EXTREME DREAMS: TORRES STRAIT 2023

Location

Torres Strait, Queensland

When to Go

19 - 28 September 2023

Fitness Level

Level 4: Highly Active

Cost

$5700AUD

Are you an Extreme Dreamer?

 

Our EXTREME DREAMS: TORRES STRAIT expedition is a one-of-a-kind, pioneering, raw adventure in untamed sea country. It’s not for the feint-hearted and not everything will go to plan. What we can guarantee is a true ‘Robinson Crusoe’ style adventure.

After flying into Horn Island, we start the expedition at the northernmost point in Australia, the tip of Cape York, and set off in two outrigger canoes to explore the archipelago of Southern Torres Islands, camp on beaches under a tapestry of stars, and supplement our food stores with whatever we can harvest from the ocean en route (crocodile isn’t very good to eat don’t worry). 

For the first half of the expedition, we’ll hone the art of paddling outrigger canoes in the comfortable waters around the southern islands, before (weather/ocean/tidal conditions permitting) embarking on a crossing to the Western Torres Strait island of Badu, just 80km from the mainland of Papua New Guinea.

Working closely with the local Torres Strait Islander communities, we’ll learn about their deep spiritual and cultural connection to the land and ocean, cook Kup Murri on the beach and witness rarely visited sacred sites, all with the blessing of the Traditional Owners. 

My ever-lasting memories during my time as the Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef during the Best Job in the World are from my visit to the Torres Strait islands. The deeply cultural island communities have the appearance more of Pacific Islanders than Australian Aboriginals, they engage in warm conversation with strangers, and have deep pride in their history. For these and a million other reasons, I created the expedition to share the experience with others. I still remember the deep belly laughter, community gatherings, palm leaf weaving under the trees and the best view I’ve ever experienced from a toilet seat. 

This expedition has been completed once before, by our Venturer Team in 2021, so our itinerary may, and probably will change. It’s an unscripted adventure, the kind that challenges you and has more unknowns than most people can stomach. It’s a different kind of travel, and we think more people should experience it.

 

No previous experience in outrigger canoes is necessary. We will all start this adventure as novices and end up as salty sea dogs. Best Life Adventures will arrange a couple of taster sessions around SE Queensland in the run-up to the expedition proper. 

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NUMBERS: We need 10 people to ensure this expedition goes ahead – no more, no less. If you get in too late and miss out, we’ll add you to the waitlist but don’t expect people to give up their place easily. This will be epic.

 

COVID POLICY – Best Life Adventures may postpone or cancel this Event due to Covid-19 travel restrictions being imposed by national, federal, state or local governments which limit travel to the Event and result in the event being postponed or cancelled. A decision on whether the Event will take place will be made prior to the event based on the most up-to-date information available at the time.

 

 

ARRIVAL ARRIVE THURSDAY ISLAND VIA HORN ISLAND, TORRES STRAIT
DAY 1 PADDLE THURSDAY ISLAND TO ZUNA ISLAND
DAY 2 TRIP TO THE TIP, ROKO ISLAND
DAY 3 PADDLE ZUNA ISLAND TO MURALAG ISLAND (PRINCE OF WALES)
DAY 4 TREK TO SACRED SPRINGS SITE
DAY 5 PADDLE MURALAG ISLAND TO FRIDAY ISLAND
DAY 6 PADDLE FRIDAY ISLAND TO MURALAG ISLAND, VIA GOODS ISLAND
DAY 7 PADDLE MURALAG ISLAND TO THURSDAY ISLAND, TRANSFER TO BADU ISLAND
DAY 8 EXPLORE BADU ISLAND
DAY 9 DEPART BADU ISLAND FOR HORN ISLAND. BEST LIFE ADVENTURE ENDS
*THIS IS A SAMPLE ITINERARY & IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

Cost: AU$5700 per person (twin-share). Payment plans are available for this expedition to spread the cost of this trip over a number of months. Please register to see further details or contact us for more information.

  • Twin-share accommodation in tents throughout the expedition. We will spend the first and last night in hotel accommodation on Horn Island. Please bear in mind that this expedition is very much Robinson Crusoe style, so we’ll stay in tents on beaches for the majority of the trip. We will book hotel accommodation for the first and last nights and will update this page once we are confident the trip will go ahead. 
  • All activities including outrigger canoe hire, day trek, and fishing adventures.
  • All meals, snacks, and soft drinks from the evening of the first day until the morning of the final day. Due to the nature of the expedition, we eat rehydrated meals during the majority of the adventure but it is good quality and varied. Where possible we will supplement our meals with what we can harvest from the ocean along the way.
  • Transport between activities, including collection and drop-off at Horn Island Airport.
  • In-survey safety support vessel throughout the expedition.
  • Expedition photos.
  • Expedition t-shirt and buff.
  • Flights into and out of Horn Island
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal expenses/souvenirs/shopping
  • Additional meals in restaurants, cafes etc, private entrance to museums and sights
  • Additional rental gear
  • Any cost to repair damages done to your rental equipment apart from basic wear and tear
  • Alcohol

We’ll supply you with all the safety gear you need whilst on the water. If you prefer to bring your own tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag please do so. It’ll make the logistics a lot easier from our end.

You need to prepare your clothing to suit paddling on the water in the tropics i.e. lightweight, sweat-wicking, long-sleeve tops, boardshorts bottoms and water shoes. Rest assured it won’t be cold.

 

Expedition Reports

We paddled past basking saltwater crocodiles, caught huge bull sharks, dined on fresh crayfish, refuelled on coconuts, and explored the sacred lands of the First Nations people who are lucky enough to call this part of the world home. Here are some of the moments of this pioneering expedition captured by one of our serial venturers, Shaw Innes.

They powered their way through raging currents, battled hectic headwinds, and perfected the ancient art of paddling to travel over 80km around the tropical islands nestled between the Coral and Arafura Seas. “Hut….Ho!” Here are just some of the photos and memories from this epic journey as told by one of our veteran venturers, Cathy U'ren.

Thank you Best Life Adventures for once again removing me from what we come to accept as “normality” and providing challenge, adventure, and space for curiosity and connection. My soul needs this.
Cathy U'Ren

Entreprenuer and veteran venturer

This was one of the best things I have ever done (I did it last year). A great mix of challenging (but not tooo challenging) paddling with cultural learning and hanging with great people. Can highly recommend this trip. If you are considering it - definitely do it.
Craig Duggen

First Time Venturer

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