king island holiday village and tours - day tours

This is King Island OKA Tours catch cry, and I'm telling you they aren't joking! I'm sure we went places that no others have been, (except that is, the early settlers).We joined Ian and Lucinda on their 4WD 'Hidden South' tour at 9am, quickly met the other seven intrepid travellers and climbed aboard the OKA. The OKA is a 4WD beast that carries 13 people comfortably, it is easy to get in and out of, and is decked out with all the necessary equipment to cook up a storm and/or get out of trouble if required.Where you go and what you see often depends on the environment that is encountered on the day. Ian explains that there is often an easy way to get from point A to B, or alternatively a more adrenalin pumping route; I am sure Ian sums up his clientele on the day and chooses his route wisely! For the record, our tour was the "Everybody hold on tight, I’ve got to keep up this speed" way to get to point B.... creating a lot of laughter amongst the group and memories destined to stick.After a morning of sand dunes, beaches and abundant flora & fauna (morning tea at a beautiful, isolated beach teeming with cowry shells) we stop for lunch. While we are taking the leisurely 1.5km nature reserve walk Lucinda & Ian prepares our lunch. We return to beautifully set tables, King Island Beef cooked to order with baby carrots, snow peas and jacket potatoes, accompanied by a choice of Tasmanian wine, beer or soft drink. And yes, there is more.... vanilla bean panna cotta served with cinnamon infused rhubarb to follow. Delicious, and incredible given the time frame and location.With 40 years of experience, Ian is a walking King Island Encyclopaedia, anything you want to know he will provide you with an answer. He is a passionate photographer and foodie and readily shares his knowledge and experience.To sum up: Ian & Lucinda are professional, knowledgeable and experienced hosts. There was something for all ages and interests on this tour; the youngsters squealing with delight as Ian manoeuvres his OKA over a series of dippers, the nature and photography enthusiasts getting up close and personal with the environment and the history buffs travelling through a King Island time warp.Thanks go to Lucinda & Ian for an entertaining family adventure. Ps. This is not 5 star luxury touring, this is Adventure Eco touring... There is one toilet at the lunch stop, if you require any others be prepared to go bush! Take your spirit of adventure, your sense of humour and of course your camera for a very memorable day out.

Lucinda and Ian, friendly and knowledgable locals, can get you to places you suspected could exist, but had no idea where to look or how to do it. Too many options to describe, but how about one of the best and loneliest beaches ever, or an old stock trail that passes a lagoon full of swans, or the wild surf at Badger's Box. Have lunch in the wild - perhaps some local beef or cheese?King Island is definitely a place you need to get off the beaten track to appreciate - Lucinda and Ian can help you do this without you getting your car bogged. Their Oka is awesome.

We enjoyed a work event on King Island - it was a day trip and involved 4WD trekking through the southern part of the island through areas not accessible via private vehicle. Our group were picked up from the airport and transported to the area by Ian and Lucinda who were our guides for the day. Taking us through some of the rugged and beautiful country and coastline, we thoroughly enjoyed this awesome experience and would highly recommend this to anyone - certainly a trip to King Island would not be complete without a day tour with Ian. It was also clear that because of our time restraints were so tight, we were only able to see a small portion of what King Island had to offer and so a visit of 2-4 days is required to see all the treasures on the island.

No short stay in King Island would be complete without a 4WD adventure with Ian and Lucinda from King Island Holiday Village and Tours. This tour takes you to some hidden treasures due to exclusive access to an expansive private property. Apart from the "wow" factor of 4 wheel driving the tour provided an opportunity to experience the beauty of King Islands natural environment. As a keen photographer I was in my element capturing images of the magnificent coastline. Morning tea of damper and King Island honey was enjoyed in a secluded alcove on the beach. A "paddock to plate" lunch (which is also included in the cost of the tour) was delicious and the effort that our hosts went to with the table setting was very much appreciated. Ian and Lucinda's love for King Island really shines through and by the end of the day you understand why they have made it their home.