Kangaroo Island-Must see and do...
Diverse landscapes, untouched beaches, an abundance of wildlife and wholesome local produce... whats not to love?
Getting there:
We wanted to flexibility and freedom of having our own vehicle and camping gear with us so we decided to catch the Sealink ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. The crossing takes roughly 45 mins and the process of checking in, boarding and disembarking is absolutely stress-free. If you plan of visiting Kangaroo Island during peak times (October - March) we recommend booking in advance to secure your desired dates and times. Fare start from $230.00 one way for two adults and a vehicle.
Alternatively, you can fly from Adelaide (ADL) to Kingscote (KGC) which is roughly a 30-minute flight.
Best time to visit:
The most popular time to visit is during the summer months between November- March. We travelled to KI in October and unfortunately we did not have the weather we hoped for but we did not let that stop us from enjoying all the sights, experiences and food on offer.
Things to see and do:
Seal Bay:
One of our favourite things to do on KI is visit Seal Bay. We spent hours watching the mischievous seal pups play. We chose to do the self-guided boardwalk tour for $17.00 per person. This allows you to wander along the boardwalk at your own pace and observe the seals from a safe distance.. many laying right beneath you. You do not need to pre-book this experience. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance and proceeds go to preserving the conservation area.
Beach Hop:
Emu Bay- When we think of Kangaroo Island the image of Emu Bay pop into our minds. We spend the morning driving along the beach and parking up to enjoy a coffee. Emu Bay has incredible blue waters and perfect white sand. Even on a bleak day, we could imagine how incredible this place would be on a hot summer’s day! There is a small campground situated at the beach’s entrance with basic sites and facilities.
Stokes Beach- This is another notable beach to visit, 40 minutes drive from Emu Bay. To reach the beach you must enter a small rock tunnel that brings you out to many rock pools to explore and plenty of beach to enjoy.
Continue down the road and you will find Snelling Beach.
Vivonne Bay: Explore the rock pools at low tide along Jetty Road, they are great for snorkelling or relaxing. There is a campsite within walking distance which offer hot showers!
Flinders Chase National Park:
We recommend allocating a whole day to explore this National Park. The National Park is home to the famous Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, a long-nosed fur seal colony and insta famous Cape du Couedic Road. This rugged coastline is absolutely breathtaking. There is an entry fee of $12.50 per adult which can be paid at the entry point to the National Park. There are campsites within the National Park, however, they were closed when we visited due to the 2019-20 bushfires that destroyed the area.
Eat & Drink:
Enjoy the many places to eat and drink around the island.
A few of our favourites were the Kangaroo Island Brewery, enjoying a paddle tasting at Kangaroo Island Spirits, lunch at Millie Mae's Pantry or Vivonne Bay General Store and a glass of wine with a view at Dudley Wines.
Recommended length of stay: 3-7 days
We covered the above with three full days of exploring, however, if the weather was warmer we would have liked to stay a week to really enjoy the beaches and more days to relax.
