Melanesia, May 2025

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Photo Gallery for Australia

Friday 6th June
Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands, Australia

The Silver Cloud, anchored off Thursday Island, the first of our 6 visits to Australia and its northern islands.

We were welcomed in the morning at the town's public hall by some of the islanders, with speeches, songs and dances.

The afternoon activity I joined was a 4 mile walk around much of the small island.
This stop was to look at a fortress built in anticipation of a possible Japanese invasion in WW2.

This was one of the 6 inch guns installed in the fort.

One of the elevated parts of the walk, overlooking the town with our ship in the harbour.

The large wind turbine which sits on the highest point of the island.

Saturday 7th June
Cape York, Australia.

Today's activity was early and relatively brief.
We did a zodiac cruise through the two small islands just to the north of the Cape, which is the most northerly point on the continent of Australia.

At the end of the cruise we landed close to the tip of the peninsula and were encouraged to walk along to the Cape York sign, as zodiacs came and went.

This was the 'money shot', the sign at the tip of Australia.

A view to the south of the cape.

A large termite nest, taller than me.

This is York Island, just north of the Cape with the same name.

The rocky, sandstone geology of the cape and its accompanying islands.

Sunday 8th June
Yirrkala, Australia.

A low key sort of day, a zodiac landing to see an aboriginal art centre in a community of several clans.
We are in an area known as Arnhem Land which covers a large area of northeastern Northern Territories.
It looks like a place where white people are not exactly welcomed.
It was a bit shabby, hard to know what went on here as there weren't many people about, aboriginal or otherwise.
In the background is the community store.

Handicrafts on display, some of which were on sale.

More pieces, including didgeridoos.

Art to hang on the wall.

A view of a quiet road out of the village.

Near our landing point were these signs with rules, regulations and saltwater crocodile warnings.
We did no marine activities while we were in Australian waters, with a view to not providing 'salties' the opportunity of an easy meal.

Monday 9th June
Bremer Island, Australia
Today we we anchored off the northern tip of this privately owned resort - Banubanu Beach Retreat.
There was a nice sandy beach, with chalets further up from the beach and a cafe run by a young couple, the lady being Irish.
I just did one of the morning activities, which was a 2.5km boundary walk, along the beach then inland along a track.
The map below shows the island with the resort at its northern tip.

The beach, with our ship on the horizon.

A view along the beach with the cafe and chalets overlooked by a grove of trees.

The track inland back to the cafe and landing beach.
The highlight of the day for me was the delicious iced coffee I had after we got back from the walk.
I stayed on the ship in the afternoon as there wasn't a lot more to do on land apart from another short walk or drinking coffee.

Tuesday 10th June
Gugari Rip, Wessel Islands.
Today we did a zodiac cruise along the gap between two of the Wessel Islands.
The gap is known by it's popular name of 'hole in the wall', also known as the Gugari Rip.
It is likely that the gap was originally created by water erosion of a larger island to form two smaller ones.
The rip tides between the islands are strong, we found this out on our way back through the gap, where the outboard was at full power and we were only moving slowly against the current. The red arrow on this map shows where this gap is situated.

The uninhabited Wessel Islands are composed of strata of soft sandstone.

Away from the rip tides, a quiet little backwater.

Now heading along the channel.

You can see how the powerful tides have eroded the sides of the channel over time, with large chunks of rock collapsing.

Someone had spotted a wallaby up on some rocks, but you need eyes like a hawk to see anything.

Our final ride on a zodiac as we head back to the ship, the starboard platform on the starboard side is where we would board and disembark from the boats.

Wednesday 11th June
At sea sailing to Darwin
The moon is reflected in the water.

Thursday 12th June
Arrival in Darwin
Early morning docked at Darwin port.

I did a lot of walking round and about Darwin as I waited for my room at Darwin Hilton.
This was Bicentennial Park, with birds like Ibis wandering about.

A high rise building on the Esplanade from the park.
A tidy, modern and compact city centre.

Our hotel, Hilton Darwin on Mitchell Street.

A view from the The Mall, a shopping mall in the town centre.

Palm trees under blue skies.

The Mall from Smith Street.

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Friday 6th June Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands, Australia The Silver Cloud, anchored off Thursday Island, the first of our 6 visits to Australia and its northern islands.
We were welcomed in the morning at the town's public hall by some of the islanders, with speeches, songs and dances.
The afternoon activity I joined was a 4 mile walk around much of the small island. This stop was to look at a fortress built in anticipation of a possible Japanese invasion in WW2.
This was one of the 6 inch guns installed in the fort.
One of the elevated parts of the walk, overlooking the town with our ship in the harbour.
The large wind turbine which sits on the highest point of the island.
Saturday 7th June Cape York, Australia. Today's activity was early and relatively brief. We did a zodiac cruise through the two small islands just to the north of the Cape, which is the most northerly point on the continent of Australia.
At the end of the cruise we landed close to the tip of the peninsula and were encouraged to walk along to the Cape York sign, as zodiacs came and went.
This was the 'money shot', the sign at the tip of Australia.
A view to the south of the cape.
A large termite nest, taller than me.
This is York Island, just north of the Cape with the same name.
The rocky, sandstone geology of the cape and its accompanying islands.
Sunday 8th June Yirrkala, Australia. A low key sort of day, a zodiac landing to see an aboriginal art centre in a community of several clans. We are in an area known as Arnhem Land which covers a large area of northeastern Northern Territories. It looks like a place where white people are not exactly welcomed. It was a bit shabby, hard to know what went on here as there weren't many people about, aboriginal or otherwise. In the background is the community store.
Handicrafts on display, some of which were on sale.
More pieces, including didgeridoos.
Art to hang on the wall.
A view of a quiet road out of the village.
Near our landing point were these signs with rules, regulations and saltwater crocodile warnings. We did no marine activities while we were in Australian waters, with a view to not providing 'salties' the opportunity of an easy meal.
Monday 9th June Bremer Island, Australia Today we we anchored off the northern tip of this privately owned resort - Banubanu Beach Retreat. There was a nice sandy beach, with chalets further up from the beach and a cafe run by a young couple, the lady being Irish. I just did one of the morning activities, which was a 2.5km boundary walk, along the beach then inland along a track. The map below shows the island with the resort at its northern tip.
The beach, with our ship on the horizon.
A view along the beach with the cafe and chalets overlooked by a grove of trees.
The track inland back to the cafe and landing beach. The highlight of the day for me was the delicious iced coffee I had after we got back from the walk. I stayed on the ship in the afternoon as there wasn't a lot more to do on land apart from another short walk or drinking coffee.
Tuesday 10th June Gugari Rip, Wessel Islands. Today we did a zodiac cruise along the gap between two of the Wessel Islands. The gap is known by it's popular name of 'hole in the wall', also known as the Gugari Rip. It is likely that the gap was originally created by water erosion of a larger island to form two smaller ones. The rip tides between the islands are strong, we found this out on our way back through the gap, where the outboard was at full power and we were only moving slowly against the current. The red arrow on this map shows where this gap is situated.
The uninhabited Wessel Islands are composed of strata of soft sandstone.
Away from the rip tides, a quiet little backwater.
Now heading along the channel.
You can see how the powerful tides have eroded the sides of the channel over time, with large chunks of rock collapsing.
Someone had spotted a wallaby up on some rocks, but you need eyes like a hawk to see anything.
Our final ride on a zodiac as we head back to the ship, the starboard platform on the starboard side is where we would board and disembark from the boats.
Wednesday 11th June At sea sailing to Darwin The moon is reflected in the water.
Thursday 12th June Arrival in Darwin Early morning docked at Darwin port.
I did a lot of walking round and about Darwin as I waited for my room at Darwin Hilton. This was Bicentennial Park, with birds like Ibis wandering about.
A high rise building on the Esplanade from the park. A tidy, modern and compact city centre.
Our hotel, Hilton Darwin on Mitchell Street.
A view from the The Mall, a shopping mall in the town centre.
Palm trees under blue skies.
The Mall from Smith Street.