Kangaroo Island

Just 110 km up the coast from Adelaide, the third largest island in Australia sits 16km off of the shore. Kangaroo Island is an incredible world away from the mainland and can’t be fully enjoyed in a day or two. Exploring this treasure with its 26 designated parks, reserves and protected areas will take an extended visit. Its few towns and small population leave a huge area untouched. If you only have a few days, decide your itinerary before you go so that no time is wasted.

With a temperate climate throughout it, stunning landscapes and miles of untouched wilderness; it is no wonder that Kangaroo Island holds a magical appeal to visitors. Accessible by plane or ferry, there is a wide range of accommodation options for visitors, from rough camping to luxury.

The largest of the parks on the island, Flinders Chase National Park occupies 17% of the island and surrounds Ravine de Casoars Wilderness Protection Area. On the western end of Kangaroo Island, the cliffs were long the cause of shipwrecks before two lighthouses were constructed in Cape Du Couedic, within Flinders National Park, & Cape Borda. Although these lighthouses are isolated, they are accessible and many visitors are drawn to the rugged, wild coast. Weir’s Cove, Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks are all contained within the park.

Set on Cape Bouguer, not only does Kelly Hill Conservation Park have terrific walking trails but also it is home to a magnificent network of limestone caves, the Kelly Hill Caves. Carved deep into the limestone, these caves hold a wealth of treasures. The spectacular stalagmites and stalactites; as well as the trove of fossils from animals that once lived, and currently live, on the island make the Kelly Hill Caves a wonderful place to explore.

The rare Australian Sea Lions live in a very large colony at Seal Bay. This colony is calculated to be about 10% of the world’s sea lion population. The accessibility of the sea lions allows visitors to get amazingly close to these creatures on guided tours. This amazing sanctuary was created in 1954 and the population of seals that breed here has exploded. Swimming and Fishing are strictly prohibited here so don’t be tempted.

Just off the treacherous coast of Kangaroo Island are a number of wrecks. Some of the wrecks took many lives and others took none. Three operating lighthouses make sure that dark chapter of the island’s mariner history does not repeat itself.

Agriculture, fishing, and tourism are the economic mainstays of Kangaroo Island. One restriction that visitors must adhere to is that they can bring no honey products or import bees. The island is home to the world’s only pure strain of Ligurian bees and they intend to keep it that way. It is also home to the only distillery of eucalyptus oil in South Australia.

Kangaroo Island is a multi-faceted island with delightful discoveries around every corner. It is a place you can immerse yourself in and you won’t ever want to leave.