MELBOURNE TO KING ISLAND

Welcome to our fabulous holiday to King Island and Flinders Island.  With chauffeured pickup from home, we travel to Melbourne Airport.  Here we’ll be greeted by an O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours representative who will assist us with check in and see us onto the plane for our direct mid-afternoon flight to King Island. King Island lies off the north-west coast of Tasmania, surrounded by a rugged coastline with famously good produce and some of the cleanest air in the world.  On arrival we will be met by our local guide. After a guided tour of the main township of Currie, we check in to our accommodation and greeted by the manager, Julie. This evening, Dwayne, one of King Island’s best chefs, will prepare our welcome dinner in-house tonight. 

Lunch at own expense and arrangement / Refreshments on flight

OVERNIGHT:  Island Breeze Resort, Currie, KING ISLAND 

NORTHERN TOURING - CAPE WICKHAM LIGHTHOUSE - PENGUINS

Heading north, we stop at Shag Lagoon Bird Hide to view some of King Island’s beautiful water fowl. Enjoy morning tea at Quarantine Bay while taking in the views of Christmas Island and New Year Island. Visit the mouth of Yellow Rock River, the wreck site of the Shannon to hear Captain Johnson’s unfortunate story. Visit Penny’s Lagoon, a rare freshwater perched lake found in only three locations in the world. From here we visit Martha Lavinia Beach, a world class beach break which has been voted one of the Top 10 Surf Breaks in Australia.  Continue past Disappointment Bay to the most northern point of King Island to view the Cape Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest granite lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere which overlooks one of Australia’s top ranking golf courses. Drive back to Currie through the farming area of Egg Lagoon to freshen up before heading out for dinner at Wild Harvest Restaurant. After dinner we will have the opportunity to view the local fairy penguin colony. On dusk, watch the penguins waddle out of the water to return to their burrows.

OVERNIGHT:  Island Breeze Resort, Currie, KING ISLAND 

NARACOOPA - GRASSY - CALCIFIED FOREST

Start the day travelling through farm land to the east coast to visit Sea Elephant River, one of the island's largest river system and link to the Lavinia wetlands. Visit the coastal township of Naracoopa where the European explorers first set foot on King Island. Continue to Grassy Harbour and view the King Island Boat Club which hosts an annual yacht race between Queenscliff and Grassy.  After lunch, we head to the viewing platform for the scheelite mine which operated between 1917 and 1992 and is getting ready to reopen. Discover Surprise Bay, the southernmost settlement of King Island, where our guide will provide us with the history of the first settlement on the Island. We visit a rare forest with views over some of King Island’s most spectacular coastline and learn of the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Australia’s history. Enjoy a leisurely stroll to the viewing platform overlooking the Calcified Forest and survey the intriguing fossilised stumps of ancient rainforest trees. We discover Seal Rocks Lookout, used by Dutch and French sealers to spot pods of seals. On arrival back at our accommodation there will be time for a short rest, before transferring to a local restaurant for dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Island Breeze Resort, Currie, KING ISLAND 

CURRIE HARBOUR, KELP AND CHEESE, FLIGHT TO TASMANIA

We begin the day with a visit to the museum in the former lightkeeper's cottage, run by the King Island Historical Society. The museum is full of the island's history including the original lens from the Cape Wickham Lighthouse. Morning tea is at the interesting little boatshed on the shores of Currie Harbour, known as the "Restaurant Without Food". Next stop is to the iconic King Island Kelp Industries where we learn about one of the island's important industries. In the afternoon, stop at King Island Dairy to sample some of the delicious cheese. With a legacy spanning more than 100 years, King Island Dairy has developed an enviable reputation as a maker of some of the world’s finest produce. From here, we make our way to the King Island Airport for our flight to Burnie Airport.  On arrival, we transfer to our overnight accommodation in Devonport.

OVERNIGHT:  Novotel Devonport, DEVONPORT

DEVONPORT - FLIGHT FROM LAUNCESTON TO FLINDERS ISLAND

After breakfast, we drive past fertile farmland and historic villages to reach Launceston Airport. Fly over the many of the islands of the Furneaux Group to Flinders Island. Here we will discover an inspiring world of sparkling beaches, rugged ranges, abundant wildlife and flora, and clear sapphire waters. On arrival, we will be met by our tour operator and taken to our accommodation.

OVERNIGHT:  Furneaux Tavern, Lady Barron, FLINDERS ISLAND 

CASTLE ROCK - KILLIECRANKIE BAY - WYBALENNA

Today we explore the northern end of the island and pause at the photogenic Castle Rock. Enjoy morning tea at North East River, which is a favourite spot for local fishermen, before touring to Palana, site of coastal surveillance at the start of World War Two. Stroll along beautiful Killiecrankie Bay keeping an eye out for the famous Killiecrankie diamonds. After lunch, we visit the small but interesting Furneaux Museum which contains a wonderful collection of records and exhibits of the island’s natural history, maritime heritage and island lifestyle, including mementos of stirring days and enterprises. Our last visit for the day is at Wybalenna, a small settlement established in 1833-1847 to house Tasmanian Aboriginal people brought to Flinders Island by George Robinson. Today, the only remaining building is the red brick chapel which has been restored by the National Trust and is of national heritage significance. 

OVERNIGHT: Furneaux Tavern, Lady Barron, FLINDERS ISLAND 

TROUSERS POINT - MT STRZELECKI - CAMERONS INLET

This morning, follow the Coast Road to Fotheringate Bay where we will have a chance to explore the beaches and have morning tea. Stop at the beautiful Trousers Point with Mt. Strzelecki’s towering granite crags forming a backdrop to the pristine half-moon beach. Have your cameras ready for this famous, photogenic area. After lunch, we visit Walkers Lookout which provides extensive views over the island. Drive past Cameron’s Inlet, breeding ground for black swans and many species of duck before finishing the day exploring the town of Lady Barron. 

OVERNIGHT: Furneaux Tavern, Lady Barron, FLINDERS ISLAND 

HEADING HOME

For our last morning on Flinders Island, we will spend time in the main town of Whitemark. Have a look around the town; enjoy a coffee at the local café, or visit the local shops to discover a hidden gem before an early lunch. Late morning, we return to the Flinders Island Airport for our flight home. Upon arrival at Essendon Airport, our chauffeurs will be waiting to transport us home with many interesting stories to tell of our beautiful Islands adventure.