Thursday Island holiday guide

Rich in Indigenous culture, history and natural beauty, spend time on Thursday Island and you’ll get to know a totally different side of Queensland.

Known as Waibene or simply 'T.I.' to the locals, this is the administrative centre of the Torres Strait - and one of the 274 islands that lie between the tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea.

Time might stand still here, but you won’t. Proving big experiences come in small packages (3.5 square kilometres, to be exact), this Thursday Island holiday guide is everything you need to know to plan your trip, from how to get here to where to stay and what to do.

How to get to Thursday Island 

Thursday Island might be remote, but it’s accessible for those ready for a taste of adventure.

Flights operate from Cairns to Horn Island, where you can then catch a ferry across to Thursday Island. Torres Strait Tours provides fast, reliable, air-conditioned transfers between Horn, Thursday and Hammond Islands. 

Visiting as part of a Cape York adventure? The Thursday Island ferry service operates from March-December, departing from Seisia on the mainland. It’s a spectacular way to arrive, taking just over an hour on board the 20-metre Peddells MV Torres Magic catamaran: watch the beauty of the Torres Strait unfold before your eyes. If you're visiting for just a day, Peddells offers a jam-packed Thursday Island tour which will introduce you to the main sights and attractions. More on that later. 

Best time to visit Thursday Island

Like much of Queensland’s tropical north, the weather in the Torres Strait is characterised by a dry, warm winter and hot, wetter summers; so many visitors prefer to visit Thursday Island from May – September.

Our favourite time isn’t based on the seasons, but celebrations. To have an unforgettable cultural connection, visit Thursday Island for the biannual Winds of Zenadth Cultural Festival, when the island communities of the Torres Strait unite to share their cultures, customs and traditions: there’s dancing, boat races, Indigenous arts and cultural forums.

Thursday Island accommodation

First things first, where to stay on Thursday Island?

There’s a range of accommodation to suit the length of your stay and group size. Settle into the Jardine Motel, which is close to the island’s main attractions with a pool and onsite restaurant. The Grand Hotel is a family-run pub with bed and breakfast, ensuite rooms and WiFi, while TI Motel is another popular spot to relax.

Great for group travel, Island Villas is the only 4 star boutique self-catered accommodation on Thursday Island, with five properties overlooking Endeavour Strait offering the best sunset views you can find.

Best things to do on Thursday Island

While many visitors arrive on a fast and adventurous day tour from Seisia that takes in Thursday Island and Horn Island, there’s so much to do here that you could spend a few days to get to know the island’s heart and soul.

Explore island art 

Gab Titui Cultural Centre is your best starting point to get to know the Indigenous cultures of the Torres Strait Islands. Here, you can discover historical artefacts alongside contemporary Indigenous artworks and cultural performances that celebrate a strong connection to land and sea – and even buy some local artwork for souvenirs.

Elsewhere around Thursday Island, visit Tribal Boutique for locally designed jewellery, including pearls and beads sourced from nearby Roko Island and Turtle Head, or head to the home studio of Rosie Ware Designs.

Delve into history at Green Hill Fort

One of Thursday Island’s most historic spots is also the best vantage point to bring a beer and a picnic blanket for sunset. Green Hill Fort was built in the 1890s to guard against the threat of a Russian invasion, and then became military headquarters during World War II. Today, the fort and its cannons remain a relic of the past, on one of the island’s best vantage points.

Spend the afternoon exploring the underground tunnels which now houses the Torres Strait Historical Museum. Then, find your spot on the hill and kick back for the big show: sunset.

Go fishing 

These waters are some of the bluest you’ll ever see, and anglers will find there’s a lot more to love below the surface too. The best way to take advantage of the fishing around Torres Strait is to jump on a fishing charter under the guidance of a local.

Among the many personal tours offered by Torres Strait Eco Adventures, local guide and adventurer Dirk Laifoo runs private four-hour fishing charters - your chance to reel in coral trout, golden snapper and red emperor, and even black marlin if you're really lucky. Dirk has spent his entire life fishing these waters so you'll be in good hands. Keep your eyes peeled for turtles, rays and dolphins along the way.  

Get a bird's eye view of Australia's northernmost landmarks

Nautilus Aviation is known for incredible scenic helicopter tours around Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, but there's something particularly special about adventuring through the Torres Strait from above. Departing Thursday Island or Horn Island, take flight for a bird's eye view of the iconic Tip of Australia and many of the 274 virtually untouched islands that make up the Torres Strait Islands. Hear stories of the region as you pass over historic landmarks, pearl farms, deserted white beaches, coral reef and volcanic rainforest - chance wildlife sightings can include dugongs, saltwater crocs, turtles and more. 

Best Thursday Island tours 

Peddells local’s guided tour

See the island through the eyes of a local on the award-winning Peddells Thursday Island Tours, where you visit Green Hill Fort, Torres Strait Historical Museum, and the Japanese Pearl Divers Memorial. It’s not just the sights that make this tour a standout, but the way local guides weave the stories of the Torres Strait into the tour and bring the island’s history to life.

Torres Strait Eco Adventurers

In addition to his fishing charters, Dirk Laifoo offers a range of tours that will introduce visitors to the local side of the Torres Strait, and learn traditional customs along the way. Take your pick from a short cultural tour to experience Indigenous dance performances, a half-day tour which explores Goodes Island and surrounding landmarks, or a half-day on Prince of Wales Island - land of the Kaurareg people and home for just 80 people - where you can explore remote beaches and wildlife, or dip in natural swimming holes.

Horn Island Tour

Just a short ferry ride from Thursday Island is Horn Island, which boasts a little-known but fascinating military history. Holding a strategically important location during World War II’s Pacific campaign, the island became the second-most attacked location in Australia.

Visit the island’s significant military sites on Torres Strait Heritage's 'In Their Steps' tour to explore the museum, trenches, underground command posts and aircraft wrecks. Together with Strait Experience, you'll be welcomed as a guest, not a tourist, and get a true taste of Ailan Life (island life).

Where to eat on Thursday Island

This tiny island is full of flavour, and as you’d expect: seafood is the main event here.

You can’t miss a beer and pub feed at Torres Hotel, Australia’s northernmost pub – or the chance to raise a glass on the verandah of The Grand Hotel. The crayfish pie at Ma Kai Café is one to try - and it's also where you'll find the best coffee on the island.

For a uniquely Torres Strait adventure, hop on a boat from Thursday Island to Kazu Pearl Farm on Friday Island. It’s a short 15 minute trip, but locally caught seafood with a Japanese twist awaits here – and the menus change based on the catch of the day. For a luxe experience, discover nearby Roko Island where fresh catch and glamping awaits. 

Ready to go? Check out this itinerary.