Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Smugglers in Torres Strait Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea
basaltiga 04:27 UTC 25 Feb 2011 | Hello, we are writing from Thursday Island, Australia. We stood 2 weeks looking for transport overseas to arrive here. Finally, we couldn't find. This notice is to advice that there is dangerous groups trying to convince you that they are able to transport you from Daru to Horn Island or Thursday Island. Be careful with Scott Whitebone specially because he has a transport enterprise but with suspicious works in which you could be involved if the Australian Customs catch you. Also Daru customs advised us that it was not the best idea to travel with him. There are more people offering night travels and another bad ideas. Please, take care if you decide the same trip. Hasta la vista. |
ozziegiraffe 11:39 UTC 25 Feb 2011 | Maybe if you had checked out this branch of Thorn Tree first, you would have realised that crossing by sea from PNG to Australia is not advised. Apart from anything else, the Torres Strait is one of the most treacherous sea crossings there are. | 1
basaltiga 08:04 UTC 28 Mar 2011 | Hello, Maybe if you have trevelled in alternative routes (no Kokoda trail and other sponsiorised options), you would know that the access to internet is sometimes difficult and expensive. Also, the most of the times, the information that could obtain (also in the guide books or embassies) in this kind of countries is not updated. If you travel following your "feelings" they can "break your heart", but this ALWAYS will be better than only know what is love by the "novels". We like travel by ship not like sheep. | 2
ozziegiraffe 13:03 UTC 28 Mar 2011 | Don't be patronising. I lived for 4 years in Solomon Islands with electricity from a generator only a few hours a day, no phone, much less internet. I have travelled to some of the most remote parts of that country by local boat, sleeping on deck, with the locals. Many of those places can only be accessed by a very occasional boat. There is no option of flying, which you had in Thursday Island. And I am probably old enough to be your grandmother. You should have done your research BEFORE you left home. | 3
silvanocat 15:40 UTC 28 Mar 2011 | So let me get this straight - OP was in PNG and wanted to go to Australia via boat. And these boat crossings aren't legal or not legal for foreigners? So then, the only people who offered to take you across this illegal crossing were shady? Is that the story? | 4
basaltiga 06:47 UTC 07 Apr 2011 | ... | 5