Kangaroo Island

Famous for its natural beauty and culinary culture, Kangaroo Island is a popular South Australia vacation destination. While it’s possible to take in the highlights on a full-day tour from Adelaide, multi-day Kangaroo Island tours offer the chance to explore further afield.

Most tours explore the island’s wildlife reserves to spot sea lions and other fauna plus visit natural landmarks such as the Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, and Vivonne Bay. It’s also possible to venture off-road on a 4WD tour or sample the island’s local produce on a food and wine tour.

• There is no public transportation on the island, so it’s best to join a tour or rent a car if you want to go exploring.

• Most hotels and resorts offer Wi-Fi for guests.

• Ferries to the island are fully wheelchair accessible, and many tours offer accessible transport.

Kangaroo Island is located off the coast of South Australia and is reachable by Kangaroo Island ferry or by plane from the main airports in Adelaide or Melbourne. Car and passenger ferry services reach the island in about 45 minutes and run several times daily from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula to Penneshaw on the island. Cape Jervis is roughly two hours by road from Adelaide.

Summer (December through February) is the most popular time to visit the island. This is also the best time to spot wildlife because it coincides with the breeding season. Due to mild year-round temperatures, it’s also possible to visit during winter to avoid crowds and find lower prices on tours and accommodations.

Wildlife lovers will be in their element on Kangaroo Island, where a third of the land is designated as a nature reserve and animal residents outnumber human ones. Admire the natural beauty of Flinders Chase National Park, walk the boardwalk at Seal Bay Conservation Park to see fur seals in their natural habitat, admire little penguins at Penneshaw Penguin Centre, visit the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, or stop at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to spot koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and cassowaries.

Aussie summers (December–February) are the most popular time to visit Kangaroo Island, and for good reason—the sunny weather is perfect for beach days, and it’s breeding season for the island’s wildlife. But you don’t have to visit in summer. With mild year-round temperatures, the island is a four-season destination.

Although it’s possible to experience the highlights of Kangaroo Island on a day trip from Adelaide, a minimum of two days is recommended. With a weekend or more, you can see sights like Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, swim and surf at Emu Bay and Stokes Bay along the north coast of Kangaroo Island, and go wildlife watching.

Yes, Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third-largest island and one of South Australia’s most-visited destinations. Come to explore the natural wonders of Flinders Chase National Park, watch the little penguins at Penneshaw, surf and stroll along sandy beaches, and spot wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and fur seals.

Yes, there are many options for day or multi-day tours to Kangaroo Island from nearby Adelaide with return transport by ferry. Popular Kangaroo Island tickets for tours include 4WD tours of Flinders Chase National Park, food and wine tasting tours, wildlife-watching safaris, and outdoor activities such as sandboarding, kayaking, biking, and boat cruises.

Strict rules are enforced to maintain the pest-free ecosystems of Kangaroo Island. Items that can’t be brought from mainland Australia include certain animals and plants, honey products (to protect the island’s native Ligurian bees), and unwashed potatoes (which can carry disease). You should also clean hiking boots and camping equipment.

No, Kangaroo Island is 96 miles (155 kilometers) long with no public transport, so you’ll need your own vehicle or to join a tour to explore the island. However, hikers can enjoy a variety of trails, including the popular 37-mile (60-kilometer) Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail from Flinders Chase National Park.