Sinclair Tour and Travel – 5494 5083

Torres Strait Islands & Tip of Australia

7 days. Departing Sunday 10th May Approx. $4,650 pp twin share. Single $650

Tour Inclusions:

Door to door pick ups/Airport transfers

Return flights Brisbane to Cairns.

Return flights Cairns to Horn Island.

Hotel transfers. 1 night Cairns – Pacific International

2 nights Grand Hotel Thursday Island

2 nights Loyalty Beach – mainland

1 night Gateway – Horn Island

6 breakfasts/4 lunches/ 6 dinners

5 tours – 1 x Scenic Flight; 1 x Thursday Island;

1 x Kazu Pearl Farm on Friday Island;

1 x The Tip of Cape York; 1 x Horn Island.

All return ferry/boat rides

Day One. Sunday 10th May.

After pick up from your door as usual, you’ll be transferred to Brisbane airport for your flight

to Cairns. Peter & Di Sinclair will travel with you and you’ll be transferred to your hotel in

Cairns. A little free time this afternoon to relax, explore or visit the nearby Casino. Our Hotel

is very close to the waterfront – a lovely place to wander. Dinner at our Hotel tonight. (D)

Pacific Hotel Cairns (07) 4044 1884

Day Two. Monday 11th May.

After a wonderful buffet breakfast at our Hotel, you have some free time to explore this beautiful

City. We’ll be transferred to Cairns airport for your Qantas flight to Horn Island. Then we’ll

ferry to Thursday Island and transfer to our Hotel – the Grand Hotel. Just marvel at the amazing

colour of the waters up here. Thursday Island, colloquially known as TI, or in the native

language, Waiben, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago located approximately

39 kilometres north of Cape York Peninsula in the Torres Strait. Thursday Island is the

administrative centre of all the Australian islands between Cape York and the New Guinea

mainland. It is situated in the Prince of Wales Island group. Leave your watch behind when you

go to Thursday Island as this colourful island paradise is where time really does seem to stand

still. Get ready to meet our grandkids! Dinner at our Hotel tonight. (B) (D)

The Grand Hotel – Thursday Island. (07) 4069 1557

Day Three. Tuesday 12th May.

After breakfast at our Hotel, we’ll start exploring Thursday Island, or ‘TI’ as it is known. This

gives visitors the chance to explore both the indigenous and non-indigenous history of the

island. The lovely Liberty will teach us all about the pearling industry, upon which Thursday

Island prospered, and the early years of European settlement on TI. Discover how World War

Two changed the face of TI, and the regrowth of the island’s population following their return

after World War Two.

Visit historical and scenic locations that have interwoven themselves into the fabric of the

community. Green Hill fort offers spectacular views above ground, while the museum located

in the old powered and cordite rooms and tunnels beneath the hill is an adventure. The

historical Thursday Island cemetery is a history book nestled against the hill, while original

township buildings are waiting to be explored. Thursday Island has evolved into a dynamic

multicultural community, the perfect place to enjoy our tropical lifestyle.

Some free time before we enjoy a rare treat today as we visit Friday Island. Although Friday

Island is mostly uninhabited, it is famous amongst the Torres Strait Islanders for its beautiful

pearls, and great fishing and camping spots. We’ll visit the Kazu Pearl Farm, where local artist

extraordinaire Kazu farms and handcrafts his own pearls. We’ll experience an informative and

entertaining demonstration of the cultivation, seeding and harvesting of the oyster. Why not

treat yourself to a piece of exquisite pearl jewellery. All pieces in the gallery are made locally

from the pearls harvested on the farm. Our traditional Japanese style lunch is included today.

Then it’s back to T.I. for dinner at our hotel. (B)(L)(D)

The Grand Hotel – Thursday Island. (07) 4069 1557

Day Four. Wednesday 13th May.

After brekky, we’ll visit the Gab Titui Cultural Centre - home to the Ephraim Bani Gallery

which safely accommodates and displays historical Torres Strait Islander artefacts and cultural

heritage material. Gab Titui also has an open-plan main gallery which exhibits artwork by local

Indigenous artists. It’s really beautiful. Enjoy a film and afterwards, the views from the gallery

are spectacular. Lunch included today at the Gallery Café and, if we’re lucky, a rare treat as

some Island Dancers perform for us. You will also have the opportunity to purchase some

beautiful tribal artifacts.

We’ll hire local transport for a quick visit to areas that the tour didn’t cover. We MAY be

lucky enough to visit the Live Crayfish Export Facility. We depart the island at 2.30pm on

Peddells Ferry and arrive in Seisia at 4pm. Here we’ll be met by staff from Loyalty Beach for

our 2 nights on THE TIP of Australia’s Mainland. Dinner under the stars at our Hotel tonight

Loyalty Beach Lodge. (B)(L) (D) (07) 4069 3808

Day Five. Thursday 14th May.

After breakfast at the Lodge, we’ll head off on our tour of The Tip! You MUST be able to walk

UNAIDED to complete this walk OR you may choose to wait at our lunch spot and enjoy the

scenic views it offers. We’ll discover the rich history and cultural diversity of Cape York.

Lunch is included today. We’ll climb aboard their air conditioned 4WD vehicle and be taken

to the northern most point of Australia and beyond, with destinations also including Historical

Somerset Beach, the original site of the Cape’s administration Centre; the local indigenous

communities of the Northern Peninsula Area; the Croc Tent Souvenir Stall; Lockerbie

Homestead; the WWII plane wrecks at the Injinoo Airfield and the Bamaga Information and

Visitor’s Centre. Dinner at our Hotel again tonight. (B)(L)(D)

Day Six. Friday 15th May.

After another brekky at our hotel, we’re transferred back to Thursday Island and then on to

another ferry across to Horn Island. We’ll have lunch (included today) at our Hotel before we

enjoy our scenic flight out over the Torres Strait. We are so close to Papua New Guinea here.

What better way to fully appreciate the maze of reef & islands that make up this stunning region

then to wing your way over the Torres Strait. We may fly over Horn, Thursday, Hammond,

Goodes & Prince of Wales islands OR many of the other islands that make up this spectacular

region. This flight will add a whole new dimension to your Cape York experience. The ocean

here is a glorious blue. We’ll overnight on Horn Island tonight.

Our resort has an inground salt water swimming pool and outdoor entertainment area. There is

no better way to unwind after a day of exploring, than to enjoy a beer or wine beside the pool.

The resort is also home to the largest collection of Torres Strait history, the Torres Strait

Heritage Museum. Browse the museum at your leisure, and enjoy the history, artwork, myths

and legends and wartime memorabilia. The museum is home to over 400 exhibits.

These exhibits range from the pearling industry, myths and legends of Torres Strait, artwork,

artefacts, culture pearling today to the World War Two history of the area. The World War

Two displays include archival and personal photos from Japan, America and Australia, with

diaries, maps, sketches, and personal artefacts. Each unit and squadron, including the nurses,

and are detailed with histories, photos and personal recollections. Dinner at the Gateway

tonight. (B) (L) (D)

Gateway Torres Strait Resort. (07) 4069 2211

Day Seven. Saturday 16th May

After breakfast at our resort, you’ll love our tour of Horn Island. Horn Island is waiting for you

to discover her. A 1.5 hour tour of Horn Island, known as Nguruapai, is conducted in our air

conditioned bus. On this tour you will experience the beautiful Torres Strait, specifically Horn

Island. Join your guide and walk in the steps of those who served on the island during WW2,

both American and Australian. Learn of the hardship involved in the development and

maintenance of Horn Island as an advanced operational airbase. Some of the sites visited

include a World War Two plane relic, slit trenches, taxiways, a 3.7 inch gun site and an

underground command post.

Revel in the stories of men and women who served on this remote island during the war. These

stories have been told to the guide by the many veterans who have had great input into the tour

regarding their experiences so that you may gain a more personal knowledge of the difficult

conditions suffered by the servicemen and women here, including the Japanese air raids. As

well as the historical side the tour also takes in the scenic sites of Horn Island including King

Point, which offers views of outer islands. An introduction is also provided regarding the

Kaurareg People, the traditional owners of Horn Island.

Then we’ll be transferred to the airport for our flight to Cairns. Here we’ll have a short wait

(with time for lunch – own expense) before our flight to Brisbane where a representative of

Sinclair Tour and Travel will meet you and take you back to your front door. We do hope you

enjoyed your tour with Sinclair Tour and Travel. Please tell your friends. That’s how our

business grows. We look forward to travelling with you again really soon. (B)

INCLUDED IN TOUR ❖ Door to door airport transfers. All hotel/ferry transfers

❖ Return air travel from Brisbane/Cairns/Horn Island.

❖ Motel accommodation on a twin share basis.

❖ Breakfast (B), Lunch (L) and Dinner (D) as indicated.

❖ All entries as listed.

❖ Name badge, luggage labels, water bottle & travel bag.

GENERAL INFORMATION BOOKINGS

Please phone 5494 5083 for bookings. A Tour Booking Form will be sent to you for

completion and return with a deposit of $1000.00 per person within 7 days to secure your

booking. 4 flights to book.

BALANCE PAYMENT

Balance of payment is to be received at least 60 days prior to Tour Departure

Date. For Tour Bookings made within 60 days of Tour Departure Date, full

payment is required on booking.

CHANGES TO ITINERARY

Sinclair Tour and Travel reserves the right to alter any itinerary due to unforeseen

circumstances beyond its control and to cancel any tour due to insufficient

bookings. A full refund of fare will be made if tour is cancelled by Sinclair Tour

and Travel

CANCELLATION FEES

Number of days notice given Fee payable

More than 60 days Nil

30 – 59 days 50% of tour Price.

15 – 30 days 75% of Tour Price

8 - 14 days 100% of Tour Price

Less than 8 days 100% of Tour Price

Day of Departure or during tour 100% of Tour Price

In addition to the above fee any moneys paid in respect of bookings with other

tour operators, airfares, attractions, etc. on your behalf and which cannot be

recouped will also be payable. A $50 administration fee (per person) will be

charged on ALL cancellations regardless of the number of days notice given.

To cover cancellations due to illness or for loss of baggage we strongly

encourage passengers to have travel insurance. We can arrange Travel

insurance for you as we now sell Covermore Travel Insurance. Phone us

today 5494 5083 for a brochure. We need your date of birth for a quote.