The New York Times ranks Kangaroo Island in the top ten places to visit in 2023

We know it’s a paradise on earth. Now the rest of the world has cottoned on with KI ranked on the New York Times’ list of global travel destinations for 2023.

The New York Times has listed South Australia’s Kangaroo Island in the top ten places to visit in 2023.

Sitting among some of the world’s most beautiful locations, our state’s humble island takes seventh place, between Palm Springs, California in sixth place and Vjosa River, Albania in eight position.

Writer Besha Rodell said the island was known for incredible wildlife, breathtaking ocean views and its status as an ecological haven, calling it a “zoo without fences”.

Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island. Picture: Jess Caldwell

Kangaroo Island has been listed as the seventh best place to travel in 2023 by the New York Times. Picture: Evangeline Polymeneas

With the luxury hotel, the Southern Ocean Lodge reopening “grander and better than before” this year, The New York Times found it fit to place the island seventh place to visit in 2023.

Number one this year went to London, England, with the publication calling it “a buzzing city ready for a coronation, a brand-new airport link and a prehistoric colossus” while final place at 52 when to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina with the New York Times saying the destination is “a living museum of resilience where empires and cultures have long intersected”.

The only other Australian destination that made the list was Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 29th place.
The chair of the Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance Susi Whitehead said it was wonderful for South Australia and Kangaroo Island to receive recognition.

“We have such a beautiful state and we are so lucky to have such a stunning and unique island on our own backyard,” she said.

“We know that we are not alone in recovering from the challenges of the devastating bushfires of 2019/20 and Covid but it is a boost to morale to be listed in The New York Times top ten.”

Kangaroo Island, which is approximately the same size as Bali, is the home to an abundance of wildlife, some of which is unique to the island and a population of less than 5000.

“This presents many opportunities to get away from it all,” Ms Whitehead said.

“People are attracted to the island because they feel good about supporting the region recovering from the fires and see first-hand how well it is recovering, while recharging their batteries and reconnecting with the things that really matter.”

Ms Whitehead said the islands appeal is its diverse range of landscapes, wildlife and activities.

“For the adventure seeker there are marine life tours and other aquatic activities, sand boarding, quad bikes, bushwalking, and fishing charters,” he said.

“Animal lovers can go nocturnal tours, visit wildlife, parks, engage in citizen science and see the animals and their natural habitats.

“Kangaroo Island has fantastic produce an ETA is multiple farm gates and teller doors, including about time is ginger celery, art galleries, and a burgeoning live music scene.”