Day 2: Friday 08th of October 2021

After breakfast, our touring takes us to the northern region of King Island. The first destination is Shag Lagoon Bird Hide to view some of King Island’s beautiful waterfowl. Head further north keeping a keen eye out for bird species such as pheasants, peacocks and turkeys which are plentiful in this area.

Enjoy morning tea at Quarantine Bay while taking in the views and interesting history of Christmas Island and New Year Island located just off the coast. Visit the mouth of Yellow Rock River, the wreck site of the Shannon to hear Captain Johnson’s unfortunate story. Then experience a Meat Your Beef tour with Tom and Anna Perry at their beef farm to discuss how they farm on King Island, followed by a special ‘Paddock to Plate’ lunch on their property.

After lunch, we continue across to 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. From here we visit Martha Lavinia Beach, a world-class beach break on King Island in the Bass Strait. The area has been voted one of 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. Continue up past Lake Flannigan and on to Disappointment Bay which is anything but a disappointment – in fact, it’s one of King Island’s most beautiful locations.

At the most northern point of King Island view the Cape Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest granite lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere which overlooks one of Australia’s top-ranking golf courses, the beautiful Cape Wickham Links Golf Course. Continue down to our accommodation through Egg Lagoon, once a massive lagoon that is now used for farming.

This evening we transfer to dinner at Wild Harvest Restaurant, one of the best on King Island and showcases the Islands fabulous produce. At dusk, we have the opportunity to view the local fairy penguin colony as they waddle out of the water to return to their burrows where they are able to keep safe from predators to nest, rest and moult.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Saturday 09th of October 2021

We start the day by travelling through some of the most productive farming lands on King Island. En-route our guide will enlighten us on all things farming, rainfall differences and effects between the north and south of the Island. Our journey takes us across to the east coast of Naracoopa where we first visit Sea Elephant River, one of the Islands largest river system and major link to the Lavinia wetlands for many of the critically endangered species such as the Orange Belly Parrot.

Then it’s onto to Blow Hole Beach wherein the correct weather conditions, a natural blowhole in the rocks provides an impressive sight and it is also from here we have the closest viewpoint of Councillor Island. The European explorers first set foot on King Island in this coastal township of Naracoopa. Our guide will provide some local history before continuing our way down the hill into Grassy Harbour to discuss King Island’s shipping and fishing fleet before our lunch stop at the King Island Boat Club harbour-side.

The King Island Boat Club is iconic to yachters of the Queenscliff to Grassy Yacht Race, first sailed in the 1970s and since has become a major fixture on the Australian Ocean Racing calendar. Onto Grassy, where we discover the scheelite mining heritage of King Island’s Dolphin Mine which operated between 1917 and 1992, its closure due to extremely low tungsten prices, rather than a lack of reserves plus hear the news of its possible future.

Discover Surprise Bay, the southernmost settlement of King Island, where our guide will provide us with the history of the first settlement of King Island. Hear the amazing history of the Bowling family, including stories of “Fizz” Bowling and his great-grandmother, Elizabeth Bowling, and three of her sons who were the first people to take up land on King Island for farming and settlement in 1889.

Visit a very rare forest with views over some of King Island’s most spectacular coastline which has had a chequered history, including the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Australia’s history. It claimed the lives of 400 people, a great many of whom were women and their children when the British barquentine “schooner” Cataraqui was wrecked in a winter storm. Move onto the Calcified Forest enjoying a leisurely 30-minute return stroll that takes us to a viewing platform to survey the intriguing, fossilised stumps of ancient rainforest trees. Those not up for the walk can relax and enjoy a cuppa from the coach.

Discover one of King Island’s most dramatic parts of the coast, Seal Rocks Lookout, which was used by Dutch and French sealer’s to spot pods of seals. Then begin our drive back up to Currie via Ettrick Bay and Millers Bay en-route visiting King Island Dairy to sample some of the delicious cheese. With a legacy spanning more than 100 years, King Island Dairy is Australia’s premier speciality cheese producer and has developed an enviable reputation as a maker of some of the world’s finest produce with a range including white, blue and cheddar cheeses. All dairy products are made exclusively at the King Island factory using locally sourced milk.

On arrival back at our accommodation there will be time for a short rest and freshen up before transferring to the View Dining Restaurant for dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Sunday 10th of October 2021

Today begins with a visit to the iconic King Island Kelp Industries where we learn about kelp harvesting, refining and what it’s used for today and why King Island is such a major player in the Kelp Industry. From here we visit British Admiral Beach and see the area where kelp is collected and find out more about the British Admiral, the iron full-rigged ship that was shipwrecked here back in 1874.

Next, it’s onto Currie Harbour to visit the King Island Culture Centre, a hot spot of local arts, community projects, resident artists, and many exhibitions.

After morning tea, visit the King Island Historical Society Museum established in a former lighthouse keeper’s cottage in 1980. All aspects of the Island’s history are represented in the displays within the museum including the original lens from Cape Wickham Lighthouse which is made from crystal. Relics from a large number of shipwrecks around the coastline of the Island are also featured.

Lunch will be at an interesting little boathouse on the shores of Currie Harbour, simply known as the Restaurant Without Food. Thankfully, today our chef Dwayne will have done all the hard work and prepared a delicious lunch for us to enjoy.

After lunch, we make our way to Pegarah Homestead Farm to spend time with retired NSW police officer Peter Gillett as he shares his interesting story of farm life after the police force. Next stop is one of King Island’s newest attractions, King Island Brewhouse. Situated in the heart of this beautiful Island, surrounded by the rolling hills, fresh air and stunning farmland, enjoy a tasting and learn a little about how the Brewhouse began its journey.

After our enjoyable visit, it’s off to Huxley Hill Wind Farm to view the advanced hybrid power station. Later it’s back to our accommodation for a short rest before heading out to dinner this evening in the Cataraqui room at The Ocean Dunes Hotel.

Tonight, we are in for a treat with a visit from Heidi who runs the newly established King Island Distillery. Heidi will introduce us to her products and offer tastings of her various spirits before dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Monday 11th of October 2021

This morning after breakfast our check out begins. Transferring to the King Island Airport where we farewell our guide. Then it’s time to board our flight back to Brisbane via Melbourne after a wonderful time away on King Island with Active Tours & Transfers. Arriving in Brisbane our Bus is waiting to take us home.

Meals Included: Breakfast