Getting to Flinders Island
Your island experience
When asked what is the number one activity for a visit to Flinders Island … “It is the whole experience of being on Flinders Island. It is a remote location but it is only a short flight from Launceston or Melbourne. You don’t get the same feeling of remoteness by going to Coles Bay or the Bay of Fires which have a similar look but not feel. It is also a different sense of remoteness to going, for example, to the SW wilderness. It is not an either you are in a remote wilderness or you are in a busy city. It has connection and isolation and all of this can happen in a day and multiple times during your stay. You can go shopping in Whitemark during the day, and then at night up at Killiecrankie it can be pitch dark with only the sound of the ocean, no street lights and the stariest of Milky Ways. It is perhaps a collection of all the things that you might experience on Flinders Island that makes a visit so rewarding.”
When to come
Most holidaying visitors come to Flinders Island in the 6 months from December to May. The days are longer, the temperatures are higher and the water is warmer. For all those reasons it is a great time to come.
However Flinders Island in general, and Killiecrankie in particular, enjoys a much milder winter climate than either it's big sibling to the south or it's Victorian cousin to the north.
And Nautilus is perfectly aspected and designed to take full advantage of the micro climate offered by Killiecrankie Bay. It faces due north with windows across it's whole northerly face capturing the winter sun. It is double glazed and fully insulated. On the days the sun doesn't provide warmth Nautilus 1 has an air conditioner and Nautilus 2 has a wood heater which adds, along with the absolute waterfrontage, to the ambience and experience of those wild stormy days. A visit to Flinders Island in the winter months is worth considering.
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... or time your visit to Flinders Island and catch one of the annual Community Events on offer.​
In January there is the Emita Sports Day www.facebook.com/EmitaSports/ and the Furneaux Islands Festival celebrating island community, culture, food and music www.fifestival.com.au/
September there is the Flinders Island Running Festival
October sees the annual Flinders Island Show www.facebook.com/Flinders-Island-Show-Society-164884560845994/
November is Le Tour de Flinders.
Check the Community Calendar for current dates by downloading the app https://flindersisland.app
How long to stay
The average length of stay for guests at Nautilus staying as holidaying visitors to our Flinders Island accommodation is 6 days with some guests staying much longer.
There is certainly enough to do (or not do if you are coming to Flinders Island to relax and recharge) to warrant staying for that amount of time.
How to get here
By plane
Sharp Airlines run passenger services from Launceston, Tasmania and Essendon, Victoria.
Flights from Launceston take 35 minutes and run 7 days a week with multiple flights on weekdays.
Flights from Essendon take about an hour and run 4 days a week.
Additional flights are scheduled during busier times. Visit Sharp Airlines or call 1800 144 460.
Flinders Island is also serviced by a number of charter operators from Tasmania (Bridport) and Victoria (Lilydale, Moorabbin and Essendon).
Charter flights can land at Whitemark, Lady Barron or Killiecrankie. Visit Charter Airlines.
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By boat
You can also get to Flinders Island by boat using the services of Bass Strait Freight. Although primarily for freight the service can take passengers. Visit Bass Straight Freight call (03) 6356 1753.
Contact Bass Straight Freight to make sure you know what services are available for passengers.
The actual crossing takes around 8 hours but you need to allow extra time for embarking and disembarking with vehicles loaded on first. This is one of the advantages of travelling by boat that you can bring you own vehicle.
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By boat and plane
You can also get to Flinders Island by putting your car on the boat then flying to the Island with Flinders Island Aviation. Contact us to find out how.
Car hire
If you require a car you should make your booking at the same time you are booking your flights and accommodation. You can hire a car from either:
Self contained accommodation Flinders Island
