Penneshaw: A complete travel guide to visiting Kangaroo Island

Penneshaw is a gateway to the magnificent Kangaroo Island. But one spot on the island will have your jaw dropping.

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.

Perched on the Dudley Peninsula, Penneshaw is a gateway to the paradise of Kangaroo Island, and is home to its largest selection of accommodation and dining options.

Jump off your Sealink or KI Connect ferry and start exploring with the sandy shores of the town’s Hog Bay and the turquoise waters of Brown Beach right at your fingertips.

Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Kane Overall

Laze on the beach, meander along one of the nearby walking trails, or take an ocean safari ride with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari.

You’ll 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 hands-on family business established in 1997.

The cellar door is situated 12 kilometres from Penneshaw on the cliff tops of the island’s north coast, and is an experience not to be missed.

You can grab a cheese platters, light meals and award-winning wines at False Capes Wines, which sits among vineyards and gum trees on the picturesque Willson River.

False Cape Wines on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Meaghan Coles

Or try the island’s newest food destination, Sunset Food and Wine, which specialises in modern Australian cuisine and local, seasonal produce all served with spectacular views from the venue’s deck.

The Penneshaw Hotel has commanding and uninterrupted views over Backstairs Passage and offers modern Australian cuisine that celebrates local produce.

The Penneshaw Hotel on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Adam Bruzzone, South Australian Tourism Commission

The Kangaroo Island Seafront is perfectly situated on the Esplanade in Penneshaw, overlooking the magnificent 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.

Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Gab Rivera

Walk from here to the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, the first lighthouse to be built in South Australia in 1852.

Standing 27 metres high with 102 steps to the lookout tower, from the top you’ll experience sweeping views across Backstairs Passage and the Kangaroo Island coastline.