Horn Island

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.




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




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


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



The jetty is beautiful,




... and a favourite spot for fishing.




And other beach activities, like enjoying beautiful sunsets.






The name of the township is Wasaga,



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






... it also has an interesting museum,




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




Further away from the township,





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







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



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



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



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.



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



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.

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

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 ;-)

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