Coastal Communities & Cool Climate Plants of Flinders Island & King Island

Depart Melbourne’s Essendon Airport this morning aboard our 19-seater aircraft. Arrive in Whitemark along Flinders Island’s western coast. From here, we head straight to the Interstate Hotel for lunch, while your bags are transferred to the Furneaux Tavern. After lunch, you will have time to explore Whitemark, including its charming Rose Garden, local galleries, and the picturesque waterfront. Later this afternoon, we travel to Unavale Vineyard for a walk among its vines and a wine tasting. We then check into the Furneaux Tavern and enjoy dinner here this evening.

Begin today with a visit to Castle Rock. A short coastal walk takes us past an abundance of flowering coastal plants and we admire the area’s striking orange, lichen-covered rocks. Coastal heathland plants, like coastal wattle and tea tree, thrive in this environment, while endemic flora, such as Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), can also be seen here. We then discover the shores of North East River, a large tidal inlet supporting an abundance of birdlife. From here, we adjourn to Palana, the site of a WWII radar installation, where many escaped garden plants can also be spotted. Following a picnic lunch on Killiecrankie Beach, and subject to availability, we will then view Margaret Wheatley's collection of Killiecrankie Diamonds, also known as Tasmanian Topaz. Our day concludes with visits to the Wybalenna Historic Site and the Furneaux Museum before we return to the Furneaux Tavern.

Explore Mt Strzelecki National Park and the beaches of Trousers Point. Known for its Tasmanian blue gum forests and coastal heathlands, the park is also home to beautiful rock orchids and a natural water slide. After morning tea, we visit Kate, the island’s local wombat rescuer, and meet some of the wombats she regularly rehabilitates. Enjoy lunch at Yellow Beach, in the town of Lady Barron. This afternoon, head to Avondale farm for a tour and talk, followed by afternoon tea in the farm’s garden. Return to Furneaux Tavern for our final dinner on Flinders Island.

Our day begins with an early departure from the hotel to Flinders Island Airport. After a brief flight, we arrive in Launceston. A westerly drive sees us arriving in the small community of Nietta, where we visit the private Kaydale Lodge Gardens. Its vibrant grounds are lovingly maintained by two dedicated sisters and showcase an extensive rockery, pear walk, wisteria arbour, and elaborate stone walls around the property. The owners also pickle, bottle and preserve their own homegrown produce. During spring, the garden is alive with Fritillaries, Erythroniums, Trilliums, tulips and daffodils. Enjoy lunch in the garden before continuing to Smithton.

Our day begins with a visit to the stunning Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden. The garden boasts a breathtaking series of terraces adorned with lakes, bridges and pavilions, and showcasing its colourful array of Rhododendrons. Themed sections of the garden also highlight Japanese, Chinese, and North American gardens, all with an impressive array of cool climate plants. The area's cool summers, along with minimal frost, have resulted in 900 species of Rhododendron thriving here. After exploring the garden, head to the Table Cape Tulip Farm. Sitting atop the cape that shares its name, with sweeping views of Bass Strait, the farm is renowned for its vibrant tulip fields, which burst into a kaleidoscope of colours during October. Further coastal views are available during a visit to the nearby Table Cape Lighthouse. Return to Tall Timbers, where we enjoy dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.

We head to Burnie Airport this morning for our flight to King Island. Upon arrival, we enjoy lunch, before setting off on a local art and history tour. Beginning in the township of Currie, we stop in at the King Island Cultural Centre, Kelp Industries, Currie Lighthouse, and the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum. King Island's striking flora and fauna will also be on show throughout the day. The native vegetation here includes coastal heathlands, wetlands, and forested areas. After the tour, we check into Great Southern King Island, our hotel for the next three nights. Relax before heading to the renowned Wild Harvest for a five-course degustation dinner.

Embark on a full-day adventure, exploring the rugged beauty of the south-west coast in an off-road 4x4 vehicle. Visit the site of Australia’s worst peacetime maritime disaster, the wreck of the Cataraque, which resulted in the deaths of 400 people. Then travel over the dunes of the Bowling property, a seventh-generation farm, where we gain exclusive access. Enjoy morning tea in a spectacular location before heading towards Surprise Bay. Indulge in a gourmet lunch, showcasing the best of King Island’s produce, crayfish and salad. Discover the island’s unique 7,000-year-old calcified forest, where the ancient coastal vegetation has transformed into a series of curiously shaped limestone formations. Take in the breathtaking views from nearby Seal Rocks before the day concludes with dinner at our accommodation.

Enjoy morning tea in the small community of Reekara and visit King Island Kelp Craft, admiring the work of local artists. Visit Quarantine Bay to learn the fascinating history behind King Island's name. Continue to the remote setting of Egg Lagoon. Here we find Martha Lavinia Beach and Penny’s Lagoon, one of only three suspended lakes in the world. At the island’s northern tip, we arrive at the impressive Cape Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch nearby. We then visit a local private garden to learn what it is like to garden in such a remote and harsh climate. We conclude our day with a visit to King Island Dairy for a tasting of its award-winning cheeses, while also receiving a free gift voucher to use in the store**. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner this evening.

We transfer to King Island Airport this morning to board our flight back to Melbourne, arriving at Essendon Airport. Our tour concludes with a drop off at Melbourne Airport at approximately 11:30am or a drop off to the Melbourne Marriott Hotel at approximately 12:30pm.