Allports Beach House, Flinders Island

Discover the stories written in the landscape across Flinders Island, and its surrounding Bass Strait archipelago along the Furneaux Geotrail. Use the Geotrail as a companion guide to learn more about the places around you as you visit the island's most popular visitor attractions. Please be on the lookout for the Geotrail signage on your travels to help you explore the local geological heritage of Flinders Island. As a web app, it is easy to save to the home screen of your mobile device to provide easy one click access to a variety of further landscape information about the island's heritage hotspots. There are 26 geosites located across Flinders Island where you can explore and learn about the stories that define the landscape.

The Furneaux Museum is located at Emita on Tasmania's Flinders Island and is devoted exclusively to the cultural and natural history of the Furneaux Islands in eastern Bass Strait, where some of Australia's earliest European history took place. Shipwreck artefacts are a highlight, including an anchor from the 1797 wreck of the vessel 'Sydney Cove' - an event that led to the arrival of sealers and, through them, the survival of Tasmania's indigenous population. There are many relics from other shipwrecks that occurred around the islands. The history of the fateful 1840s Wybalenna settlement is recorded in the Aboriginal Room, which also displays a rare collection of 100-year-old traditional Aboriginal shell necklaces. The Mutton Bird Processing Hut gives an authentic glimpse into the island tradition of 'birding'. Other exhibits demonstrate the geology, fauna, shells, and early pioneering life of the islands. Over 160 albums of photographs and documents cover almost all aspects of life in the Furneaux Islands from the past up to the present day. The museum is operated entirely by volunteers. It is open six afternoons a week in summer/autumn (closed Mondays), and Saturday and Sunday afternoons in winter/spring. Opening and closing times can be found on the website or by phoning the museum at any time.

Just before you hit Allports Beach, you'll find a day-use area complete with a gas BBQ, shaded picnic tables, and restroom facilities. The barbecue gas is generously provided by Parks and Wildlife, and although the BBQ is free to use, donations are welcomed. Handwashing is possible thanks to dual rainwater tanks; however, it's recommended that you bring your own potable water. The beach itself stretches 150 metres, curving gently to the north and featuring a relatively steep reflective shoreline. It's framed by granite points adorned with dunes, while the eastern edge boasts boulder outcroppings. Seagrass meadows flourish about 100 meters from the shore. A convenient road leads down to the amenities at the beach's eastern tip, where you'll find a parking lot, picnic space, and more toilets. As Emita's primary swimming spot, the beach is child-friendly and offers excellent snorkeling opportunities near the rocky areas. Dogs are also welcome. Situated approximately 100 metres from Allports Beach is a campsite with a few picnic tables and ample room for several campers. Short-term camping is permitted and there's no need for reservations—spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.