Saibai Island

While it is not the northernmost inhabited one (Boigu is),


... it is the one that is the closest to the PNG coast.


After Badu, it is the fourth largest of all of the Torres Strait islands.

Council to the Pier

Like Boigu, Saibai is a low lying island formed by PNG river sediments deposited in the bottom of the sea.



Like Boigu, most of the island is coastal mangroves and inland swamps, with the community in the north western end.

Being low, it is prone to floods, so there is a seawall on the beach front.
 


Like on some other islands in the Torres Strait, the floods happen during the wet season king tides,



... but on Saibai the floods and the fresh water shortage at the same time, changed the history ...



... when the first Torres Stait islander people decided to come and settle in the Northern Peninsula Area.



It is a beautiful stroll along the Main Road,



... past the community centre,



... the church,



... boats parked in the front of the homes,



... and the mudflats at the low tide.



Most of the time along the beach front,



... sometimes not,



... and there is some interesting fishing gear,



... and then you get to the pier.



The piers on these islands are beautiful,



... and are always a busy place.

Pier to the End

Like on Boigu Island, you see the neighbouring Papuans coming across from PNG.



While there are Papuans also living (in the western half of the community) on Saibai Island,



... the ones coming on the boats are from Papua New Guinea - they can get permits to come over if they live in the so called Treaty Villages.



And you can see on the above photo just how close the PNG coast is - just 4km from Saibai Island.



West of the pier, the Main Road continues past more boats,



... the Mt Cornwallis in the background which is Dauan Island (part of Great Dividing Range as opposed to Saibai);



... and finally, a creek with mangroves and a track that goes to the cemetery.

Other Side of the Council

Back at the council building,
 


... the Main Road also goes to the eastern side.



Past some monuments,



... some picnic shelters, another boat ramp, and another creek with mangroves.



The neighbouring, uninhabited Kauamag is a mangrove island that is separated from Saibai by a narrow channel.



All the information about how to get to each island, any permits and where to stay, is in the Destination Guide.

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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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