with its 900 inhabitants, it is the second most inhabited after Thursday Island.

You can get here by flying (it is the only island in the area with an airport), by a ferry from Thursday Island, or with some of the many tour operators from Seisia or Punsand Bay.

In the northwestern side of the island is the little township of Wasaga, where there is a passenger and a cargo wharf, Wasaga Hall, Wongai Hotel and the Gateway Resort, which also houses the famous Torres Strait Heritage Museum.

Arrival. ©cape-york-australia.com

In the town, there is also a general store (South Pacific Store), a catholic church, a health care centre, police, primary school, sports complex and child care centre.

HI Museum. ©cape-york-australia.com

The Airport Road is the longest road on the island and goes from Wasaga Village to the Airport, after which you can get to the quarry and to Horned Hill - the highest point on the island.

Second World War Airplanes. ©cape-york-australia.com

Horn Island was a military base during the Second World War, and the WWII relics are found in many parts of the island. However to see them you are best off taking a tour with local guides, because the rest of the island is Aboriginal land and a permission is required to go anywhere except the Village, the Airport Road, the Quarry and the Horned Hill.

HI Tours. ©cape-york-australia.com

Excellent two-hour bus tours are run from the Gateway Torres Strait Resort. The tours include the Second World War sites, as well as a few scenic sites such as Kings Point; and an old gold mine that was established in the 1860s. It's a great way to see the most of the island.

HI Resort. ©cape-york-australia.com

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