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Australia

Kangaroo Island - 27 Reasons to Catch a Ferry from Adelaide

  • Wildlife

WHAT A COMBO - WILDLIFE, SPECTACULAR COASTAL SCENERY & WINE TRAILS

Kangaroo Island rolls out the Australian experience for visitors with a triple dose of stupendous coastal sculptural scenery, lolling sea lions and adorable penguins. Kangaroos watch visitors speed past on their way to wine trails.

Kangaroo Island is a visitor staple for visitors short on time with numerous Adelaide day trip tour operators offering plenty of choice for tourists. Sealink operates a daily ferry service, several times a day to Kangaroo Island.

TWENTY-SEVEN REASONS TO VISIT KANGAROO ISLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Hope Cottage Museum, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @Hope Cottage Museum
@Hope Cottage Museum
  1. Penneshaw Penguin Centre Tour on Kangaroo Island is a winner for families.
  2. Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, with sea lions lazing on the beach and dunes.
  3. Wine trails where local wines are family owned and single origin wine. Wine is imbued with a taste of scenery and the Kangaroo Island terroir.
  4. Foodie trails are a highlight for many visitors. Observe industrious Ligurian Bees producing honey at Clifford’s Honey, experience some Emu Ridge Eucalyptus and Emu Bay Lavender Farm produce.
  5. Heritage fans check out Hope Cottage Folk Museum in Kingscote.

Reviews & Tours

Kangaroo Island: Top Adventures & Activities for Everyone – RESERVE NOW, PAY LATER

  1. Find out more about wildlife conservation on Kangaroo Island, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park and Sanctuary, Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Open for pre-booked guided tours only, koala recovery centre). Over ⅓ of Kangaroo Island is a conservation reserve or national park.

Book a Cabin HERE (3 night stay policy, please note)

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

  1. Bird lovers rejoice and spend time at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and observe. The Sanctuary is also a bird watchers paradise – with resident Blue Wrens, Lorikeets, Crimson Rosellas, Black Cockatoos, Bush Stone-Curlews, Crescent Honey-eaters, and Cape Barren Geese.
Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @hansonbaywildlifesanctuary @vuelaaltodrones
Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island @hansonbaywildlifesanctuary @vuelaaltodrones
Raptor Domain, Free-flight birds of prey, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @Raptor Domain
Raptor Domain, Free-flight birds of prey, Kangaroo Island @Raptor Domain
  1. Sustainable tourism is part and parcel of Research And Discovery Coastal Tours, Kangaroo Island (RAD KI) offer personalised land and sea-based eco-tours that provide a unique blend of adventure, authenticity and volunteer research tourism.
  2. Spend time with furred predators at Raptor Domain.

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

  1. Check out local galleries and gift shops in Kingscote downtown precinct. Kingscote is South Australia’s oldest European settlement and the largest town on Kangaroo Island. 

Kingscote Places to Visit

  1. Go sandboarding on Kangaroo Island, golden sand dunes aptly known as Little Sahara, Little Sahara is located near Seal Bay.

Buggy Tour at Little Sahara – RESERVE NOW (free cancellation)

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

  1. ATV biking (Kangaroo Island) through regenerating bush, forest and coastal tracks on the lookout for kangaroos and wallabies.
  2. Kayak in a double kayak on the Harriet River. Suitable for young children.
Sandboarding at Little Sahara Sand Dunes, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @adventuroussoulearthside
Sandboarding at Little Sahara Sand Dunes, Kangaroo Island @adventuroussoulearthside
Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable rocks at Admirals Arch, Kangaroo Island, Australia
Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable rocks at Admirals Arch
  1. Get your selfie insta shot at Flinders Chase National Park with the extraordinary wind sculptured rocks as a backdrop, Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks and more.

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

  1. Cape du Couedic Road is the instagrammed road in Australia. Get your own memory moment as you drive through Flinders Chase National Park .
  2. Keep on going on Cape du Couedic Road to the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, Weirs Cove and join a lighthouse tour.

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

  1. Lighthouse tours at Cape Willoughby a local guide narrates the history of the rugged site.

Cape Willoughby Lighthouse Tour & Wine Tasting – BOOK HERE

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

  1. More lighthouses – spend time on a self-guided tour around Cape Borda Lightstation settlement gives an insight into the early lightkeepers’ living conditions
  2. Walk, hike Kangaroo Island trails, year round scenic highlights. short walks to multiple day hikes through bush, rugged coastline to past vineyards. Kangaroo Island is 155 km long and up to 55 km wide, ringed by 509 km of pristine coastline. Check Travel Pack Information for SA parks brochure and walking trails threaded throughout its parks. 
Cape Borda Lighthouse, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @jjooddeess
Cape Borda Lighthouse, Kangaroo Island @jjooddeess
Moody Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @maybeinoz
Moody Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island @maybeinoz
  1. Hang out at Penneshaw Beach and with clear water and spend time spotting dolphins.
  2. Check out the sunset at Snelling Beach on Kangaroo Island, incredible views.
  3. Snelling Beach is well known as a local favourite spot for shore fishing.

Reviews & Nearby Attractions

  1. Families will adore Vivonne Bay was once voted as Australia’s best beach. The 6 km crescent shaped bay has been voted as Australia’s best beach. Shallow azure water and gold sandy beach and a jetty to water bomb from. Perfect.

Vivonne Bay Reviews

  1. Selfie fans, photographers will fall in love with Australia’s best beach Stokes Bay. Curated labyrinth of caves and rocks to easily navigate through. You are led to white sand and crystal clear water. Beautiful.
  2. Kangaroo Island, North coast embark on marine cruise and swim with dolphins under careful guidance for both the dolphins and guests.
  3. Hit the road on a self-guided drive, at your pace. Consider a road trip to D’Estrees Bay. You will travel through Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park. Look out for the osprey trail markers along the eight kilometre drive that takes in bushland and coastal views.
  4. The best is last, Kangaroo Island is a wildlife sanctuary in its own right with kangaroos, short-beaked echidnas, sea lions, NZ fur seals, Australian sea lions at Seal Bay, and Tammar wallabies as well as prolific bird life. Where to go for wildlife highlights – Kangaroo Island itself.
DEstrees Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @Kangaroo Island Australia
DEstrees Bay, Kangaroo Island @Kangaroo Island Australia
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Check out our FAQ about Kangaroo Island, your travel guide broken into a series of popular questions.

Sealink operates both passenger and vehicle ferries to Kangaroo Island with up to 12 ferry crossings each way in the peak season.

The Adelaide to Kangaroo Island sea crossing is a mere 45 minutes.

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From Adelaide to Kangaroo Island the ferry crossing is 45 minutes

In the peak season (December to February; summer) up to three months in advance.

The peak season is summer December to February (southern hemisphere school holidays meaning plenty of local and kiwi visitors) on Kangaroo Island?  Bookings are essential in the peak season.

The shoulder seasons on Kangaroo Island provide a great opportunity to avoid the crowds, our favourite months are March, April to mid-May (AUTUMN). The temperature rarely drops below 13c at night; day temperatures are between 18 – low 20c. Expect changeable weather though. Spring is the promise of wildflowers and a flurry of bird life welcoming chicks.

Kangaroo Island in winter is a tad chilly, however toasty warm accommodation, the promise of a brisk walk viewing wildlife and scenery makes for a memorable holiday. The average winter temperature is 8c at night while day temperatures hover around 15c. A raincoat is necessary. Enjoy the drama of a winter coastline.

Kangaroo Island, Seal Bay, South Australia
Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island

SEA LIONS OF SEAL BAY – KANGAROO ISLAND

Australian sea lions of Seal Bay, join a guided tour and carefully walk (with the guide) on the beach where seal pups rest. You will be excited by the sense of inclusion as you observe mothers nursing their young and bulls westling for supremacy. There is a boardwalk for mobility impaired weaving its way through the dunes for 450 metres (one way). There are steps to various lookout points.

Book a Tour

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FLINDERS CHASE NATIONAL PARK IS A HOT SPOT FOR OBSERVING FUR SEALS.

KANGAROO ISLAND KANGAROOS ARE

  • A shorter and stockier build and much darker chocolate brown fur;
  • Sub-species of the Western Grey Kangaroo and are not found on the mainland;
  • Being isolated from the mainland for 10,000 years due to rising sea levels Kangaroo Island’s kangaroos are unique.
Kangaroo at rest, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Kangaroo at rest, Kangaroo Island

One of the safest beaches on Kangaroo Island for kids is Stokes Bay. There are large rock pools for paddling and shallow water. Kids will love exploring the caves and rocks.

Tammar wallaby at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @stevenfarrimond
Tammar wallaby at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Kangaroo Island @stevenfarrimond

TAMMAR WALLABIES, KANGAROO ISLAND ARE

  • Size of a large cat;
  • Beautiful dark grey body, with red/brown limbs and white cheek strips;
  • Unique ability to drink seawater;
  • Nocturnal, spends night grazing in the grassland and days dozing in shrubs and bushes;
  • The best spot to observe wallabies is Flinders Chase National Park. This huge nature reserve can be found on the south-westerly tip of the Island. Baudin Conservation Park and Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park are known haunts.

ECHIDNAS – KANGAROO ISLAND

  •  Thrive on Kangaroo Island largely due to no significant predators (feral dogs and cats);
  • Found in woodlands, and areas of leaf litter cover (lots of yummy insects);
  • Extraordinary, the echidna is a living egg-laying mammal species, the other Australian mammal is the platypus;
  • The spines on the back of echidnas is modified hair;
  • The egg-laying echidna represents the world’s longest surviving mammals (their ancestors roamed the planet with the dinosaurs).
Echidnas, Kangaroo Island, South Australia @abcadelaide @nikkiki73
Echidnas, Kangaroo Island @abcadelaide @nikkiki73

KANGAROO iSLAND is the Australian experience with a triple dose of stupendous coastal scenery, wildlife, wine trails and white sandy beaches. Allocate several days and enjoy a touch, taste and take in a slice of original Australia.

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TRAVEL PACK INFORMATION

South Australia parks brochure. Remember to check for up to date information in Find a Park – National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

 

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