Turtle Head Island

Remote and hard to get to, to most people not even known,


... this island is a hidden gem well worth making your way to.


While the other two pearl farm islands are better known, because over the years they have been easier to get to, this one is very special.

The Place

The place for starters is more remote, in a very interesting area.

While Turtle Head Island does belong to Torres Strait, it is not an easy distance from Seisia or Thursday Island, but in the remote Escape River mouth (an area where the explorer Edmund Kennedy was speared to death - the river was named after Jackey Jackey's escape). 

Being so remote, the life of the lovely owners Rusty and Bronwyn, can be tough but is also life in a paradise.

With views of the river, their floating jetty and beautiful sunsets, and the only way to the shops via the mangrove channels to Bamaga boat ramp in their boat.

In the end of the jetty is where they grow their pearls - along with other jobs on the farm, it is never ending work and they never stop.

The Pearling Presentation

When you visit they put on a presentation, taking out a pearl shell and showing you how to extract a pearl.



Rusty opens it with a thin knife and even gives you a pearl meat sample to taste.



He tells how the pearls are grown and what is the process on the farm. 



Back on the land, there are shells and pearly decorations at the house.

The Shop

There is also a shop with all of Rusty's creations - did I say that he never stops?



Every day he is at something, and if he is not working outdoors, he is processing pearls and turning them into jewelry.



There are necklaces, ear rings, pendants that are unique and very beautiful.



The ways to get to the island are detailed in the Destination Guide (along with their accommodation, should you choose to enjoy the island a little longer!).



But even if you didn't go to this very special place, you can buy their pearls and jewelry in the tackle shop in New Mapoon :-)

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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