Kangaroo Island

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Overview

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Separated from the Australian mainland about 9000 years ago, Kangaroo Island remains one of the most unspoilt natural wonders of the world. You'll find seals basking on quiet beaches; koalas munching on gum trees right beside the road; echidnas wandering in search of insects; and kangaroos, goannas, wallabies, penguins and birds at just about every turn. One third of the island is protected as conservation and national parks, and half the island has never been cleared of native vegetation. Enjoy guided walk on the beach, or take a self-guided tour on the more accessible boardwalk.

You can walk among huge weather-sculptured granite boulders at Remarkable Rocks and roll down the snowy-white sand dunes of Little Sahara. Dodge the wildlife as you hike through dense bushland. Stretch out in your own secret spot along the island's 480 kilometres of coastline. And retire to your very own lighthouse keeper's cottage for the night.

At 150 kilometres long and 55 kilometres wide, the island is Australia's third largest, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It has four town centres: Kingscote, Penneshaw, Parndana and American River. A coach service runs twice daily between Kingscote, American River and Penneshaw to connect with ferry services (but bookings are necessary).

There's now a major sealed road right around the island, but many smaller roads are narrow, unsealed and edged with scrub. Driving by day or night, take it easy and allow for slower speeds when calculating travel times. Flinders Chase National Park Marvel at Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, just two of the many amazing land formations within the 33,000-hectare Flinders Chase National Park.

There's also the 1909 Cape du Couedic lighthouse and wildlife aplenty, including kangaroos, koalas, echidnas and the endangered Cape Barren geese. Enjoy the island marine life including seahorses, cuttlefish and reef fish.

Take your tastebuds on tour through the island's growing range of gourmet produce: from award-winning sheep milk cheeses at the Island Pure Sheep Dairy to pure Ligurian honey and olive oil and also taste the boutique wines of this young wine region.

See the Penguin Pageantry - Join Little Penguins on their nightly procession from the waters around Kingscote and Penneshaw to cosy seaside burrows.

Features

Seal Bay Conservation Park - Walk among the nation’s third largest and most accessible colony of Australian Sea Lions as these cute creatures doze in the sun after lengthy fishing forays in the Southern Ocean
See the Light (House) - Envelop yourself in the island's history with a tour of its spectacular lighthouses. Dating back to 1852, Cape Willoughby is South Australia's oldest lighthouse: you can tour it daily
At Cape Borda - tour the lighthouse and museum before exploring the old landing site and lightkeeper's cemetery
KI Caving - As you tour this beautiful cave system of caverns and sinkholes. The caves are lit using ground breaking fibre-optic "white light" technology, which allows visitors to see the stunning natural colours.

Features

Weirs Cove - get an insight into the lifestyle of early lighthouse keepers at Cape du Couedic, as you wander among the remains of the jetty, water tank and storerooms
Little Sahara - Feel the sand between your toes as you wander the white slopes of Little Sahara, a series of spectacular sand dunes that rise out of bushland in the centre of the island. Take a sand board, climb to the top of those razorback ridges and ride the slopes back down to the bottom
Emu Ridge - Eucalyptus Distillery Delight in clever bush technology at Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, now the only commercial distillery of its kind in South Australia

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