Flinders Island lies about 70 kilometres north of Tasmania in the Bass Strait, the largest of the Furneaux Group. At 1,367 square kilometres it is a substantial island, but only about 800 people live here permanently, which means you can walk beaches that see almost no visitors and camp in the bush without booking.
The island's most significant site is Wybalenna, on the west coast, where the British government confined the surviving Aboriginal Tasmanians between 1833 and 1847. The settlement was meant as a refuge but functioned as an internment camp; of the 135 people brought here, only 47 survived to leave. The chapel from that period still stands, and the site is now managed with significant input from the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. It is a sombre and important place to visit.
The Strzelecki National Park at the southern end of the island has dramatic granite peaks and excellent bushwalking. The highest point, Mount Strzelecki, is a rewarding climb with panoramic views across to Cape Barren Island and the smaller islands of the group. The beach at Trousers Point, with orange lichen-stained granite boulders, turquoise water, and white sand, is one of the most beautiful spots in the state.
Getting here requires a flight from Launceston or a charter. There is accommodation in the main settlement of Whitemark and a few cottages around the island.