Australia to Indonesia

[beau]

After the cyclone season we are leaving Cairns for Thursday Island.
I am considering the route from TI - Meurake (indonesia) Dobo, Ambon.
Rather than the more normal Darwin -Kupang or Darwin - Ambon.

We are a 42 ft Trimaran motor sailor with shallow draft.

Any comments from someone who may have done this route.

[rusky]

Hi Beau,
Sounds all good. I bipassed TI as it has security issues. You need to anchor over the other side and according to locals, is not safe after dark. AQIS require a 24 hour (min) notice to inspect and as such you may be waiting there for a while for them. If you try to phone and get information from AQIS, the info you recieve can be misleading or contradictory. Customs is Customs!

If you change your mind and clear out of Darwin, then dont go through TI at all as you would still have to clear AQIS. Seisia, only a few miles away is a perfct place to stop for a bit and refuel (via jerries) and food.

I know the Qld section fairly well. I came back from Darwin last year.