Welcome to Waiben – Thursday Island! As you enjoy the beauty of the ocean and the laid back lifestyle of the Torres Strait, you may be craving some caffeine or feeling a little peckish. On the mainland, google has the answer to everything. On T.I. not everything makes it to the world wide web, so I’m here to help you out.
Where do I get my coffee?
Ma.Kai is a café on Victoria Parade. It’s open 7am-1pm Sun-Fri. Closed Saturdays. They have fantastic coffee and good meal and bakery options. This is your closest option to the jetty.
The sign at Gab Tutui (the Cultural Centre) says there’s a café, but there isn’t one operating there at the moment. It is still a good place to have a look through though. Find out more at Gab Tutui.
Your final option is Uncle Frankies. (also known as Island Rooster.) Here you’ll find coffee options, as well as pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. 67 Douglas St.
Where to eat?
The Grand Hotel – 6 Victoria Parade.
The Torres Hotel (also known as Australia’s Top Pub) 118 Douglas St. Open 11am-10pm most days.
Uncle Frankies – also known as Island Rooster. Closed Sunday. 67 Douglas St
Bobby’s Snack Bar – the best chips in town. 86 Douglas St. Open 8:30am -2pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
See Hops – service station style hot foods available. (This is the same building as the Post Office.) Find them on the map here.
IBIS on the main street is the main grocery store, but they also sometimes have hot chickens, chips and sausage rolls for sale near the deli section. Open till 8am-6pm weekdays. Shorter trading hours on the weekend. There is a smaller IBIS store at Tamoy Town and Rosehill. They are usually open in the afternoon when the main one is closed. More info here.
Markets – every second Saturday at Port Kennedy Hall. Depending on stall owners, you may be able to by baked goods, donuts, sushi and sometimes there’s a sausage sizzle. Bring cash as most stalls don’t have Eftpos. Open 9-12 but better to get there early as food often sells out.
If you need a taxi, call 40692888. Fares usually start at $6.
Finally, if you need to take a break in the air conditioning, pop in to see Aunty Mavis at the Torres Strait Shire Library. It is located up the stairs in the blue building in the Ken Brown Oval precinct. There are usually maps of the island on hand, as well as interesting books about Torres Strait culture and history. The library is open 9-12pm and 3-5pm.
Lynelle Kendall is a children’s writer who lives on T.I. You might see her with a laptop down on Victoria Parade, or at Gab Tutui, working on her latest writing project. Find out more here.
