King Island sits in the wild waters of Bass Strait, roughly equidistant between Tasmania and Victoria. This small, wind-swept island has earned an outsized reputation for its extraordinary food - King Island Dairy cheese and King Island beef are known across Australia and exported worldwide. But beyond the food, King Island offers rugged coastal beauty, a fascinating shipwreck history, world-class golf, and a genuine sense of splendid isolation. With a population of about 1,600 and a pace of life that makes rural Tasmania seem hectic, King Island is one of Australia's most distinctive destinations.
Getting There
King Island has a small airport at Currie (the island's main town) with daily flights from Melbourne (Tullamarine and Moorabbin) and Burnie/Wynyard in northwest Tasmania. Sharp Airlines and King Island Airlines operate small turboprop aircraft. Flight time from Melbourne is about 50 minutes. There is no ferry service. Once on the island, a rental car is essential - the island is about 64km long and 26km wide, with limited services and no public transport.
King Island Dairy
King Island Dairy is the island's most famous product - a producer of premium cheese that has won countless national and international awards. The factory and shop at Loorana are open daily for cheese tastings and sales. The range includes the famous Roaring Forties Blue (named after the powerful winds that cross the island), Stokes Point Smoked Cheddar, and a range of brie and camembert.
Free tastings are generous and the staff are knowledgeable. Stock up - you will eat well on King Island.
King Island Beef
King Island beef is considered some of the best in Australia, raised on lush pastures fed by clean Bass Strait rainfall. The cattle graze on grass and clover year-round, producing exceptionally tender, flavoursome beef. King Island beef is served in top restaurants across Australia and exported internationally.
Cape Wickham Lighthouse
Cape Wickham lighthouse stands at the northern tip of King Island - the tallest lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere at 48 metres. Built in 1861 in response to the horrific number of shipwrecks on the island's reefs, the lighthouse is a dramatic sight against the wild coastline. The Cape Wickham Links golf course, carved into the dunes beside the lighthouse, is rated among the best courses in Australia.
Shipwreck Heritage
King Island's treacherous reefs and wild seas have claimed over 60 ships, making it one of the worst shipwreck coasts in Australia. The King Island Historical Museum in Currie tells the stories of these wrecks, including:
- The Cataraqui (1845): Australia's worst civilian maritime disaster. 399 of 409 passengers and crew were lost when the immigrant ship struck reef on the island's west coast.
- The Neva (1835): An immigrant ship wrecked off the north coast with the loss of 225 lives.
- Various wreck sites are visible at low tide around the island's coast.
Beaches & Nature
- British Admiral Beach: On the west coast, a vast wild beach with powerful surf and dramatic rock formations.
- Naracoopa: The island's east-coast settlement, with a beautiful sheltered beach, rockpool swimming, and a stunning stand of calcified forest - ancient root systems turned to stone.
- Lavinia Nature Reserve: The island's northern tip, home to the largest colony of fairy terns in Australia and diverse shorebirds. Also home to the endemic King Island brown thornbill.
- Seal Rocks: A state reserve on the west coast with a large Australian fur seal colony, viewable from cliff-top platforms.
Golf
King Island has two world-class golf courses:
- Cape Wickham Links: Rated among Australia's top courses, set in spectacular coastal dunes beside the lighthouse. Green fees from $195.
- Ocean Dunes Golf Course: Another outstanding links course on the west coast. Green fees from $120.
Where to Eat
- King Island Dairy (Loorana): Cheese tastings and retail. Essential.
- Wild Harvest: One of the island's best restaurants, showcasing King Island produce - beef, cheese, crayfish, and fresh seafood. Mains $32-48.
- King Island Bakehouse: Excellent pies, pastries, and bread. The King Island beef pie is outstanding.
- Currie Golf Club: Surprisingly good bistro meals and a welcoming clubhouse.
- Boomerang by the Sea: Cafe with ocean views at Naracoopa. Simple but fresh. Mains $18-30.
Where to Stay
- Budget: Bass Caravan Park (basic cabins and camping at Currie), King Island Holiday Village.
- Mid-Range: Baudins Accommodation (modern self-contained units in Currie. From $160), Naracoopa Holiday Units (beachfront at Naracoopa).
- Luxury: King Island Retreat (luxury eco-lodge in a private bush setting), Cape Wickham Golf Club accommodation (lodge accommodation with course access).
Practical Tips
- Flights: Book flights well in advance, especially in peak season. Flights are on small aircraft and limited in frequency. - Weather: King Island is exposed to Bass Strait weather. Wind is a constant feature, and weather can change rapidly. Average summer temperatures are 14-20°C; winter 6-13°C. Bring warm, windproof layers even in summer. - Supplies: The island has a small supermarket and limited shops in Currie. Bring anything specific you might need. - Time: King Island rewards slow travel. Allow at least 2-3 days to explore properly. The island operates at its own pace - embrace it. - Crayfish: King Island crayfish is outstanding. Ask at local restaurants and fish shops about availability - it's seasonal and can sell out.
AUBIS Tip
: King Island is a food lover's paradise and one of Australia's most unique island destinations. Use AUBIS to plan a 3-day escape - schedule cheese tastings at the Dairy, dinner at Wild Harvest with King Island beef, a round of golf at Cape Wickham, and a shipwreck history tour. The platform will help you coordinate flights and make the most of this small but extraordinarily rich island.