Flinders Island

Flinders Island is the largest of the Furneaux Group in Bass Strait, about sixty kilometres long, with granite peaks rising to 756 metres at Mount Strzelecki and beaches that are frequently empty. Killiecrankie Bay is known for topaz, marketed as Killiecrankie diamonds, which visitors sieve from the sand and gravel. The island's history includes the Wybalenna settlement, where surviving Tasmanian Aboriginal people were relocated in the 1830s and where many died; the site is now managed by the Aboriginal community and remains one of the most significant places in Tasmanian Aboriginal history. Walking, fishing, diving on wrecks and simply having a beach to yourself make up the rest.

What you actually see

• The empty beaches - long stretches of sand with granite headlands and no one on them.
• Mount Strzelecki - a demanding climb to the island's highest point.
• Killiecrankie - the bay where visitors sieve for topaz in the sand.
• Wybalenna - the site of the 1830s Aboriginal settlement, community managed.

When to go

November to April for the mildest weather; Bass Strait is rough and cold in winter and flights are more often disrupted. Accommodation is limited year-round and should be booked with transport.

Honest expectations

Getting there is by small aircraft or a vehicle ferry with a limited timetable, both expensive. There is one small supermarket and few restaurants. A hire car is effectively necessary. Wybalenna is a place of grief and should be visited with care.

Nearby

Cape Barren Island lies south in the same group; Launceston is the mainland link.