Horn Island


Horn Island is the second largest island in the 'inner' Torres Strait.

It is a lot larger than Thursday Island and has a lot smaller population - only about 700 inhabitants.


A lot of people do visit it, but they are mostly the ones who fly to the Torres Strait or the northern Cape, because this island has the largest airport in the region.


For a Cape York traveller, there is an interesting museum and some Second World War history.

horn island airport horn island airport sign
horn island airport arrival horn island airport flight

And as a Cape York traveller, you would get here water ways.

horn island arrival horn island arrival
horn island arrival horn island arrival

The first thing that hits you is the amazing colour of the water!
 
horn island water views horn island water views

No photoshop, it's completely real - provided it's a sunny day :-)

horn island water views horn island water views

The jetty is beautiful,

horn island wharf horn island wharf area
horn island wharf sunset horn island wharf sunset

... and a favourite spot for fishing.

horn island wharf area horn island wharf activities
horn island jetty horn island sunset

And other beach activities, like enjoying beautiful sunsets.

horn island sunset horn island sunset
horn island sunset horn island sunset
horn island sunset horn island sunset
horn island sunset horn island sunset

The name of the township is Wasaga,

horn island wasaga horn island signs

... and apart from a few places to eat,

horn island pub lunch horn island pub salmon
horn island pub dinner horn island pub seafood
horn island resort restaurant horn island resort buffet dinner
horn island resort dinner dessert horn island resort bar

... it also has an interesting museum,

horn island museum entrance horn island museum
horn island museum display horn island museum airplane wrecks

... and a few tracks outside the town, should you stay a little longer to discover it more.

horn island wasaga street horn island wasaga road
horn island wasaga roads horn island wasaga tracks

Further away from the township,

horn island scenic reserve horn island scenic reserve
horn island scenic reserve horn island scenic reserve
horn island scenic reserve horn island scenic reserve

... in the north eastern end of the island is the King Point Reserve,

horn island king point horn island king point
horn island king point horn island king point
horn island king point horn island king point
horn island king point horn island king point
horn island king point horn island king point

... and in the south eastern end is the Cable Beach.

horn island cable bay horn island cable bay
horn island cable bay horn island cable bay
horn island cable beach horn island cable beach
horn island cable beach horn island cable beach

Around this, eastern side of the island, there is some WWII history.

Horn Island WWII History

They say it was a "forgotten isle" until the Second World War, when it became the most strategical site for an air base that would be close to Papua New Guinea, while large and flat enough for an airstrip, and still in Australian waters.

horn island wwii sites horn island wwii remnants

Japanese soon realised the importance of its location - if they could get hold on this air base they could attack locations in southern Australia.

horn island wwii war bunker horn island war bunker

They attacked the island in seven raids
, making Horn Island the second most attacked after Darwin.

horn island wwii slit trench
horn island second world war bunker

Luckily they did not get it, and what we have today is some airplane wrecks, gun pits, fuel drums,
slit trenches and other relics and remnants sitting in the bush.

horn island ww ii gun pits
horn island wwii relics

And more importantly than anything we have the airport, which was built during the WWII.

horn island wwii airport horn island wwii airport

It was built in 1940, and ended up having a runway too short for large American military aircraft, so they tried to extend it, but with no luck built another airport in Bamaga.





cape york travel

Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide

Get this 50 pages guide totally for FREE. It contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip. You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you should take, how to get there and get around, where to stay (general info), what will it cost.. and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.

Plan and Bring to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide

visit cape york

This complete 300 pages travel guide is all you need before and during your trip. Besides the background chapters on the peninsula's history and wildlife; and the comprehensive detail about all the places (down to prices, opening hours and full contact detail), it has invaluable information on at least 10 four wheel drive tracks, at least 30 guaranteed FREE camping spots on the Cape (and at least 150 on your way to the Cape), at least 40 best swimming holes, all mapped; as well as practical things - from fuel, roads, wireless internet and mobile phone reception, how to deal with the national parks booking rules; and Aboriginal land entrance and camping permits and alcohol restrictions - to vehicle preparation and accessories and necessary recovery gear by my vehicle-recovery-guy partner). Not to mention locals' tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)



If you liked the books or this website, let others know about it! 

Link to it from your website, your blog, your forum post... Share it on Facebook, Tweet about it...



Every link helps other travellers!

Thank you for doing the right thing and letting others know :-)






destination cape york

Latest Pages

Notice Board

Ask a Question

YOUR Adventure

YOUR Cape Memories


Keep yourself updated
on the latest -
weather, roads,
free travel tips,
and get the
FREE Cape York
Pocket Guide!


Email

Name

Then


Don't worry - your email address is totally secure.
I use it only to send you the Cape York News.

Get the FREE Pocket Guide:
cape york travel free pocket guide

Get the Big Destination Guide
destination cape york book


Available with the Big Destination Guide:
cape york dog caravan trailer
 
FEEDBACK Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 
cape york businesses

loyalty beach