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Kangaroo Island

Meet native animals in pristine natural settings on Kangaroo Island, easily accessible from Adelaide. See sea lions in their natural habitat at Seal Bay and little penguins waddling to shore in Penneshaw and Kingscote. Visit historic lighthouses and Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks, sculpted by eons of wind in Flinders Chase National Park. Hike Hanson Bay or go caving in Kelly Hill Conservation Park. Swim with dolphins and dive or snorkel from the island’s northern beaches. From Stokes Bay to Vivonne Bay, the island’s beaches invite you to swim, surf, fish and dive shipwrecks.

Four reasons to visit Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island SA
Australian sea lions
1. Wildlife in their natural habitat

Feed pelicans and see little penguins at Kingscote and Penneshaw. Then see tammar wallabies, brush-tailed possums and kangaroos at their most active on a nocturnal tour from American River. Bushwalk past ducks, swans and waders on Murray Lagoon in Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, just one place to observe some of the 267 species of birds found in various habitats on the island. See Australian sea lions at Seal Bay and thousands of New Zealand fur seals playing in and around Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase National Park. It’s also home to hundreds of peaceful kangaroos.

 
Kangaroo Island SA
Kelly Hill Caves, SA
2. Landscapes you can step into

Walk through Flinders Chase National Park, and discover the awe-inspiring formations of Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Explore the historic lighthouse precincts at Cape du Couedic and Cape Borda, where you can learn about the solitary lifestyles of lightkeepers and their families. Trek along remote clifftops and through forested valleys or cycle the island’s quiet open roads. Enjoy the diversity of the Hanson Bay Hike or surf the sand dunes at Little Sahara. Go adventure caving in Kelly Hill Conservation Park or meet crimson rosellas in the sugar gum forest beneath the caves.

 
Kangaroo Island SA
Kayaking at Harriet River, SA
3. Endless coastal adventures
Dive with rare leafy sea-dragons, snorkel over brilliant reefs and swim with dolphins off Kingscote or Emu Bay. South in D’estrees Bay, you can scuba dive some of the shipwrecks which are scattered around the island. Fish from the historic Emu Bay jetty, American River or Penneshaw. Sail past secluded sandy beaches around Nepean Bay and surf the uncrowded waves at Stokes and Pennington Bays. You’ll also find lots of idyllic swimming spots, from Snellings Beach on the north coast, to sheltered Brown Beach on the east coast and Vivonne Bay in the south.
 
Kangaroo Island SA
Kangaroo Island, SA
4. Food and wine in stunning settings
Visit the island’s cellar doors, many with stunning views to whet your palate. Sip boutique liqueurs in Cygnet River or sample wine in a converted airport hangar for a bohemian feel. Sample honey icecream and taste sheep's milk cheese and Ligurian honey from farms in Kingscote and MacGillivray. Feast on fresh, local produce across the island. Dine on local marron, King George Whiting and American River oysters overlooking the ocean. Fill your beach house or picnic hamper with gourmet produce and a bottle of your favourite wine.
 
Kangaroo Island SA
Ngarrindjeri Tour, SA
5. Land and lore tied to the Dreaming
Listen to the legend of Ngurunderi, the Dreamtime figure who chased two disobedient wives to Kangaroo Island before rejoining the spirit world. Trace Ngurunderi’s journey through the Coorong before travelling to Kangaroo Island. Join a guided walk or kayak tour with a descendant of the Ngarrindjeri people, who mysteriously left Kangaroo Island thousands of years before European settlement. You can also explore the island with the Ramindjeri people, descendants of mainland Aboriginal women brought here by early whalers. Connect to this unique natural landscape through both ancient creation tales and more recent histories.