|
Vital statistics
King Island lies at the western entrance to Bass Strait, midway
between Victoria and mainland Tasmania, approximately 100km from
both coasts. The population, according to the sign near the airport,
is “about 2000”.
Currie gets an average of 918mm of rain a year
(less than Sydney, which receives 1223mm). But in Currie it rains
more often - 214 rain days per year compared to Sydney’s 138. It’s
wettest in winter.
Temperatures are mild, with summer maximums
averaging 18-23C and winter maximums 11-15C. Overnight minimums are
usually milder than elsewhere in Tasmania.
Getting
there
From Melbourne, Regional Express flies once a day from Tullamarine
and King Island Airlines flies three times a day from Moorabbin (the
midday flight is technically a freight run). From Tasmania, Tasair
has two flights a day out of Devonport (and an extra one on
Saturdays). If you want to take your own car, Patrick Shipping
operates the Mersey Searoad from Port Melbourne. It calls at King
Island weekly, but doesn’t carry passengers, so you have to fly
separately. The airport is 8km from Currie.
Regional Express 13 1713
www.regionalexpress.com.au
King Island Airlines 03 6462 1000
www.kingislandair.com.au
Tasair 1800 062 900 www.tasair.com.au
Patrick Shipping 03 9207 8900
Getting around
There is no public transport on King Island, so you’ll probably want
to have a rental car waiting for you at the airport. When you leave,
the usual requirement to fill the tank has special challenges as
there are no 24-hour petrol stations and only one is open on Sunday
(at The Trend in Currie).
Cheapa Island Car Rentals 03 6462 1603, kimotors@kingisland.net.au
King Island Car Rental 03 6462 1282 kicars@bigpond.com
Taxi 03 6462 1138
Back to top
Where to stay
There are only an estimated 400 tourist beds on the island. Some cottages and
villas claim 4 ˝ star status and the rest range from 3 ˝ star to
frankly funky. Seek out ocean views. Boomerang's location is lovely, Parer’s Hotel has comfortable
rooms (but, if you want a good night’s sleep, ask to be located at
the opposite end from the bar). For more information see
www.kingisland.net.au
Currie
Boomerang by the Sea 3 ˝ star motel 1800 221 288 john@bythesea.com.au
Devils Gap/Waterwitch Ocean view cottages 03 6462 1180 mb: 0249 621
180
Gullhaven 4BR holiday home 03 6462 1560
Green Ponds Guest House 1800 359 993
King Island Gem Motel units, cottages 1800 647 702
ann@kingislandgem.com.au
Cabins & caravan park
Parer’s Hotel Meals, TAB, Pokeis 03 6462 1633
Shannon Cottages 4 ˝ star s/c cottages 03 6462 1370
Wavewatcher S/c apartments 03 6462 1517
Grassy
King Island Holiday Village 4 star s/c villas 1800 359 993 kiholiday@kingisland.net.au
Naracoopa
Baudins S/C cottages/units 03 6461 1110
Where to eat
It’s not a fine dining kind of place, but there are a number of
spots to sample the local specialties. Most locals recommended, and we agreed
that the
Bold Head Brasserie at the unprepossessing-looking Grassy Club was
the pick of the bunch. Others worth a try are Baudins at Naracoopa
and Boomerang by the Sea, which has a breathtaking view over Currie
Harbour and the wild Southern Ocean. The King Island Club and
Parer’s Hotel also do meals. Harbour Road has a good breakfast and,
some claim, the best coffee in town. For a quick snack, grab a
crayfish pie from King Island Bakery.
Baudins 03 6461 1110
Bold Head Brasserie, Grassy Club 03 6461 1341
Boomerang by the Sea 03 6462 1288
Harbour Road Café 03 6462 1807
Hoopers Restaurant, King Island Club 03 6462 1124
King Island Club Bistro 03 6462 1124
Parer’s Hotel 03 6462 1633
Back to top
What to do
In summer, hit the beach. Fishing, surfing, diving, walking,
horse-riding, golf – there are lots of outdoor things to do. Visit
the museum or follow the shipwreck trail for a historical
perspective on the island. Take a penguin tour to the Grassy
breakwater at dusk. When it comes to nightlife …eerrrm …there isn’t
much. You can play the pokies at one of the licensed clubs or at the
pub. Or hire a DVD. There is, however, a healthy community arts
scene, so see the local paper for details of performances and movies
at the Town Hall.
King Island Golf & Bowling Club Golf, bowls, squash, TAB 03 6462
1126
King Island Dive Charters Wrecks, marine life dives 1800 030 330
King Island Coach Tours Full day, half day & penguin tours 1800 647
702
Southern Scuba Dive courses, group trips 03 6461 1011 Mb 0418 340
657
King Island Museum Open 2-4pm, closed July, August 03 6462 1512
Fishing Information TG & DJ Perry 03 6462 1182
Tourist Information Book tours, car hire etc. 1800 645 014
|
Island
welcome
 When
we arrived back on the island for our second visit, Caroline
Kininmonth invited us to a barbecue at the Boathouse. She’d
also invited all the people who she thought we would be
interested in talking to. It was a warm (for King Island)
autumn night, with a moon shining on the harbour. Of the
people who could come on short notice, there were John and
Erica Stokes -- local doctors who were leaving the island
soon, (John followed the tradition of previous Island doctor
Richard Newton and takes great pictures some we included in
the issue.) The other guests you’ll know from this issue, Ueli Berger, Kevin and Sharon Coates, Rod Graham, Roger
Clemens and Dennis Klumpp (who had to leave early because he
had a role in the local musical theatre group production).
Caroline had made salads and we cooked Bill Russell’s
sausages. I’d bought some of our local Clonakilla
wines and we talked the night away until Jackie Cooper got
bitten by too many mosquitos.
It was an Island welcome for two strangers that they didn’t
have to trust with their stories, but over the following
weeks, they did just that. I hope you feel some of that
warmth in this King Island issue. FH.
|
Major events
The King Island Imperial, a footrace across the island, is one of
the biggest events, with quite a lot of money changing hands on the
outcome. But the warm-up event for this annual handicap race sounds
even more colourful. The 'Free Willies Dash for Cash' along British
Admiral Beach, 5 mins from the centre of Currie, is run, as the name
would suggest, nude. .
King Island Horse-Racing Carnival December-January
King Island Show - First Tuesday in March
King Island Imperial 20 March Third weekend in March
Queenscliff to Grassy Yacht Race March
Muttonbird Season 2 weeks in April
Pheasant Season June
King Island Open Golf Tournament November
King Island School Market Day December
Back to top
Where to shop
Mainly, you’ll want to shop for food, whether it’s for immediate
consumption or to take home. For the latter purpose, both the Currie
supermarkets do a good trade in small insulated containers that you
can carry on board the plane. You’ll also some find some intriguing
galleries selling paintings, pottery and local oddments. The unique
kelp craft shop in Grassy is…well…unique. Supermarkets in Currie are
open 8am to 6pm every day and there’s a Westpac ATM located in
Currie.
Food
Grassy Harbour Gourmet Meats Wallaby salami, prosciutto, hams 03
6461 1356
King Island Bakery Pies, cakes and Christmas puddings 03 6462 1337
King Island Cloud Juice From supermarkets and food outlets
King Island Dairy Cheeses and yoghurt to die for 03 6462 1348
King Island Oysters Sea Elephant River oysters 03 6462 1774
from
King Island Seafoods Fresh crayfish 03 6462 1774
Russell’s King Island Butchery Closed on Saturday's and race days! 03 6462 1435
Art, craft and souvenirs
Fool on the Hill
Studio & gallery 03 6462 1182
King Island Naturals Garments from local wool 03 6462 1451
The Pepperpot Treasure trove of objets & art 03 6462 1180
The Trend Also tourist info, fishing gear, bike hire 03 6462 1360
Back to top
Travellers Notes
Forewarned is forearmed
If you’re going for the weekend, a visit to the famous King Island
Dairy ‘Fromagerie’ needs planning. It’s open
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4.30pm,
but closed all day Saturday – so plan to arrive on Friday afternoon
or take a late flight out on Sunday which means King Island Air, REX
is a lunchtime in and out to Melbourne.
The mobile phone service on King Island is Telstra CDMA
so you'll need to bring a suitable phone, or hire one at the Post
Office. They also sell pre-paid kits cheaply. The phone service is
'patchy' and the locals seem to favour those phones with tiny
antenna's if they're heading out of town.
Don’t forget to pack…
an umbrella, a windproof jacket and a book. King Island has no
bookstore. (Although you can chase for some second hand and some
titles at the newsagents.)
And leave behind…
plants and honey. Tasmania (and that includes King Island) has
quarantine regulations that prohibit the import of fresh fruit and
vegetables, honey, plants or plant parts, cut flowers or anything
carrying soil. So leave your pet pot plant at home, OK?
Errors and Omissions from the print issue
We should have mentioned that your mobile won't work, that will be
changing as Telstra phase out CDMA (see
Forewarned above)
 |
 |
This is a Big Omission. We had a
mention of Jean Edgecombe's book ready for the last page and
then we had to fit the Subscription competition details in
so we had to drop it. We tried to squeeze it into Harvest,
and the contents page but no luck. |
We would have said ..To get to the back page and
not mention Jean Edgecombe’s Discovering King Island -Western
Bass Strait book
(one of her series about islands) is remiss. This book is the best
single source of Island history and information for visitors. Don't
bet on it being absolutely current in some places, but it's a good
overview. You’ll find it for sale ($24.95) in lots of places on the
island. Jean’s books are a great contribution to Australia travel
guides. That's a picture of Jean in the Grassy Kelp Craft shop, who
also sell the book.
The
Orange Bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster
 And
Beaded Glasswort, the primary food of that rare parrot. It grows in lots of
places on the rocky shores. The translucent red fruit do look like beads. You
can make jam from it we're told.
Updated 3/09/06 Additions/suggestions welcomed. |
