King Island accommodation from AU$648

Officially a part of Tasmania, King Island is right in the middle of the Bass Strait, making it an ideal getaway both for Victorians and Apple Isle locals. The population is between 1500 and 2000 people, and about 57 shipwrecks can be found beneath its waters. If there’s one thing the island is known for, it’s cheese. With pastures found on the windy hillsides, King Island Dairy makes cheeses named after local attractions, such as Bass Strait Blue and Stokes Point Smoked Cheddar.

Sometimes, King Island can make you feel like you’ve washed up on some faraway shore. Stretches of beach have views of rolling green hills and sharp cliffs. But it’s not all seclusion. Martha Lavinia Beach has breaks to satisfy even the most experienced surfer, although a wetsuit is recommended if you plan to brave the chilly Tasmanian waters.

Ready to do some bushwalking? Lavinia Nature Reserve is 68km2 of beach, heath and swamp, providing habitats for a number of bird species like the endangered orange-bellied parrot. For a more haunting natural experience, pay a visit to the Calcified Forest. You’ll see the ghostly remains of 7000-year-old trees which have been exposed by sandstorms. If you aren’t quite comfortable venturing out into the wild by yourself, King Island also has guided tours where you can explore the island by bus. But you don’t have to go bush to meet some of the local animals. You may even spot wallabies, echidnas and fairy penguins while you’re just walking down the street.

King Island has three main townships. Currie is the main place to go for supplies, with two supermarkets and The King Island Hotel, a bar, restaurant and bottle shop all in one. You can also drop into King Island Arts and Cultural Centre, which has exhibitions and stories of King Island in every room. The Currie Lighthouse is worth a visit too, especially if you take a guided tour up the spiralling staircase. Naracoopa has quaint holiday shacks and rocky shores, where a charmingly ramshackle jetty offers a place to cast a line from. Grassy is a tiny former mining township which now has attractive little art galleries like the Portside Links Gallery. When you feel like dining out, King Island has options ranging from delicious fresh seafood to cakes and pies and, of course, plenty of cheese.

There are no ferries to King Island, so you’ll have to fly there. Luckily, several airlines offer flights, including King Island Airlines and Regional Expression Airlines. Save on your King Island trip by booking your King Island accommodation with us today!