TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: *Local Farm to learn of Island’s Agricultural * Currie * Museum * Currie Lighthouse * Seal Rocks State Reserve * Grassy * Sea Elephant Bay * Fairy Penguins * Yellow Rock River * Penny’s Lagoon * Cape Wickham Lighthouse * and many more sights of this island rich in history.
Day 1 – Friday 19th
November ‘21 MELB. – KING
ISL. (D)
Today we make our way
down to the Melbourne Tullamarine airport for our flight out to King Island. On
arrival into the King Island airport you will be met by Matthew, a 5th
generation King Islander born and bred who will be your local guide for these
next four days. Before heading over to your motel for check in, we will do a
stop at a local café for some lunch. The property you will be staying at is the
Island Breeze Motel, which is modern and backs onto King Island’s
luxurious golf course with many beautiful landscapes. On arrival at the hotel
you will meet your hostess Julie which is also the manager at the hotel. This
afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the township of Currie. Taking in the
fishing harbour, King Island Cultural Centre, Currie Lighthouse and some of the
Islands shipwreck history. After the tour head over to a King Island dairy for
cheese tasting before returning back to our hotel. Dinner tonight will be
served at the property where we are lucky enough to have one of the islands
best chefs come in and cater for us.
Day 2 – Saturday 20th
KING ISLAND (B, L, D)
This morning after
breakfast we begin touring the northern region of King Island. First
destination is Shag Lagoon Bird Hide to view some of King Island’s
beautiful water fowl. From here we head further north whilst keeping a keen eye
out for bird species such as pheasants, peacocks and turkeys which are
plentiful in this area and visit King Island Kelp Craft for morning tea.
Our next stop is Quarantine Bay where we will be taking in the views and
interesting history of Christmas Island and New Year Island located just off
the coast. Following this we visit the mouth of the Yellow Rock River,
the wreck site of the Shannon to hear Captain Johnson’s unfortunate story. From
here we head to a beef farm for a tour and lunch. After lunch we visit Martha Lavinia Beach, a
world class beach break on King Island in the Bass Strait. The wave peek has
been voted the top 10 surf breaks in Australia and is frequented by pro surfers
when in the region for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Classic. We continue across
Penny’s Lagoon, a rare perched lake found in only three locations in the
world. Its freshwater is held by compacted sand and organic matter and is a
favourite swimming spot for locals and visitors following this we travel to Cape
Wickham, the most northern point of King Island. We view the Cape Wickham
Links Golf Course, one of Australia’s top-ranking golf courses. We continue up
past Lake Flannigan and onto Disappointment Bay which is anything but a
disappointment- in fact its one of King Islands most beautiful locations. Our
last location for the day is Egg Lagoon which was once a large lagoon on
the Island but has since dried up and is used for agriculture. From here we return
to Island Breeze motel for a freshen up. Tonight, you are in for a real treat
as we dine at the Wild Harvest Restaurant. The restaurant is one of the
best on King Island and showcases the Islands best produce. Concluding dinner,
you will get to go out and view a local penguin colony. On dusk the
penguins waddle out of the water to go to their burrows for a safe night’s
rest.
Day 3 – Sunday 21st
KING ISLAND (B,
L, D)
After breakfast this
morning we make our way down to King Island Kelp Industries where we
learn about its harvesting, its refining and what it is used for and why King
Island is the major player in kelp. Next stop is the restaurant for morning tea
before we head to the east coast settle of Naracoopa. We learn more about the area in Naracoopa, as
well as the early history including the controversial jetty built in 1915/16.
After taking in the stunning views we travel south through some of the most
productive farming land on King Island. En-route our guide Matthew will
enlighten us on all things farming, rain fall differences and effects between
the north and south of the Island and soldier’s settlement. On arrival into Grassy
we discover the scheelite mining heritage of King Islands Dolphin Mine which
operated between 1917 and 1992. Learn about its closure due to extremely low
tungsten prices, rather than a lack of reserves plus hear the news of its
possible future. From here we make our way down the hill into the deep-water
port of Grassy to discuss King Islands shipping and fishing fleet before
enjoying lunch at the King Island Boat Club harbour-side. The King
Island Boat Club is iconic to yachters of the Queenscliff to Grassy Yacht Rave,
first sailed in the 1970’s and since then has become major fixture on the
Australian Ocean Racing Calendar. After Lunch we discover Surprise Bay, the
southernmost settlement on King Island. I hope you packed your camera we are
going to visit a very rare forest with views over some of King Islands most
spectacular coastline which has had a chequered history, including the worst
peacetime maritime disaster in Australia’s history. If you enjoy short walk you
have the option of going for a leisurely stroll through the Calcified Forest
other wise you can sit back on the Coach with a cuppa. Our next stop takes us
to one of King Island’s most dramatic parts of the coast, Seal Rocks Lookout,
which was used by Dutch and French Sailor’s to spot pods of seals. We then begin our drive back up to Currie via
Ettrick Bay and Millers Bay and the Hybrid Power Station before returning
to our motel. This evening we head to View Dinning for tea set in a lovely
location with fantastic local produce.
Day 5 - Monday 22nd KING ISLAND (B)
Sadly, today concludes
our time on King Island. After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for
our flight back to Melbourne. On arrival into Melbourne you will transferred
back to your original locations after a memorable trip to King Island.
PRICE $2096 per person, based on Twin Share
Single Supplement $360
Balance due 1st October '21