Tasmania’s northernmost island has creamy cheeses, surf beaches, a historic lighthouse and isolation, perfect for a stress-free holiday. Meet King Island’s friendly locals, many descendants from survivors of more than 60 shipwrecks.
King Island has three towns, Grassy, Naracoopa and Currie, the largest. Explore the towns and mingle with residents or relax with a long walk on one of the many beaches. Join surfers on British Admiral Beach or Porky Beach near Currie or at other popular coastal spots.
For an island just 64 kilometres (40 miles) long, King Island has a lot of history. See most of it on foot or horseback as there are a number of trails and few cars. Visit King Island’s historic granite lighthouse, built in 1861. The Cape Wickham Lighthouse is one of the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere, standing 48 metres (157 feet) tall.
Spend an afternoon in Currie’s King Island Historical Museum learning about shipwrecks, seal hunting history and the island’s mining industry. See the remains of a 7,000-year-old forest calcified in lime-rich sand on the South Road out of Currie. On hikes around the island look for signs telling the stories of King Island’s soldier settlers.
Taste the wonderful creaminess of the cheeses from King Island Dairy at the company’s fromagerie near Currie. The double brie and soft blue cheeses are wonderful appetisers to enjoy with a glass of Tasmanian wine while you watch the sun set over the Bass Strait.
Harvesting lobster and abalone is another of the island’s industries. Enjoy freshly caught crustaceans at the restaurants and clubs around the island or bring your catch to prepare yourself at the Boathouse “restaurant with no food,” a renovated boathouse and art gallery on the shore.
Access King Island by plane from Tullamarine or Moorabbin airports in Melbourne or from Launceston or Burnie airports in Tasmania. Balmy summers and dry winters mean the island is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors year-round.
