Kangaroo Island

The “Galápagos of Australia”: walk alongside sea lions at Seal Bay, then explore Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, the Little Sahara dunes and wild kangaroos and koalas.

Kangaroo Island lies about 110 km southwest of Adelaide in South Australia. It is Australia’s third-largest island, roughly 150 km from east to west and about 4,400 square kilometres in area. More than a third of the island is national park or conservation reserve. Cut off from the mainland and free of introduced predators such as foxes and rabbits, it is known as the “Galápagos of Australia”, and it is easy to see Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas and many birds. Main areas: the Dudley Peninsula in the east (Penneshaw ferry terminal, Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, Dudley Wines, Pennington Bay); Kingscote, the island’s main town, in the north-central part (pelican feeding, honey farm, gin distillery, Emu Bay); the south coast (Seal Bay, Little Sahara, Vivonne Bay, wildlife park); Flinders Chase National Park at the western end (Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, Cape du Couedic Lighthouse); and, on the north coast, Stokes Bay and Snelling Beach. Seasons: summer (Dec–Feb) in the Southern Hemisphere is best for beaches; spring (Sep–Nov) brings wildflowers; autumn (Mar–May) has settled weather; winter is windy and wet, but sea lions can be seen year-round. Getting there: drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis (about 1.5 hours), then take the SeaLink ferry to Penneshaw (45 minutes, vehicles carried), or fly from Adelaide to Kingscote (about 30 minutes). There is no public transport on the island, so you need to self-drive or join a tour. Many sections are gravel roads, and kangaroos are numerous at night, so avoid driving after dark if possible. Allow 2–3 days. Notes: national parks such as Flinders Chase require an entry ticket (a Kangaroo Island pass is available); western vegetation is still recovering from the 2019–20 bushfires; many beaches have strong rips, so swim only in calm bays.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries