Kangaroo Island is the third-largest island mass in Australia and should be on any wildlife and adventure-lovers destination list!
[Updated April 2020]
This post contains affiliate links for which Expedition Wildlife may receive a commission (where applicable) at no additional cost to you.
Kangaroo Island is a must-visit destination on a trip to South Australia. The many Kangaroo Island activities make this the ultimate place to visit!
A quick note about Kangaroo Island following the 2019-2020 fires: while large sections of the island suffered from intense fires, much of the island remains perfectly intact. What’s more, the Kangaroo Island tourism board has been encouraging visitors that their experience will not be diminished. Follow the Kangaroo Island tourism board on Facebook for any updates on closures.
There are many incredible destinations to visit in Australia – read more about the best places to see wildlife around the World!
Click the Google Maps image to see all the sites listed in this post.
What You’ll See on Kangaroo Island
It’s no secret that Australia is home to many unique animals, especially endemic animals, those found nowhere else in the world.
On Kangaroo Island, there are 18 endemic subspecies, including a subspecies of kangaroo called the Kangaroo Island, or Sooty, Kangaroo. The native wildlife on Kangaroo Island is well-preserved because of the island’s isolation. Not only this, but the extensive amount of protected land also makes for great wildlife habitat.
Hiking and driving around the Island, watch out for wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, and many bird (around 260!) and reptile species. Even the beaches are full of action, with seals basking in the sand and whales easily visible from the shore.
Download our Bird Species Checklist to prepare you for your trip to Kangaroo Island!
Wallabies are just one of the many animals you’ll spot on your visit to Kangaroo Island!
Best Time to Visit for all the Kangaroo Island Activities!
From March to November, the weather is milder and the island is less busy. This is Australia’s shoulder season and winter. Australia’s wintertime is also when you’re most likely to spot whales offshore!
Note that bird breeding season is from around August to November, during the spring. If you are looking to spot some bird breeding plumage and behavior, this is the time to go. Spring is the time for new babies, so expect to see the new year’s wildlife, including seals.
Per the weather, if you visit Australia during the height of summer, you’ll have to adjust your wildlife watching schedule to go out early in the morning and late in the evening. The sun gets so hot that the animals, too, don’t want to be out in it.
Granted, however, Kangaroo Island has more mild weather compared to the mainland. The island being surrounded by water and coastline winds give a bit of a reprieve from the vastly hot interior.
Take your time to visit!
I recommend exploring the island for at least a few days. Some people travel to Kangaroo Island for only a day or an overnight trip expecting tons of wildlife to be right in front of them waiting. While there may be wonderful things to see, the island isn’t a zoo.
Taking your time to see the island’s natural wonders and explore the beaches and bush will greatly enhance your ability to see more wildlife. Remember, Kangaroo Island is quite large and it takes time to see everything!
Getting to Kangaroo Island
An easy 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw allows visitors to be transported to Kangaroo Island’s wild paradise. What’s more, it’s just 1.5 hours down the coast from Adelaide, so it’s easy to get to by car.
There is a Sealink bus that takes visitors from Adelaide to Cape Jervis. However, you’ll need to consider how to get around the island once you get there (see the next section down for info on getting around Kangaroo Island).
If you aren’t keen on ferries, or simply don’t want to drive from Adelaide, flights go from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island often.
Ferry on the way from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.
Getting Around Kangaroo Island
Getting around the island by car is quite easy, as the majority of main roads lead directly to sites of interest.
Unless you go with a tour guide company (Exceptional Kangaroo Island gets amazing reviews!), driving on your own by renting a car (either on the island or off) or ferrying a car over will be the only other way to get from place to place.
There are full-day tours directly from Adelaide, though that’ll be a long day, as well as multi-day tours from the city if you’d prefer a direct pickup.
When we travel to wildlife hotspots, we typically take a full day with one of the local guides first. This allows us to get the low-down on the area’s history and get recommendations for other not-to-miss places to see. You never know, you may even end up having a coffee or dinner with a local!
Be careful as you drive the roads throughout the island. Kangaroos are known for jumping out from the bush right in front of cars. Plus, all sorts of wildlife can be seen crossing the road, especially at night.
If you explore the trails at night, you’ll see nighttime creatures you might not spot during the day. Just be sure to take nighttime safety precautions, including bringing a flashlight and watching your step.
Need some help finding a place to stay on Kangaroo Island? Booking.com has plenty of options.
Top Kangaroo Island Activities you Must Do!
Visit Flinders Chase National Park
There are a handful of incredible places to spend your time in nature. Flinders Chase National Park is one such place! On the west side of the island, it sets the stage for stunning scenery, wonderful hikes, and picturesque beaches. By far, this is my favorite destination and Kangaroo Island Activity!!
Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch
The Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch offer beautiful views over the ocean and out-of-this-world sunset pictures. Even the roads leading down to these natural wonders are worth a visit. The winding road leads out to the cliffs and ocean. Keep a lookout on the rocky shore in search of fur seals swimming and basking in the sun.
Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
The 61 km long Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail (get the downloadable PDF for trail info here) is perfect for those interested in hiking and camping. The trail meanders along the Park’s coast, where whales can be spotted and all manner of stars can be seen at night.
Approximately 60 km (37 miles) long, the trail takes around 5 days to complete. Book tent spaces ahead of time to reserve your spots over the four-night hiking period. Keep in mind that there are few facilities along the trail, so plan out your food and equipment necessities prior to your trip. I recommend visiting the Park’s rangers at the Visitor’s Center before your hike to check weather and trail conditions.
Platypus Waterholes
Although I didn’t get the chance to experience them, there are platypus waterholes, where it’s possible (though not entirely likely) for you to see these elusive creatures. Being patient and very quiet will greatly enhance your chances. Honestly, being in the same habitat as a platypus, whether you see them or not, is incredible!
The road to the Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase National Park. The Remarkable Rocks can be seen on the peninsula at the road’s end. Just look at that beautiful blue water!
Walk in Seal Bay National Park
For beautiful beaches and wonderful wildlife watching opportunities, visit Seal Bay. It gets its name from the numerous seals that bask on the beaches throughout the day.
The Park offers a host of opportunities to see the area and the seals, including a self-guided boardwalk tour through the dunes and cliffs. My recommended option is taking a beach tour with a Park guide. This allows you to get a closer look at the seals while learning about current research initiatives.
Note that the guides will determine the distance from which you can actually get to seals. The sunset tour provides wonderful opportunities for photographers to get some incredible shots!
The beaches and sunsets throughout Australia are stunning! Keep an eye out for seals, porpoises, dolphins, and whales.
See Stokes Bay and Camp in Lathami Conservation Park
Stokes Bay is another stunning beach destination, but with more amenities. There are cottages and camping facilities along the edge of the white sand beach that allow you to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the surf.
The rock formations here are not only fun to look at geologically, but some act as natural wave breaks. Miniature pool habitats are thus created with fun sea life to see and explore.
Don’t worry, there is still plenty of wildlife to see in this area, too. Just outside your cottage or campsite, it’s likely you’ll be hanging out with the kangaroos! The beach is also a wonderful birdwatching destination.
What’s more, the Lathami Conservation Park is only a five-minute drive away. The park is open 24-hours and is perfect for hiking the many trails in search of wildlife and various birdlife. Lathami is named after the protected Glossy Black Cockatoo, found only on Kangaroo Island. Looking for a new bird to add to your life list? This is the perfect place to visit and is a top Kangaroo Island activity!
Drive Around Kangaroo Island!
Simply driving around and pulling off into one of the many local parks and trailheads is a good way to spot a variety of wildlife. This is actually how I ended up seeing the short-beaked echidna! It was just crossing over a random backroad heading toward Flinders Chase National Park. I also spotted the common brush-tailed possum – which often walk along the roads at night. You’re likely to only spot them by the light of your car’s headlights!
Don’t forget to look up into the branches of large eucalyptus trees in search of sleeping koalas.
Fun fact: koalas are one of my favorite animals. And they sleep up to 23 hours out of the day!
Koalas depend on eucalyptus trees for their habitat and for their main food source. The chemicals in the eucalyptus tree leaves make koalas extra sleepy!
Visit Kangraroo Island Attractions in Kingscote and Busby Islet Conservation Park
The food and wine opportunities, and the locally made artisan crafts, found in towns such as Kingscote add to the experience of being on Kangaroo Island. Kingscote is the business center of the island, but it still maintains its smaller town charm. It has loads of cute, local shops and has everything you need for a wonderful trip.
- Check out Island Beehive to see how local honey and other products are harvested.
- Sip locally made Dudley Wines, and go on a wine tour (you’ve got to taste Australia’s delicious wines!).
- Eat local cheeses, particularly sheep’s cheese – these are a must-try.
- Visit Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery. It has been around for decades and sells eucalyptus products, especially oils, which are largely used for medicinal purposes.
Just off the coast of Kingscote is the Busby Islet Conservation Park, another birding heaven! You’ll see birds here that you might not see elsewhere on the island, such as Sooty Oystercatchers and Little Penguins.
Although visitors are not authorized to go on land, it is possible to do sea tours to see the birds from the ocean. Australian Wildlife Journeys has an exceptional bird watching tour on Kangaroo Island, with Busby Islet included!
Visit Cape Willoughby Conservation Park and Lighthouse
There are a handful of wonderful conservation parks around the island, and Cape Willoughby is up there as one of the most beautiful. The rugged, rocky shores and the clear, turquoise water are the perfect setting for seeing whales and the sunrise.
For those star lovers out there, the star viewing at night is out of this world! This is one of the few locations where you can rent out the lighthouse keeper’s cottage right near the water, making your trip that much more unique.
Australia is a huge country, and while there are incredible sites to see throughout all of Oceana, Kangaroo Island and its many activities should go down on everyone’s bucket list!
Happy travels!
Christa
P.S., Check out this wonderful downloadable map of Kangaroo Island, provided by Tour Kangaroo Island
Leave A Comment