Kangaroo Island Tourist Information

Come on over to Kangaroo Island for the Coopers Kangaroo Island Cup 14th - 16th February 2008
Download brochure here

Kangaroo Island is one of the world's last great unspoiled island wildernesses. Native Australian wildlife & nature abound, and many species of plant and animal that are found on Kangaroo Island are no longer seen on the Australian mainland.

Location: 113km south west of Adelaide, about 90 minutes drive from Adelaide through the Southern Vales wine region of South Australia, to the Kangaroo Island Sealink

Ferry at Cape Jervis for a 45 minute crossing to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.

Sealink operate 2 ferries to Kangaroo Island, The Spirit of Kangaroo Island and The Sealion 2000.

The ferries are comfortable and feature a forward lounge & well stocked snack bar for a coffee or a light snack.


Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island being 4500 square kilometres, with much of Kangaroo Island classified as national and conservation parks, the largest being the Flinders Chase National Park.
The spectacular coastline is made up of towering cliffs, beautiful sandy beaches, battered rocks and quiet secluded inlets. There are excellent diverse bush walking and fishing opportunities on Kangaroo Island.



Kangaroo Island incorporates typical farmland, remote national parks, bleak rocky cliffs, snug bays and sandy un spoilt beaches.


Kingscote is the largest town on the island situated on Nepean Bay. Here you can watch pelican feeding at 5pm in the afternoon at the jetty, and see fairy penguins come ashore at night.
At the other end of the island about 90 minutes by vehicle is the Flinders Chase National Park, where you may see kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, platypus and possums.

Seal Bay Conservation Park is a large sandy beach and dune area, where wild Australian sea lions rest after a day out at sea fishing. Here you can go on a guided tour onto the beach and see the Sea Lions in their natural beach habitat.

There are many beaches to swim at on Kangaroo Island, secluded rock pools to explore, deserted sandy beaches to walk along, limestone cliffs to clamber up, mountains to climb, rivers to explore and bays to fish in.

Sailing, snorkeling and fishing charters are just a few ways to enjoy the water.

There is a total of 18 conservation and national parks on Kangaroo Island, and entry fees apply to some of the national parks.

Kangaroo Island features mostly a mild temperate mild climate. The average summer temperature is 25 deg C however, often cool southern sea breezes in the evenings make it necessary for the use of some warmer clothes.

3 to 4 Days on Kangaroo Island is highly recommended if you want to see a good sample of what Kangaroo Island has on offer.

Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island, and only a portion of the island has been affected by the fires.

People are still going about business as usual on Kangaroo Island, and there is plenty of tourism attractions, beaches and wildlife experiences open for visitors to enjoy.
The Department of Environment and Heritage has now also reopened the parks to the public.

In times such as this, it is important to show your support for the regional community affected by fire and not shy away from your planned holiday on the island.


National Parks on Kangaroo Island
The Department of Environment and Heritage has reopened a number of parks to the public.
The following parks are open to the public:
o       Lathami Conservation Park
o       Lashmar Conservation Park
o       Baudin Conservation Park
o       Cape Willoughby Conservation Parks
o       Seal Bay
o       Kelly Hill Caves
o       Flinders Chase & Remarkable Rocks & The Chase Cafe & Visitor Center is open
o       The road to Cape Border is open and has been recently graded

What’s Open
The following are just some of the tourism attractions currently open to visitors on Kangaroo Island:
o       North Coast Rd to Western River Cove
o       KI Marine Tours Dolphin Swim
o       Alkirna Nocturnal Tours
o       Kingscote KI Marine Centre (including pelican feeding at 5pm and nightly penguin tours)
o       Penneshaw Penguin Centre
o       Cape Willoughby Lightstation
o       Dudley Wines, Sunset Wines and Bay of Shoals Winery
o       Emu Bay Lavender
o       Jumbuck Australiana
o       Clifford’s Honey Farm
o       Island Beehive
o       Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery
o       Island Pure Sheep Dairy
o       Parndana Wildlife Park
o       Kingscote Golf Course
o       Paul's Place Wildlife Sanctuary
o       Rare Breeds Farm
o       Stokes Bay Bush Garden

Accessible Beaches
Kangaroo Island’s world-class beaches have not been affected by the bushfires.
Those accessible to visitors include Antechamber Bay, Hog Bay Beach, Island Beach, Browns Beach, Pennington Bay, Emu Bay, Stokes Bay, Brownlow Beach and Snelling’s Beach.

Effect on Tourism Infrastructure
While the tourism industry laments the loss of a life due to the bushfires, the fires have caused virtually no damage to Kangaroo Island’s tourism infrastructure.
The CFS reports that one holiday house at Vivonne Bay is the only asset lost to the fires.
·No infrastructure in National Parks - including the facilities at Seal Bay -has been affected by the fires.

Travel to Kangaroo Island
Sealink Ferries and Kangaroo Island Ferries South Australia are continuing to operate services as normal.
Sealink Phone: 13 13 01
Air South is continuing to operate its flights as scheduled. 1300 247768
Regional Express (Rex) Airways is continuing return flights each day between Adelaide and Kingscote
For more information about Rex flights call 131713.

Tours and Accommodation on Kangaroo Island

All accommodation in Kingscote, Penneshaw, American River, Emu Bay, Island Beach, Baudin Beach, Brownlow, Stokes Bay and the North Coast is operating as usual and is taking bookings. At this stage there is very limited camping in Flinders Chase National Park.

There has been no damage to tourism infrastructure including Southern Ocean Lodge, Hanson Bay Sanctuary, Western KI Caravan Park, Flinders Chase Farm, Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, and the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre at Rocky River.