As well as flying three times a week out of Melbourne and Traralgon, Island Airlines flies from Launceston to Flinders and return every day of the week. Flying from Launceston, the Furneaux Group soon dots the seascape.
Closer to your destination is Goose Island with its lighthouse, then the distinctive peak of Mt Chappell Island famous for its large number of deadly Tiger Snakes. Up ahead lie the two largest islands, Cape Barren and Flinders. A circuit of the airport before touching down provides panoramic views of spectacular Mt Strzelecki and the Darling Ranges. Views of world-significant wetlands on the east side of the island are also excellent.
Milder than Melbourne and Launceston in the winter and cooler in summer, Flinders and the Furneaux Group provide the perfect sea change.Paper nautilus shells wash up on the pristine beaches. However, to find the perfect shell, you need to be up before the gulls,oystercatchers, terns and occasional visiting albatross, whose sharp bills crush the delicate shells.
Beachcombing is very popular, particularly after a storm, when all sorts of treasures are washed up or uncovered. Dolphins can be seen swimming close to shore and seals leisurely sun themselves on the rocks.Sailing, boating, fishing, scuba diving plus an array of other aquatic activities are on offer.
Boasting some of the best bushwalking in Tasmania, there are walks to suit all levels of fitness and inclination on the day. You can fill your holiday exploring and with a host of activities, or just relax and do nothing in what George Negus aptly titled ‘the Mediterranean of the Pacific’.
