What’s On, On King Island, Tasmania
King Island may be laid-back, but it knows how to host some of the best events around— you’re invited! From the buzzing atmosphere from the horse racing track, The Imperial 20 marathon across the Island and lively festivals including the island’s iconic FOKI music festival, not to mention the legendary King Island Golf Open, there’s always something happening for everyone.
Check out What’s On this week and soak up the island’s unique charm and meet the locals. Looking for some relaxed fun? Kick off your shoes for barefoot bowls, explore hidden gems like the op shop and library, or join a yoga class. Become a King Islander on your holiday!
Horse Racing Carnival
The King Island Racing Club Inc. are holding eight race meetings in the 2023/2024 season at the North Road Racecourse Complex in Currie. These are being held during November and January with a field of approximately 30 gallopers and 16 harness horses.
The meetings are a unique day of racing, with both codes running on the same day. Race Days are relaxed community gatherings with refreshments and food readily available. The King Island Race Club boasts full TOTE and Sky Channel facilities, a bookmaker and race broadcaster. For all upcoming races please visit the website.
The Festival of King Island (FOKI)
FOKI is a celebration of folk, indie, country, blues & roots music held in the natural amphitheatre of Currie Harbour during the first weekend in February. With 2 days packed full of music, a 100m waterslide, raft race, pie-eating competition and other fun activities for the kids it is a family-friendly festival which brings together the islanders, ex-islanders, visitors and Australia's best musicians in what has become a giant musical reunion.
When: Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd February 2024
The King Island Show
King Island Agricultural, Horticultural & Pastoral Society Show. Visit the pavilion for the arts and crafts display. Tasty food is for sale (the donuts are a must!). There is cattle judging, horse riding displays, pet competitions and so much more.
When: 1st Tuesday in March
Contact: Laura Harvey
Telephone: 0472 752 010
Email: kingislandshow@outlook.com
Imperial 20 Marathon
King Island is home to one of Australia's unique running events, the King Island Imperial 20, proudly sponsored by Hydro Tasmania.
The feature event, the 32 km handicapped run, is supported by several other events which include: a 32 km walking race, a 4 x 8 km teams walking relay and a 4 x 8 km running relay. Each race begins on the Sunday morning at the picturesque seaside hamlet of Naracoopa on the east coast of King Island. The course winds its way across the Island to finish on the west coast at the main township of Currie.
When: Sunday March 10th 2024
King Island Football Season
The King Island Football Association runs the only three team competition in Australia which means that you can win the wooden spoon and the premiership in the same season. Bitter rivals Currie, Grassy and North fight it out year after year for the honour of winning the premiership. Games take place in Currie or Grassy and are an integral part of island life.
When: Saturday afternoons - May to September
Contact: Trevor Stones (KIFA President)
Email: king.island.f.a@gmail.com
Queenscliff to Grassy Yacht Race
The Queenscliff to Grassy Yacht Race was first sailed in the 1970's and since then has become a major fixture on the Australian Ocean Racing calendar.
The race is organized by the Ocean Racing Yacht Club of Victoria in conjunction with the King Island Boat Club and sailed on the Victorian Labour Day long weekend in March.
Visitors are welcome at the King Island Boat Club during the race weekend and can experience first hand the excitement of finishing yachts sailing into Grassy Harbour, meeting with crew members and locals alike while enjoying great food and refreshments at the boat club.
When: March Long Weekend
Wings On King Island
Even though King Island has such an important location and role for birds, we know very little about the conservation status of the land birds of King Island or about how the birds that migrate across Bass Strait use the Island. Long- term, systematic monitoring of land-birds has never been done on King Island! Although there has been useful random monitoring of birds on the Island, its use for conservation management is limited.
Winds on King aims to answer these questions by gathering data from identified monitoring sites across the island in differing land usage zones, landscape elements, communities and habitat qualities. It aims to find and tell the story of the birds of King Island.
When: November
Pheasant Weekend
Pheasant Season is the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June. Licenses to shoot Pheasant can only be obtained through Service Tasmania (1300 135 513) outlets or the Internet. The King Island Game Bird Association issue Membership cards at a fee with the Shooter Authority Card – to be endorsed and signed by the landowner or manager to give the shooter permission to shoot on the named properties. These can be obtained on arrival on the Island, or by prior arrangement from the Association. The membership is used to fund the Game Bird Association Breed and Release project; to maintain pheasant numbers in the field.
Contact: Nick Cooper – Game Bird Ass. Currie
Telephone: 0428 611 254
King Island Golf Open
Situated in Currie, set amid coastal dunes meeting the Southern Ocean, King Island's links have been described as resembling St Andrew's of Scotland, with rolling fairways carved from the natural undulations. The King Island Open, a 36 hole event for men and lady golfers is held over the Northern Tasmanian Recreation Day / Melbourne Cup long weekend. This event is open to any golfer with an AGU handicap. The event commences on Friday with a 9 hole Chicken Run held in conjunction with a 18 hole 4BBB stableford (arrange partners). Championship rounds of 18 holes are held on both Saturday and Sunday concluding with a Presentation Dinner at the clubhouse on Sunday evening.
When: November Long Weekend
POKI Markets
Held in Currie township on a Saturday 10am - 12.30 these monthly markets showcasing King Island produce and items made & grown on King Island. For more information on location and dates look for the easel in the Main Street of Currie.
When: Every 2nd month
Telephone: 03 6462 1128
Community Events
One of the great experiences that visitors often recall about King Island is that they are able to enjoy community activities while on the island. These are events or activities that are not aimed at visitors but are a part of living on King Island. Each week our tourism association publishes a What’s on guide which includes the scheduled community and visitor activities for the week.