Kangaroo Island named among world’s top destinations to visit in 2024

An SA destination has rebounded from bushfires and the Covid tourism disaster to be named one of the world’s top region’s to visit in 2024. Find out where.

Kangaroo Island has been named one of the world’s top destinations to visit in 2024 — and is the only Australian destination to make the list.

Ranked as Number 2 by global travel publisher Lonely Planet in its 2024 Top Regions

Hotlist, Kangaroo Island is recognised as a premier eco-tourism destination offering distinct local produce, abundant wildlife, natural experiences, and some of the nation’s most pristine beaches.

The huge boost for KI’s tourism industry which has weathered bushfires and Covid sees it listed behind the Balkans in Lonely Plant’s list and ahead of Italy’s Tuscany – in a list which changes every year to push the publisher’s sales.

The gong for Kangaroo Island comes as the $55m Southern Ocean Lodge rebuild on the west coast of the island gets set to open to guests in early December the new multimillion-dollar development of The Cliffs Kangaroo Island golf course opens next year.

Latest tourism data shows Kangaroo Island has reached record visitor expenditure at $294m spent by visitors in the year to June 2023, it surpasses the region’s target of $199m set for December 2025.

Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Milky Way Arch above Remarkable Rocks.

Young boys jump off Vivonne Bay Jetty into the water. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison praised KI and “one of the best destinations in the world.”

“With new major attractions on their way such as the rebirth of Southern Ocean Lodge and The Cliffs Kangaroo Island golf course, it is the perfect time for the region to get this global recognition and for visitors worldwide to start planning their trip,” she said.

“It is terrific that Kangaroo Island is not only bouncing back from the devastating impacts of bushfires and the pandemic but is going beyond that, hitting a record-breaking $294m in visitor expenditure and already far exceeding its target set for 2025.”

Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher, described KI as “a quintessential Australian travel experience blessed with amazing beaches, delicious food, wine, and spirits”.

“It’s been much lauded of late but 2024 is the year that Kangaroo Island will be set to capitalise on all of the accolades,” he said.