King Island

Day 1 – Friday 19^th 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 5^th 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 20^th           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 21^st     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 22^nd     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