Kangaroo island South Australia Visitor Information

(1.5 hours by air, 2.5 hours by road and ferry south of Adelaide)

Trip duration: One day (by air), a minimum of three days by car and ferry.

On the road
The Sealink ferry takes up to 200 passengers and 30 cars. The Sealink services run three times daily and takes one hour. Kangaroo Island Fast Ferries only service links Glenelg. The tour takes 2 hours.

Must see

Only 120 kilometres south-west of Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, the third largest Australian Island, shows nature at its wildest and purest form in a magical combination of sun and sea, native flora and fauna. A walk through the bush or along coastal cliffs may provide glimpses of koalas, echidnas or kangaroos, there are also many species of birds and wildflowers.

Kingscote was the first settlement of the colony. Today it is the largest town, and the main commercial centre of the island. Situated on the shore of the beautiful Nepean Bay, the town overlooks panoramic views.

The calm waters of American River on the edge of Eastern Cove, will leave lasting impression. Gum and She-oak covered hills slope to the water’s edge. The town is ideal for fishing, scuba diving and canoeing. Pelican Lagoon is a sanctuary for birds and fish.

The little village of Penneshaw with its sheltered cove, is a haven for small boats. See fairy penguins at night, and during the day fish from Hog Bay jetty, visit the folk museum, or go swimming, visit Devils Kitchen below the lighthouse.

Vivonne Bay, on the South Coast, is the base for the crayfish fleet and game fishing boats. The long beach is perfect for picnics, beachcombing and fishing expeditions. At Seal Bay, take a guided walk along the beach where sea lions rest between trips to the sea.

"Hope" Cottage Folk Museum is one of two surviving cottages built in the 1850s and now houses a fine collection of items from Kangaroo Island’s past.

Kelly Hill Conservation Park is an area of undulating limestone ridges. Walking trails through the bushland, to the coast. Sinkholes and caverns lead to caves open to the public.

Take the unusual walk from Stokes Bay through a cliff of great limestone boulders to a white sandy beach, safe for swimming.

At Flinders Chase National Park on the South West Coast, see kangaroos, Cape Barren. Geese, koalas, Tamar wallabies and, after dark, brushtail possums.

On the north-west corner of the island, Cape Borda has a lighthouse built in 1858. There are guided tours from Monday to Friday. There’s also an interesting little cemetery nearby at Harvey’s Return. In the southern corner of the park, Cape du Couedic is wild and remote. An extremely picturesque lighthouse built in 1906 tops the cape, you can follow the path from the car park down to Admirals Arch, a natural archway pounded by towering seas. You can often see seals and penguins here. At Kirkpatrick Point, a couple of km east of Cape du Couedic, the remarkable rocks are a series of bizarre granite rocks on a huge dome stretching 75 metres down the sea.

For further information, contact:

Kangaroo Island Tourist Information
Dauncey Street
KINGSCOTE SA 5223
Phone: (084) 82 2381
Fax: (084) 82 2531

Acknowledgement

Images courtesy of South Australia Tourism Commission

The South Australian Tourism Commission releases materials solely for the purpose of positive promotion of South Australia as a tourism and travel destination. Any breach of this copyright condition could result in legal action.

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