Peddells Thursday Island Tours are a local indigenous family company embodying a rich connection to the land and sea of Torres Strait. With saltwater in their DNA and enduring ties to the marine environment through a background in pearling, boatbuilding and mechanics, Peddells put their skills and experience to work and established a regular ferry service linking Thursday Island and Cape York, providing a safe, comfortable and reliable means of connecting the Torres Shire community with friends and family in the Northern Peninsula Area.
Today the ferry service operates year round be it one passenger requiring the convenience of a ferry trip, ten or twenty. Travellers are carried across the Straits in the region’s largest vessels for the safest and most comfortable crossing in the Strait’s variable sea conditions.
You will find your captain and crew when not at work either on or under the ocean waves, continuing the oldest traditions in the island of outrigger canoe or spear fishing to feed the family and remain connected to their roots. The sea is their passion and sharing their lived experience, and stories passed on from generations is their absolute pleasure.
Peddells also created an opportunity for anyone wanting to experience the beauty of Thursday Island and learn of its past and present through the eyes of a local guide. Peddells Tour Buses operate most days during the main visitor season June to September. On their island bus tour you will be delighted to learn of Torres Strait’s colourful past and entertained by Peddell’s professional guides and treated to in depth narratives of this regions vast military, maritime, cultural and pearling history. This guided tour is quite simply the best way to explore historic Thursday Island. Your tour visits all the main points of interest as well as areas off-the-track and includes admissions to the displays housed in the underground rooms and tunnels of Green Hill Fort. A modern fleet including 20 and 38 seat air-conditioned coaches ensures you tour in both comfort and style.
The ‘MV Torres Magic’ offers a mechanised system for luggage handling, onboard kiosk, Nespresso coffee machine, air-conditioned cabins on both decks as well as sun deck seating on the bow and greater wave reach for a more comfortable ride. MV Strait Magic of similar design, also operates this route as required. These large, fast aluminium catamarans were purpose built with the unique seaway between Seisia Cape York and Thursday Island in mind. These larger craft negate the need to cross this expanse of ocean in smaller craft and dinghies, improving both safety and comfort. So make sure for the most comfortable vessels, you choose to travel with Peddells ferries.
As you step on or off Thursday Island, you will pass by The Jetty Shop, a curated collection of gifts of quality supporting local artisans from the Straits (Nancy Nona weaving) and near neighbours in PNG (Bilums & Bilas). Make your first or last stop, The Jetty Shop.
“We are passionate about sharing the story of our island home with visitors and love the challenge and intrigue that is part of life, love and work on a remote island in this culturally unique part of the far far north of Australia.” “Mina big esso for travelling and touring with us”
The Peddell Family & Crew
PEDDELLS THURSDAY ISLAND TOURS
Indigenous family owned business
BEHIND THE SCENES… coming soon
