Admirals Arch

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is regarded as the best location to see Australian wildlife in the wild. It is a destination of stunning scenery such as Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch.

 

Kangaroo Island is a place you can come face to face with iconic Australian landscapes and friendly local people. Dramatic coastal scenery and secluded pristine beaches are also a feature, along with premium quality fresh seafood and other food products. The Island is South Australia’s newest wine region with many of the local cellar doors offering wine tastings. It is Australia’s third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island, and is 155 kilometres (96 miles) long and 55 kilometres (34 miles) wide.

There are several ways to do day-trips to the Island, but to truly experience this remarkable place, staying for at least two or three nights is recommended.

SeaLink Ferry

Best Way to travel to Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is a 30-minute flight from Adelaide, QantasLink operate flights between Adelaide and Kingscote. There are daily passenger only and passenger and vehicle ferry services to the island. The SeaLink ferry, the passenger and vehicle ferry (a 45-minute trip to Penneshaw) and Kangaroo Island Connect, the passenger only ferry (a 30-minute trip to Penneshaw) both depart from Cape Jervis, a two hour drive south of Adelaide.

Sealink

Best way to Travel on Kangaroo Island

We recommend to join a coach or private tour to truly experience the island. Self-driving is possible but check with vehicle hire companies before bringing a hire car to the island. Vehicle hire depots are in Kingscote, the airport and Penneshaw. There is no public transport or taxi service available on the island.

Must See & Do

Driving Kangaroo Island

Flinders Chase National Park is a wilderness area featuring iconic landmarks such as the sculptured boulders of Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch - a natural arch shaped by the powerful Southern Ocean. The park is ideal to spot Kangaroo Island’s diverse wildlife on the network of walking trails.

Situated on the western end of the island Hanson Bay Sanctuary is a 5000 acre wildlife sanctuary and the best place on Kangaroo Island to see a sustainable population of koalas in the wild. There are self-guided tours during the day and as Australian wildlife is mainly nocturnal they offer a guided tour at night.

Local honey farms provide visitors with quality honey, regional produce and information on the unique Ligurian bee found only on Kangaroo Island. Island Beehive has a café and offers regular guided tours and Clifford's Honey Farm produces honey ice cream and can provide tours for large groups.

Kangaroo Island Spirits is a boutique distillery and cellar door just outside of Kingscote specialising in handcrafted premium spirits including gin, vodka and liqueurs. The new gin blending class gives a brief introduction before guests start mixing their own from native ingredients such as juniper and lemon myrtle.

The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is a self-guided, 61 kilometre, 5-day walking experience giving visitors access to rugged, remote and spectacular coastline. The trail travels through Flinders Chase National Park, Kelly Hill Conservation Park and the Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area.

Discover dramatic coastal landscapes and woodlands, in Kelly Hill Conservation Park. Take a guided tour of the limestone cave system, or for the more adventurous, join an experienced guide on an adventure caving tour and crawl through an underground maze of smaller caverns. 

For a great wildlife encounter and coastal tour that includes swimming with wild dolphins, try Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures located on the north coast or Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari near Penneshaw. Both offer an insight into this nationally recognised marine environment.

A guided quad bike tour with Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action is a great way to see an otherwise inaccessible part of Kangaroo Island. The ride goes through 500 acres of open grassland and pristine native bush land with stunning views of the Southern Ocean and wildlife along the way.

Raptor Domain is Kangaroo Island's environmental, educational rehabilitation centre and is located at Seal Bay on a beautiful 150 acre property. The centre is home to many orphaned, injured and sick birds of prey. Meet the birds during educational, interactive and fun presentations.

Little Sahara near Vivonne Bay on the South Coast is a system of coastal dunes out of sight of any beaches and heritage listed to ensure their preservation. Hire a sandboard or toboggan from Little Sahara Adventure Centre and experience the thrills and spills of sandboarding these massive dunes.

Visitors are taken into the heart of this Australian sea lion colony to learn about these endangered animals with experienced guides. Seal Bay is the only place in the world where you can see Australian sea lions up close and walk on a beach where pups play, bulls fight for supremacy and mothers rest with their young.

Kangaroo Island has a burgeoning wine industry of 12 wineries, some with a cellar door including Bay of Shoals WinesDudley Wines and Amadio Wines. Local produce is available in restaurants and bottle shops across the island or direct at their cellar door.