Things to do on Flinders Island
The key website for information on what to do when visiting Flinders Island is Visit Flinders Island. In addition there are a some books listed in the Resources section at the end which you may find helpful.
To find out what is happening on the Island either download the app https://flindersisland.app published by the Flinders Island Council or buy a copy of 'The Island News' from Bowman's General Store www.facebook.com/bowmansstore/.
Here are some things to whet your appetite or you might want to organise before you come to Flinders Island.
Food & Drinks
Places to shop for food and drinks or where to eat in Whitemark or nearby:
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Walkers Supermarket https://igatas.com.au/stores/iga-x-press-flinders-island-walkers
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For crayfish, when in season, enquire about availability when you are on the Island
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The Interstate Hotel www.facebook.com/FlindersIslandInterstateHotel/ including The Corner Cafe which is open for coffee and breakfast
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The Flinders Island Bakery www.facebook.com/fibakery/
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The Flinders Wharf https://theflinderswharf.com.au/
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Cate Cooks https://www.facebook.com/tuckshopfi/
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Mountain Seas Restaurant at Trousers Point For bookings 0428 855 022
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The Food Van next door to The Condimental (The Condimental itself is closed)
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Roadside Stall between Whitemark and Emita selling fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit in season
… and in Lady Barron
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The Lady Barron Store 11 Henwood St, Lady Barron 03 6359 3503 which is open 7 days a week
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Furneaux Tavern and Kipli Restaurant http://furneauxtavern.com.au/kipli/
Some Flinders Island producers and products to try available either at Walkers Supermarket, The Flinders Wharf or direct from the vineyard:
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Brymworth Farm Garlic https://www.facebook.com/Brymworth-Farm-161849803910986/
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Blue Rocks Soap https://bluerockssoaps.com/
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Flinders Island Olive Oil www.flindersislandoliveoil.com
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Unavale Vineyard https://unavale.com.au/
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Butterfactory Vineyard www.facebook.com/butterfactoryboys/
Bush and coastal walking
Flinders Island is a paradise for bush and coastal walking with walks ranging from easy to challenging.
In the Killiecrankie area we will provide you with detailed information about the walks you can do most of which start when you walk out the door of your accommodation in Nautilus. You can rock hop to Deep Bite, climb Killiecrankie Bluff and Mt Killiecrankie, walk the length of Killiecrankie Beach, visit Stackys Bight or walk the coast from the Dock to Killiecrankie.
The two walking guides to Flinders Island are "A Walking Guide to Flinders Island and Cape Barren Island" by Doreen H. Lovegrove and Steve Summers and "Walks of Flinders Island" by Ken Martin. However they have not been kept up to date in recent years. Both are usually available at the general store in Whitemark.
Swim, dive and snorkel
Hire a snorkel or tanks from Mike Nichols at Flinders Island Dive www.facebook.com/FIDive/
History
Visit the Furneaux Museum at Emita www.furneauxmuseum.org.au
Bowman’s History Room traces the origins of the Island’s oldest continuously trading store E M Bowman & Co. www.discovertasmania.com.au/attraction/bowmanhistoryroom
Spend a few quiet moments at Wybalenna Chapel reflecting on the past history of the Tasmanian Aborigines and the current strong Aboriginal community on Flinders Island www.flinders.tas.gov.au/furneaux-history
Art
Flinders Island has a number of resident artists who regularly have exhibitions at the Strait Work Gallery in Whitemark www.facebook.com/FurneauxCommunityArts/
Resident artists include Sandro Donati www.facebook.com/Sandro-Donati-Gold-and-Silversmith-635855789758857/ who has workshop and gallery in Whitemark.
Have a picnic
There are numerous picnic places on the island with picnic tables and great views. At Nautilus we provide well equipped picnic baskets, a thermos and an esky for you to use. Pack a lunch or dinner and choose your spot … Killiecrankie Beach, Palana, North East River …
Golf and Bowls
Contact Flinders Island Sports & RSL Club 33 Esplanade, Whitemark 03 6359 2070
Visit the Outer Islands of the Furneaux Group or take a Scenic Flight
Explore the Outer Islands with Flinders Island Adventures www.flindersisland.com.au/ or Chris Rhodes who will take you to Vansittart Island http://rockjawtours.com.au/
Take a scenic flight with Flinders Island Aviation www.flindersislandaviation.com
Go Fishing
You don’t need a licence for rod and line fishing in marine waters on Flinders Island. Licences are required for abalone and rock lobster. Check the requirements and find out where to get a licence at www.fishing.tas.gov.au/licence.
Take a fishing charter to sheltered bays, island reefs or the deep waters off the continental shelf with
Flinders Island Adventures www.flindersisland.com.au/ or Chris Rhodes http://rockjawtours.com.au/
Wildlife
Flinders Island has a mixture of natural bushland and rural land with an abundance of wildlife.
From Jan to April at the Settlement Point viewing platform at Port Davies, watch millions of Shearwaters fly in at dusk. www.discovertasmania.com.au/attraction/settlementpointviewing or Flinders Island Adventures offers sunset cruises from the Lady Barron jetty to watch the birds return to their rookery www.flindersisland.com.au/
Visit Patriarch Wildlife Sanctuary www.discovertasmania.com.au/attraction/thepatriarchwildlife
Diamond fossicking
Killiecrankie diamonds are clear, ice blue and pink gold. The best places to look for the diamonds are Mines Creek, Diamond Creek and selected places on Killiecrankie Bay at low tide. Hire a sieve and shovel from Killiecrankie Enterprises www.killiecrankieenterprises.com.au
In and around Killiecrankie
By the foreshore
The foreshore is a great place to spend some time. It is the 'busy' hub of Killiecrankie. There is a sheltered free gas bbq, toilets and plenty of seating. It is the place where the locals come to launch their boats.
At sunset on a calm, clear day it provides a great vantage point to watch the exquisite colour changes on the slopes of Mt Killiecrankie.
Beachwalking and beachcombing
Flinders Island is famed for it's number of beaches and the chance, when you are on a beach, that you are likely to be the only one there. Apart from the long expanse of Killiecrankie beach, a jewel in the Flinders crown, there are close by the smaller and more intimate beaches of Stacky's Bight and just out the front and to the west of Nautilus a small shell laden beach which is also a favourite spot for 'diamond' fossickers.
Swimming and snorkelling
Good places for swimming and snorkelling include at the access to Killiecrankie beach, the gulch, between the rocky island and the foreshore, the Slipway (to the west of Nautilus and just before the next house), up the far end of Killiecrankie Beach at the end of the sand and at Stacky's Bight.
Sunsets and full moon rise
I have heard that full moon rise over Killiecrankie Bay is the most romantic sight on Earth. Well, Ok, a local said that but it is a truly beautiful sight to watch the full moon rise over the mountains to the east and hang as a large golden disc in the sky softly illuminating the bay.
Photography
And Killiecrankie is paradise for photographers particularly the late afternnoon light but endless opportunities in sweeping dramatic scenes as well as the details of what is washed up on the beaches.
Wildlife
Just as on Flinders Island more generally there is an abundance of wildlife at Killiecrankie much of which can be seen from Nautilus including, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, possums, wedge tailed eagles, sea eagles, cape barren geese, firetail finhces, blue and fairy wrens, snakes, dolphins and even whales.
Fossicking for Killiecrankie Diamonds
Killiecrankie is the main place on Flinders Island to fossick for Killiecrankie diamonds. Diamonds can be found as close as along the foreshore in front of Nautilus.
Olive oil
There is an olive oil grove at Killiecrankie with the olives being harvested in May using volunteers, pressed on site and sold through various outlets on Flinders Island. The oil has won a number of awards including a gold medal in 2016 at the Royal Adelaide Show where it was described as having "floral, honeysuckle and fresh tropical fruit notes with good transfer to palate. Moderate bitterness balanced with spicy pungency. Full flavoured creamy mouthfeel with a long finish."
Crayfish and fish
The northern end of Flinders Island has a number of great fishing spots including Killiecrankie Bay. You can catch snapper, flathead, trumpeter, Australian salmon and garfish among others as well as pickup abalone. It is also home to one of the last crayfishing boats on Flinders Island.
Just being here
Nautilus is not just a place to stay while you explore Flinders Island. Nautilus, because of its location, its facilities and its ambience, it is a delightful place to be.
Resources
Books that you might find helpful include:
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"Discovering Flinders Island" by Jean Edgecombe
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"Flinders Island Tasmania" by Len Zell
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"A Walking Guide to Flinders Island and Cape Barren Island" by Doreen H. Lovegrove and Steve Summers
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"Walks of Flinders Island" by Ken Martin
All are usually available at the general store in Whitemark
Self contained accommodation Flinders Island
