Jump to It: Adelaide to Kangaroo Island travel guide

So you want amazing wildlife and epic landscapes? Then head to South Australia’s incredible Kangaroo Island, where you can immerse yourself in nature and return with a million five-star memories.

WHY YOU SHOULD DO IT

Three people stand before a rock formation that appears to balance near the edge of a cliff, Flinders Chase National Park

It’s Australia’s third biggest island and one of South Australia’s most famous destinations. Kangaroo Island suffered badly during the 2020 summer bushfires, but it is making a big comeback, with the flora and fauna of Flinders Chase National Park having made an excellent recovery. It’s great news, because this is a truly majestic wilderness area, with many dubbing it Australia’s answer to the Galápagos Islands. Be sure to leave yourself enough time to do everything here. The island is more than 150 kilometres long and 55 kilometres wide with untold places to explore, both on the shore and off it. Three days is an absolute minimum; five to seven days will give you time to see just about everything, as well as take part in tours and go on a couple of hikes.

DON’T MISS

Sea lions rest on a beach backed by cliffs. There are people watching them from afar, Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island

The residents have been living here for thousands of years, and you have to remember you’re a guest in their home. Seal Bay is a beautiful beach on the island’s south coast, and it’s where a colony of Australian sea lions lives. There’s a boardwalk above the beach from where you can watch them, but for maximum effect book the Seal Bay guided tour, where an experienced ranger will take you onto the beach and into the colony. Don’t forget your camera.

FIVE ON THE DRIVE

  1. Just south of Adelaide is McLaren Vale, the birthplace of South Australian wine. There are more than 80 cellar doors here, so leave time to taste the riches. If you’re there around lunchtime, book a table beneath the vine-covered arbour at Coriole. The cellar door at Alpha Box & Dice is an intriguing affair. You can book a guided tasting or unfurl a picnic rug beneath the trees and enjoy a bottle of Tarot Rosé and a platter.

  2. After dark on Kangaroo Island, join a guide from Penneshaw Penguin Centre to watch the island’s colony of little penguins come in from their fishing expedition. They’re not seen every night, but, armed with a wildlife-friendly red-light torch, you’ll have the best chance of catching them.

  3. There is nothing more recognisable on Kangaroo Island than the incredible formation known as Remarkable Rocks. You’ll find them in Flinders Chase National Park, along with Admirals Arch, where you’ll smell the breeding colony of long-nosed fur seals before you see them. At Cape Borda Lightstation, take the self-guided tour then go for a stroll. Between May and October, you might see migrating southern right whales from the Cliff Top Walk.

  4. If you’ve ever wanted to swim with wild dolphins, this is your chance. During the Island Explorer tour with Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures, you’ll see the stunning coastline from the water, watch for seals, sea eagles and osprey, and frolic with dolphins in a protected bay.

  5. At Kangaroo Island Spirits, local botanicals, as well as fresh juniper (almost unheard of elsewhere in Australia), are blended to create liquor of distinction. The Wild Gin, for example, includes eau de cologne mint, fresh limes and hand-harvested pink peppercorns. Visit the cellar door for a tasting or to take part in a cocktail masterclass.

WHERE TO STAY

Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn

Get a view of the water and be only a 10-minute walk from Kingscote, the largest town on the island (you’ll need to stock up here if you’re staying further afield), at Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn. There’s also an Indian restaurant onsite.

Waves & Wildlife Cottages

Stay among the action at Waves & Wildlife Cottages, on the island’s north coast. The comfy cabins are set on 30 hectares on the edge of Stokes Bay, and are surrounded by wildlife, including echidnas, wallabies and chocolate-coloured Kangaroo Island kangaroos.

Western KI Caravan Park

On the border of Flinders Chase National Park you’ll find Western KI Caravan Park, which has a number of cabins and luxury cabins for those wanting to be close to the wild side of Kangaroo Island. There’s a small shop where you can buy essentials, including bait.

HERE’S HOW TO DO IT

Kangaroos bound across rocky ground above a brilliant blue bay, Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Get a view of the water and be only a 10-minute walk from Kingscote, the largest town on the island (you’ll need to stock up here if you’re staying further afield), at Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn. There’s also an Indian restaurant onsite.

Stay among the action at Waves & Wildlife Cottages, on the island’s north coast. The comfy cabins are set on 30 hectares on the edge of Stokes Bay, and are surrounded by wildlife, including echidnas, wallabies and chocolate-coloured Kangaroo Island kangaroos.

On the border of Flinders Chase National Park you’ll find Western KI Caravan Park, which has a number of cabins and luxury cabins for those wanting to be close to the wild side of Kangaroo Island. There’s a small shop where you can buy essentials, including bait.

WHEN YOU’RE DONE

A close-up of a platter of food being carried by a waiter to a table of diners on a deck, Port Willunga, South Australia

On the way back from the ferry, you’ll travel along the Fleurieu Peninsula. Stop for a night or two to enjoy the beaches, hiking and wineries. For a spectacular lunch, book a table at Star of Greece, sitting on the clifftop at Port Willunga and named after a ship wrecked off the coast in 1888. You’ll tuck in to superb local produce while enjoying panoramic views.