Don’t Delay Your Stay: A complete travel guide to visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia
People travel from around the world to see this island treasure just off the coast of South Australia. And there’s one reason you’ll want to visit sooner rather than later.
Welcome to Don’t Delay Your Stay, news.com.au’s campaign to support communities hard hit by this summer’s devastating bushfires. Many of these regions rely on tourism so one of the best ways to help is to visit and spend time in some of the most beautiful parts of our great country.
Minutes from the mainland but what feels like a million miles away, you’ll find the rugged coastline and natural wonders of Kangaroo Island.
With its pristine beaches, dense bushland and the opportunity to see many native animals just living their lives, it’s often referred to as a “zoo without fences”.
The recent fires have had a devastating impact on the people, animals and landscape of this unique and beautiful island but is open again for business and they need our support.
While it’s unclear when tourists will be allowed back into the worst hit areas on the western end of the island, the smoke from the bushfires has dissipated and more businesses are now open.
From wineries, distillers and lavender farms to lighthouses and wildlife tours, the variety of things to see and do on the island’s eastern end is vast.
Make no mistake: Kangaroo Island is back in business.
Whether you’re coming by ferry or plane, turn back the clock to island time – these towns and villages are ready for you now.
AMERICAN RIVER
Surrounded by bushland, American River is a great place to base yourself in Kangaroo Island’s east with great seafood, swimming, fishing and wildlife watching.
Devour oysters, marron, abalone and King George whiting at The Oyster Farm Shop. With everything prepared fresh on site, walk across the road to the jetty, dangle your legs over the edge and tuck into oysters farmed a mere 200 metres away.
Once you’ve had your fill, head to Island Beach to soak up the sun or explore the protected wetlands of the nearby Pelican Lagoon.
At the end of the day, kick back at your very own luxury Oceanview Eco Villa, atop Nepean Bay, or at Island Beach Lodge, where you’ll have wraparound views of the island’s world-famous beaches – from American River to Rocky Point.
At the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, enjoy a dinner at Reflections Restaurant. You’ll find a menu incorporating local produce as it changes with the seasons and a wide range of regional wines, beers and spirits.
Located right on the wharf is The Deck Cafe, serving locally-caught King George Whiting or sit back with a coffee or local beer or wine and watch the boats and birdlife go by.
While you’re there, make sure you pay a visit next door to the Rebuild Independence Group, an organisation who are rebuilding the Schooner Independence, the first vessel built in South Australia.
KINGSCOTE
The largest town on Kangaroo Island, Kingscote sits on Nepean Bay and is home to the island’s airport, making it a popular base for tourists.
Hungry? They’ve got you covered.
For good coffee, always go where the locals go. In this case, it’s Cactus, where you’ll find smooth coffee, meals that celebrate local produce, local wines and beer and freshly-baked treats.
Or, sit down for an authentic Italian feast of pizza, homemade pasta and Italian charcuterie at Amadio Wines Cellar Door, paired with a local drop or one from their Adelaide Hills vineyard.
Wash it all down with a local brew from Kangaroo Island Brewery, the island’s first cellar door microbrewery. Offering excellent food and eight different craft beers and situated on 20 acres, find a spot in the paddock and relax.
If wine is more your thing, the area has a number of vineyards, including Bay of Shoals Wines, where the vines are hand pruned and the grapes hand picked. Overlooking the Bay of Shoals and Reeves Point, the grapes are grown in true maritime climates – something that’s reflected in the wine’s intense varietal flavours.
Pay a morning visit to Island Beehive and learn about Ligurian Bees – Kangaroo Island was declared a sanctuary for the docile insect in 1885, in order to protect its purity. Take a guided tour, enjoy free tastings of organic honey and have morning tea at the cafe.
The Kangaroo Island Art Gallery sits in the town’s centre, and showcases a selection of diverse local art. All work is done by members of the Kangaroo Island Art Society and visitors can view and purchase jewellery, paintings, photography, glasswork and woodcraft. Just north of Kingscote, at the mouth of Nepean Bay is Busby Islet and the Busby Islet Conservation Park. The small nature reserve is a must-visit for anyone passionate about birdlife.
It’s home to pelicans, penguins and numerous other winged species.
If your idea of an island escape is lounging on long stretches of white sand before plunging into sparkling waters, drive 15 minutes down the road and park yourself by the ocean at Emu Bay.
While there, make sure you pay a visit to Emu Ridge, the only remaining commercial eucalyptus oil distillery in South Australia, and a major part of Kangaroo Island’s heritage.
Spend a night (or two) at the Ozone Hotel on Kingscote’s foreshore. With its unique location and panoramic views, the hotel is the ideal base for your Kangaroo Island visit.
PENNESHAW
Penneshaw has long been a gateway to Kangaroo Island, welcoming visitors arriving from South Australia across the Backstairs Passage on the Sealink or KI Connect ferries.
Laze on the beach, meander along one of the nearby walking trails, or take a thrilling ocean safari ride with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari.
You can swim with wild dolphins and seals in crystal clear waters, or if you prefer to stay dry, book the 75 minute coastal cruise and soak it all in from the comfort of the boat.
If you’re feeling thirsty, make sure you pay a visit to Dudley Wines, a family business established in 1997.
The cellar door is 12 kilometres from Penneshaw on the cliff tops of the island’s north coast, and is an experience not to be missed.
There are cheese platters, light meals and award-winning wines at False Capes Wines, nestled among the vineyard and gum trees on the picturesque Willson River.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, settle in for a meal at the island’s newest food destination, Sunset Food and Wine.
It specialises in modern Australian food with a focus on seafood and local, seasonal produce.
And if spectacular views of the ocean and a relaxed atmosphere are what you’re after, you’ll be right at home perched on the venue’s deck.
The Penneshaw Hotel is another spot with seriously good views to go with the great food.
The Kangaroo Island Seafront is perfectly situated on the Esplanade in Penneshaw, overlooking the Backstairs Passage, just 300 metres from the Sealink Ferry Terminal.
Sea Dragon Lodge’s co-owner Steve Lane said he has been “absolutely inundated with luxury holiday package bookings” since the bushfires. The boutique, adults only, eco-friendly retreat in Willoughby is the perfect accommodation for those hoping to enjoy romantic sunsets with ocean views, farm-fresh local produce, and their own secluded beach.
Walk from here to the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, the first lighthouse to be built in South Australia in 1852.
Standing 27 metres high, it’s 102 steps to the lookout tower but if you are up for the exercise you’ll get sweeping views across Backstairs Passage and the Kangaroo Island coastline.
VIVONNE BAY
Once voted Australia’s best beach, Vivonne Bay’s six kilometre-long U-shaped beach is the postcard-perfect spot to soak in the best of island life.
Here, white sandy shores meet gently lapping waves, perfect for wading waist deep. With a jetty framing the south-end and distant dunes in the north, it’s a great excuse to slip away for a weekend without another soul in sight.
The town, which has a population of about 400, was evacuated in early January when an out-of-control bushfire west of Parndana threatened to break containment lines.
While Vivonne Bay is now getting back on its feet, visitors are advised not to travel any further west, and many surrounding businesses and attractions have sadly been impacted and are closed until further notice.
Half an hour away from Vivonne Bay, Flinders Chase National Park, home to Kangaroo Island’s famous – Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks – is also currently closed.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to do in the area.
A stone’s throw from the beach, you’ll find plenty of great accommodation options like Serenity Cottage, while some of the island’s biggest drawcards are on your doorstep. The cosy, treetop hideaway is an ideal base to explore the island’s south coast attractions – and just a five-minute walk to the crystal clear waters of Vivonne Bay.
Snorkel the rock pools, surf or fish from the jetty or the beach.
Just down the road, you can surf down the shimmering sand dunes of Little Sahara before visiting some of the locals at Seal Bay. It’s one of the island’s top tourist attractions for good reason.
Learn about the lives of these endangered animals as a guide takes you on a tour into the colony – where there’ll be plenty of time for photos as the sea lions shelter in the dunes, rest on the sand or surf in the ocean.
If winged creatures are more your style, pay a visit to the Raptor Domain, where orphaned, injured and sick birds of prey are taken into the centre’s care each year.
STOKES BAY
Secluded Stokes Bay is a hidden paradise on Kangaroo Island’s north coast, waiting to be discovered.
If your idea of a dream holiday is to relax beachside, this picture-perfect cove is an idyllic spot to throw down a towel. Weave through a labyrinth of caves before emerging onto some of the whitest sand and clearest water in Australia.
The town was devastated by the bushfires in January, and several popular spots – including the Stokes Bay Bush Garden – were completely destroyed by the blazes, and at this stage there are no plans for reopening.
One business is back on its feet is the beloved Rockpool Cafe. Once you’ve built up an appetite wading in the turquoise waters, head to the classic beach kiosk with seaside views and enjoy restaurant-quality meals as well as traditional beach fare.
Half an hour’s drive away in Cygnet River, you’ll find Kangaroo Island Spirits, South Australia’s first boutique distillery. Partners Jon and Sarah Lark produce a range of high quality liqueurs and spirits – including vodka and gin – with an emphasis on using local and native ingredients.
End your day unwinding in luxury at Stowaway Kangaroo Island or continue to another of Kangaroo Island’s pristine beaches and check into Lifetime Private Retreats at Snellings Beach.
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