Their journey comes a day after the federal government said releasing children from immigration detention could prompt a flood of illegal asylum seekers heading to Australia.
The federal government remains committed to detaining children despite a damning report that found Australia is breaching its international obligations.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report says by locking up children, Australia has failed to protect their health and welfare.
But the Prime Minister John Howard and the Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone say freeing children would send the wrong signal to people smugglers.
