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King Island has two Nature Reserves comprising 7,200 hectares and Riparian Reserves on some of the streams and larger lagoons.
The Lavinia State Reserve, to the north east of the Island is the largest reserve and covers an area of some 6400 hectares. Within this reserve is "Pennys Lagoon", which is a rare suspended fresh water lake formation and Lake Martha Lavinia. The Lavinia State Reserve has two outstanding ocean beaches, Lavinia Beach and Nine Mile Beach. Lavinia Beach has safe vehicular access with a highly recommended surfing beach at Lavinia Point.
Seal Rocks State Reserve in the southwest covers an area of approximately 800 hectares and contains the Island’s ancient Calcified Forest and spectacular cliffs at Seal Rocks. Safe walking tracks traverse the length of all coastal reserves.
Hire a car, pack a picnic and see the natural beauty of King Island in your own time or fish off the many beaches. You can purchase hand reels and tackle at The Trend or TG & DJ Perry's in Currie.
Take a tour with local tour operators, who will take you by coach and offer insights into the fauna and flora of the Island. Tours can be tailor-made depending on you interests. Fishing and diving tours can be arranged. Click on the links above to find out more.
For off-road exploring take a walk along the beautiful beaches or on marked walking tracks.
Visitors to King Island are likely to encounter the following native animals:-
- Bennetts wallaby
- Rufous wallaby, or Tasmanian Pademelon
- Echidna
- Brushtail Possum
These animals are commonly spotted on roadsides, especially at dusk or evenings. Platypus are shy creatures but can be seen at dusk in many dams and streams. Other animals that can be seen, but not as easy to encounter, include:-
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Southern potoroo
- Swamp Antechinus
- Ringtail Possum
- Eastern Pygmy Possum.
Reptiles common to King Island are:-
- Lemon-bellied tiger snake
- Copperhead snake
- White-lipped grass snake
- Common blue tongued lizard and skinks.
Freshwater fish, galaxia and pygmy perch and amphibians, green and gold bell frog, Eastern Banjo frog, striped marsh frog (unique to King Island and northwest Tasmania) and others are found in lakes, streams and farm dams.
Marine animals that sometimes visit King Island’s shores include:
- Australian fur seal
- Southern elephant seal
- Leopard seal
- Southern right whale
- Dolphin.
Sea fishermen and divers, both amateur and professional catch:
- Abalone
- Crayfish
- King crab
- Sweep
- Australian salmon
- Flathead
- Mullet
- Trumpeter
- Gummy shark
- Port Jackson sharks
- Wobbegongs
A wide range of raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds and waders are seen on King Island. Of the approximately 13 bird species confined to Tasmania, 10 are found on King Island. Favourites that may be spotted are the little penguins, short tailed shearwater (commonly known as muttonbirds), ruddy turnstone, the rare orange-bellied parrot,  superb fairy wren, yellow wattle bird, dusky robin and flame robin.
The colourful orange-bellied parrot is of particular interest. On the brink of extinction, the parrot has been ranked as one of the rarest and most endangered species in the world. Its breeding area is confined to southwest Tasmania. Only 100-200 individuals still exist. After the breeding season, migrating birds move up the west coast, partricularly King Island, and on to the mainland. At certain times of year they can be spotted feeding on the coastal glasswort plains of the Elephant area.
Black swans, ducks and other waterfowl are common to the Island. East coast beaches in particular are wonderful places to search for shells. The prized Nautilus is  occasionally found.
The rising sea level after the end of the last Ice Age covered the lower parts of the land bridge, which connected Tasmania and mainland Australia about 10,000 years ago. There are also aboriginal midden sites from this period, mostly on the west coast.
Extinct native animals, whose bones have been found on King Island include Diprotodon, Giant Kangaroo, Emu, King Island wombat and Eastern Quoll.
Notable amongst the introduced species are:
- Turkey and Peafowl, feral populations which wander at will over farmland
- Pheasants
- Brown trout have been introduced to Pennys Lagoon, Cask Lake and Lake Wickham - short term licences available
King Island’s native vegetation has been greatly modified since European settlement by a significant increase in fire events and the introduction of vegetation clearing.  Agriculture in the form of dairying, beef and sheep is King Island's major industry. Introduced and native pasture species, cover the majority of the island.
Native vegetation on the island now represents a relic of the magnificent forests of the past.
In the north were once swamp forests of blackwood, paperbark and tea tree. Visit The Nook Swamps and Saltwater Creek in the Lavinia State Reserve to see an example. In the south were once huge eucalypt and rainforests with giant trees and very dense  undergrowth. Relics of these past forests can be found in places such as Grassy River, Yarra Creek, Pegarah State forest and on the Seal River.
The native coast country consisted of varied scrub and heath type vegetation applicable to the climatic and topographical areas. Some of the coastal vegetation remains in good condition but is fragmented.
Visit Lavinia State Reserve for examples of sedge-land and wet and dry heath. Various orchids, heath and flowering tea-tree can be sighted. These flora species flower prolifically in the spring.
Rocky coastal communities can be found in New Year Island Nature Reserve and Seal Rocks State Reserve. Salt tolerant herb lands on the foreshore give way to wind pruned low heaths. Sandy coast and dunes occur both on the west and east coasts, with tussock grassland the most widespread species with heath, shrub and woodland on sheltered sites. | 
