Kangaroo Island Travel Guide

  Afternoon de-light
by Longnosedbandicoot
  • Afternoon de-light
      Afternoon de-light
    by Longnosedbandicoot
  • Remarkable Rocks
      Remarkable Rocks
    by Kathrin_E
  • Admirals Arch
      Admirals Arch
    by Longnosedbandicoot
  • The sea lion cub continues its search for its mum
      The sea lion cub continues its search...
    by Longnosedbandicoot
  • Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
      Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
    by kelyeah

Pro

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 One of Australia's largest islands - full of wildlife and scenic attractions 


Con

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 Expensive petrol, bitumen roads the exception rather than the rule, wildlife on the roads at night 


In a nutshell

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 The chance to get close to nature without the feeling of being in a circus - a definite Australia highlight for me! 

 

Explore Kangaroo Island

Things to Do  

Around the Island

Around the Island, Kangaroo Island

 shavy Says:  There a lot to do in the island, first, need to organize or plan which one you visit. Some of it you need to spent a few hours, and some of the sights you need a whole day tour. Most of the sights are out of the main road and you really need a time to get there. Collect a... 

Pelican Feeding

Pelican Feeding, Kangaroo Island

 shavy Says:  Popular entertainment for all ages, John "The Pelican Man" gives a lively informative talk while feeding the birds, funny while watching the birds waiting for him to come, the bench are almost full with audience patiently waited till the show begin. He arrive with a bucket... 

BAUDIN CONSERVATION PARK

BAUDIN CONSERVATION PARK, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  As well as visiting the ruins in the park, the walk takes you past some wonderful views. Down by the Sea, the rocks were fascinating. They had been worn into shapes, were pitted and covered in bright orange Lichen. Down here, I could see the town of Penneshaw. A little... 

BAUDIN CONSERVATION PARK - BATE'S HOME

BAUDIN CONSERVATION PARK - BATE'S HOME, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  The Bullock track also took me up the hill to the home of Harry Bate's Cottage. Harry Bates was born in 1846. He came to Adelaide with his family aboard the ship "Melbourne," on which at the age of 12years, was given the job of a Cabin boy. The family moved permanently to... 

BAUDIN CONSERVATION PARK - THRESHING FLOOR

BAUDIN CONSERVATION PARK - THRESHING FLOOR, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  The Baudin Conservation Park is located near Penneshaw. We could drive our car to the park entrance, from there the Ironstone Hill Hike began. At the entrance is a map and details about the hike, which was described as moderate one of 4kms, to allow 3 hours.It is hilly, so... 

CAPE WILLOUGHBY

CAPE WILLOUGHBY, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  Still travelling on the dirt road to Cape Willoughby, we come over a rise on the road, and there before us was the Lighthouse and cottages!Cape Willoughby was the first lighthouse to be erected in South Australia, and lights the Backstairs Passage between Kangaroo Island and... 

ROAD TO CAPE WILLOUGHBY

ROAD TO CAPE WILLOUGHBY, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  The road to Cape Willoughby was a dirt road that was in good condition. The scenery along the way was of rolling green hills and farmland. After coming out from the road to Lashmar National park, we came to another pretty area, right beside the road. This still could have... 

LASHMAR CONSERVATION PARK -THE BEACH

LASHMAR CONSERVATION PARK -THE BEACH, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  I went walking and came out on a long sandy deserted beach known as Antechamber Bay in the Lashmar Conservation Park.I had walked from where the Chapman River flowed, so I walked along the Beach until I found the estuary of the River. The River is good for canoeing along,... 

LASHMAR CONSERVATION PARK

LASHMAR CONSERVATION PARK, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  Heading along the road to Cape Willoughby, we saw a brown tourist sign to Lashmar Conservation Park.Turning into the dirt road, we followed it, finding out that it was a "no through road" We saw a person camping, other than that, it was deserted, we had the area to... 

FIREBALL BATES TRAIL

FIREBALL BATES TRAIL, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  This is another walking trail at Penneshaw of 3km which takes 1 - 2 hours. It is an easy walk which begins at the Information centre at Penneshaw which is in the old town. Along the walk, Interpretive signs tell of the history of the area."Fireball" Bates is known so because... 

ARTWORK IN PENNESHAW

ARTWORK IN PENNESHAW, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  As we made our way around Penneshaw, we noticed the local council had built nice limestone brick walls and added sculptures to the brickwork. It looked great!The entrance way to the Penneshaw oval had a sculptured Eagle on the wall. The Penneshaw Caravan Park had a group of... 

PENGUIN'S & TOURS

PENGUIN'S & TOURS, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  Kangaroo Island has many colonies of Penguins.Our accommodation at Penneshaw was just across the road from one of these colonies.I saw there was a KI Penguin centre at Penneshaw, and that it did tours. I decided against it as I had already seen many of these "small fellows"... 

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE EXPLORERS - 3

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE EXPLORERS - 3, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  Our third stop was at CONTEMPLATION SEAT.This seat was sculptured by a local artist, in memory of the Aboriginal people, mainly women who were brought here by the pre-colonial Sealers, Sailors and Outcasts. The women helped the early settlers with Wallaby trapping and the... 

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE EXPLORERS - 2

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE EXPLORERS - 2, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  Next stop on the walk/drive, was at FRENCHMAN'S ROCK. This is at the White Dome which I could see when arriving on the Ferry at Penneshaw. It is a replica of the rock on which French Explorer Baudin's Sailors carved the first authenticated piece of graffiti on the Island.... 

Hotels  

Southern Ocean Lodge

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Transportation  

Ferry Boat

Ferry Boat, Kangaroo Island

 shavy Says:  Sealink, departing the port of Cape Jervis from the mainland, and arrives at the port of Penneshaw on the Island. Booking in advance are required especially if you are going with vehicle, there are a daily ferry to Kangaroo Island 

SEALINK FERRY

SEALINK FERRY, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  Cape Jervis is where you come to catch the SeaLink Ferry. The ferry service operates daily (except Christmas Day) between Cape Jervis (two hours south of Adelaide) and Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. I booked online, so just turned up at Cape Jervis about half hour before hand,... 

Warnings and Dangers  

OFF SEASON AT PENNESHAW

OFF SEASON AT PENNESHAW, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  We were at Penneshaw in May, which is Autumn, and already many of the shops were closed.It looks like there isn't enough business to make it worth while their opening, so they close their shop, and head off on holiday.....or as the sign on the Fish & Chip shop said..."Gone... 

THE ROARING 40'S

THE ROARING 40'S, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  The "Roaring 40's" may not be what you think they are!This is the name of the strong, wild wind the western end of Kangaroo Island receives. With it comes wet weather and cold temperatures. The winds are at full strength in Spring and slightly weaker in Autumn, although this... 

Favorites  

KANGAROO ISLAND QUARANTINE LAWS

KANGAROO ISLAND QUARANTINE LAWS, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  As Kangaroo Island is remote and without pests, legislation forbidding or restricting the importation of some items to Kangaroo Island applies, so do the right thing, or cop a large fine! This is more for locals, not tourists.....No rabbits or foxes allowed, can't imagine a... 

WILDLIFE BABIES

WILDLIFE BABIES, Kangaroo Island

 balhannah Says:  A lot of people come to Kangaroo Island to see the abundance of wildlife on the island.You can come here when the weather is good, or perhaps when you are most likely to see babies.So what time is the best to come to see what?Between December-February (Summer) is when the... 

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Map of Kangaroo Island