Currie

Currie is on the west coast of King Island, north-east of mainland Tasmania. You are sure to feel its remoteness as you gaze at the Southern Ocean and next stop: Africa. Almost 800 people live in Currie, the commercial centre of the Island. Industries include fishing, farming, and harvesting bull kelp for food and cosmetics. King Island's 200 kilometres (124 miles) of coastline contain rugged cliffs softened occasionally by white, sandy beaches. More than 60 ships have been wrecked off these unforgiving shores, and a trail now guides you to interpretive plaques all around the island describing the various calamities. Scuba diving on the wrecks themselves is by far the best way to see them. If you walk on a deserted beach you may be lucky enough to find a large, coiled nautilus shell. King Island has popular surfing beaches and sheltered lagoons for swimming. You can visit a 7,000-year-old calcified forest, created when the sand covering a forest finally receded, leaving fascinating limestone features. You can see all kinds of wildlife on the island too and wallabies, echidnas, seals, penguins and wild turkeys. You will receive royal treatment at King Island. Delectably tender beef, mouth-watering crayfish and gourmet dairy foods await you. Lush pastures and clean air contribute to the island's worldwide recognition for superior quality produce. Currie Harbour was discovered by Captain Archibald Currie in 1797. In 1845 Australia's worst peacetime maritime disaster occurred when 400 emigrants aboard the Cataraqui perished off the island's coast. Cape Wickham lighthouse was erected in 1861 to prevent more ships from meeting such a fate. The town grew when scheelite mining began in 1917. Currie has an average maximum of 20.5 degrees Celsius (69 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13.5 degrees Celsius (56.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June. Currie, on King Island, is 80 kilometres (49.5 miles) north-east of mainland Tasmania, and is accessible by plane and cargo vessels.