Beaches, Lagoons
There are too many to list, but there are a few with adequate access. Some access is through private land, so please leave all gates as you find them. While having fun at our beaches and Lagoons, please remember to be careful, as we have no lifesavers. We strongly advise you consult the locals on tides, rips and general safety.

Surfing
Being an island the wind is off shore somewhere every day.  Grab yourself a map of King Island.  Before you arrive check out the 7 day forecast on bouy weather.com, this will give you swell direction and size, wind direction and strength. 

The most popular surfing spots are Martha Lavinia, off shore on a south westerly.  Best on low tide with anything over a two metre swell.  This surf break has been voted by Surfing Life as one of the top 10 waves in the world, close to a regional city and has been in more magazines than Pamela Anderson.

Phoques Bay on the north west coast, off shore in any wind with east in it. Best at low to mid tide.  Any swell over 1.5m a perfect wave from the beginner to the hell man!

Red Hut Point, south of the Island.  Off shore in a northerly.  A beautiful place to catch a salmon and some waves.  Works best when the swell is all but flat.

Porky Beach, behind the Cheese Factory, just north of Currie.  Off shore, any wind with east in it. Will break in the smallest of swell up to 2m.

Martha Lavinia & Penny’s Lagoons
These are fresh water lagoons and can be reached by following a well formed dirt track off Haines Road. Penny’s Lagoon is the local favourite for swimming. Penny’s Lagoon has a sandy bottom and is safe for children, but remember supervision is a must. Maintained BBQ facilities and toilets are at this site.

Beachcombing
King Island is a shell collectors paradise, with up to 144 species identified at Martha Lavinia beach alone. Occasionally, the prized Nautilus shells wash up onto Martha and around Naracoopa (east coast) during autumn. Flotsam washes up onto the beaches periodically around the island, mainly on the western shores. Look for drift cards used by researchers to track currents.

King Island Field Naturalists
The local field naturalists club welcomes visitors to their monthly excursions. Look for club notices posted around Currie or phone Graeme Batey on 6462 1698/Robyn Eades on 6461 1140. Recording birds, animals, plants, rocks, historical sites, beach and sea life. Participating in Bird Atlas Surveys - looking for lost or suspected extinct plants.

Bird Observing
For bird lovers we have over 78 species to watch out for. These range from little penguins and shearwaters (muttonbirds) to turkeys, peacocks and many small native birds such as superb blue wrens. On the beaches, keep an eye out for species that nest in the sand through spring and summer, and for storm cast wanderers who may be banded. Sea Elephant River is our only tidal river and is a haven for water birds.

Bushwalking
As for bird observers, the nature reserves are a delight; you can walk through Lavinia State Reserve and Pegarah State Forest.

Calcified Forest
These remains are up to 7000 years old and are all that remain of an ancient forest, revealed when the lime-laden sand, which had covered and preserved the stumps has been exposed over the years from the constant Roaring Forties storms from the Southern Ocean. The Calcified Forest can be accessed from off South Road.

Sealers Wall
Drive along South road approx a kilometre or so south of Surprise Bay, a dry stone wall connects two rocky outcrops. It is believed to have been built by the sealers in the 19th century to corner their prey. South of Surprise Bay, a beach gravel track requiring steady driving leads to Stokes Point, the most southern tip of the island.

Seal Rocks
Has a magnificent ocean outlook across the cliffs which are breathtaking. Alas there are no seals here anymore as the sealers wiped them out in the early 19th century, but there are colonies of little penguins and shearwaters (mutton birds) with also a diverse range of bird and animal life to be seen as you drive to the rocks. Walking tracks traverse the length of the Seal Rocks area; these trails were established through funding and labour as a Green Corp Project with support from Coast Care and the local Council.

Diving
With over 200km of coast and more than 60 known shipwrecks, there is much to discover and explore. Crayfish and abalone recreational licences are required and can be obtained at Service Tasmania, police station and post office.

Fishing
Sweep is the favoured catch off the rocky western shores. Sandy beaches such as Phoques Bay and Martha Lavinia are good surf fishing spots and the catches range from Australian salmon, gummy, school shark and mullet (preferably at night). Fishermen seldom leave the Currie and Grassy wharves empty handed, usually barracouta and squid can be caught. For detailed advice ask a local.

Brown trout are stocked in three of the island’s lakes, all are in the north end of the island, i.e. Penny’s Lagoon, Cask Lake and Lake Wickham. The latter two are on private property, but access is available, just observe the gates etc. Licences available Service Tasmania, George Street, Currie. Graball net and mullet net licenses are also available.

Golf
Currie has a 9-hole links course overlooking the sea. To test your golfing skills, hit across the bay to the fourth green, many have failed the challenge as was discovered by the amount of balls washed ashore. The club also offers a competition standard bowling green and squash courts and extends a warm welcome to visitors.

Horse Racing Carnival
King Island has one of the loveliest natural courses in Australia; they have approx 6 race meetings each summer, with a mixed card of galloping and pacing.

Kelp
Bull kelp has washed ashore on King Island since the dawn of time. It is among the richest of alginates in the world. Visitors can observe kelp operations at kelp factory from the roadway, but must not walk amongst the racks of kelp as they weigh hundreds of kilos and from time to time fall without warning.

Ask a kelper for information on how and what they do, most will welcome your enquiry as you discover them working along the coastline or at the factory unloading at the racks.

Penguins
Little penguins are among the smallest of species with the adults standing about 40cm and weighing 1kg. Penguins are territorial, they feed at sea by day diving up to 10 - 30m for small fish, squid and krill then return to their colonies after dark where their chicks wait patiently.

Usually two eggs are laid in burrows 60-80cm deep, in rock clefts or under tussocks. Both parents share the incubation and feeding of the chicks. As penguins emerge from the water, they stand and call to each other, gaining courage before returning. You can view this amazing nightly ritual at Grassy Harbour independently or by coach tours. Once you arrive at sunset, please adhere to the following:-

• Read the information cairn at the viewing area.
• Be quiet and do not smoke. Strange smell and sounds frighten the birds.
• Do not stand between the approaching birds and their burrows.
• Bring a torch by all means, but don’t blind the penguins with bright lights (red cellophane paper over the torch cuts down the glare of the torch)
• Don’t try to handle the penguins.

Wind Farm
Tasmania's first major commercial wind farm. King Island's Huxley Hill site was selected because of its exposure to the prevailing westerly winds of the Roaring Forties and proximity to the existing diesel power station. The average wind speed in the area of the wind farm is 33 kilometres per hour, providing excellent conditions for wind generation.

Developed in an environmentally sensitive way, the farm has quiet turbines, clean visually pleasing tubular towers, underground electrical services, and an extensive buffer zone around the site. The Huxley Hill Wind Farm provides King Island with a cost effective, reliable and clean renewable energy source to complement the island's lifestyle and quality produce.