Remote, rugged, and oddly overlooked, King Island—an island off an island—sits in the middle of the wild Bass Strait like a sentinel of the Southern Ocean. Battered by wind and weather, it’s long been something of an enigma: easy enough to reach in under an hour, with direct flights from Melbourne and mainland Tasmania, yet with remarkably few places to stay. And there’s plenty of reason to go, thanks to a frothy coastline, rich dairy heritage, and more wallabies than people—not to mention three spectacular coastal golf courses, two of which are regularly ranked among the world’s best.
For years King Island felt like a destination hiding in plain sight. The turning point came with the arrival in 2019 of Kittawa Lodge, a couple of smart, one-bedroom luxury hideaways on the edge of salt-licked cliffs. In early 2025, Kittawa expanded its footprint with a new, two-bedroom retreat that carries the same signature traits—fireplaces, deep-soaking tubs facing the thrashing ocean, and floor-to-ceiling windows that routinely draw curious wallabies’ noses to the glass—but with a few elevated extras, including an outdoor magnesium hot tub, a top-shelf wine cellar, and more space to settle in. The island’s even bigger news comes in late 2026: Ocean Dunes golf course, ranked one of the best public courses in the Asia-Pacific, will unveil its new restaurant, clubhouse, and on-course hotel rooms—64 sleek, glass-fronted rooms and suites just off the first and ninth fairways that will have clean-lined box windows framing uninterrupted ocean views. Stretching along the island’s wild western edge, the course is a sea-sprayed, wind-lashed affair—best followed by a dram of Tasmanian whisky and a plate of local cheese. Don’t miss a round at Cape Wickham to the north, or a tasting at King Island Dairy, one of Australia’s most iconic producers, which was recently returned to Australian hands. By 2026, visitors to the factory can look forward to a wider range of experiences. The cheese store will expand, adding a wine bar featuring premium Tasmanian wine vintages. Plus, King Island Dairy farms will open its gates for a new “farm experience”; guests will be able to witness the cutting-edge automated milking system in action. Once complete, it’s expected to be among the world’s largest for a pasture-based, free-range dairy herd—offering a rare, behind-the-scenes paddock-to-plate experience. —Chloe Sachdev
Margaret River, Australia
Go for: vineyard hopping, epic swells, and food festivals
