Located about 12km off the shores of the Cape Jervis Peninsula, Kangaroo Island is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Due to its isolation, Kangaroo Island has suffered less than the mainland from development and today still possesses rich and diverse flora and fauna rarely found elsewhere. Substantial tracts of bushland remain undisturbed and free from introduced predators (dingoes, rabbits and foxes) and they continue to support an abundance of wildlife. At 155k m long and 55km wide, Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island, and the best place to see a wide range of native Australian animals in their natural setting.

First sighted in 1802 Kangaroo Island was initially inhabited by sealers, escaped convicts and runaway sailors, and soon a flourishing sheep farming industry was established. There are a number of historical attractions to explore, but visitors to Kangaroo Island are primarily attracted by the wildlife-spotting opportunities and breathtaking geological features.

What to do on Kangaroo Island

Flinders Chase National Park: Kangaroo Island has a total of 21 National and Conservation Parks, the best known of which is the Flinders Chase National Park. As well as a wide variety of native flora and fauna, including homes to several hundred Fur Seals. Flinders Chase National Park is also home to the iconic Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch, on the south west tip of Kangaroo Island. The Remarkable Rocks provide a prime spot for photos at sunrise, sunset and during the day, due to the unique colours of these eroded land formations. These are huge granite boulders perched on a dome that rises 75m from the sea.

Kelly Hill Conservation Park: Named after a horse which fell into a cave through a hole in the ground, the Kelly Hill Conservation Park is home to a network of walking trails along an undulating limestone ridge, the park leads down to the Kelly Hill Caves, home to some amazing limestone formations.

Seal Bay: This is one of only two places in the world where you can walk amongst a breeding colony of rare Australian sealions. Visitors to Seal Bay are accompanied by a ranger onto the sandy beach and dunes to view the sea lions close up.

Sailing: Nepean Bay is the perfect place for sailing on Kangaroo Island, as the bay is shelterned year round.

Scuba Diving: There are a number of shipwrecks off the coast of Kangaroo Island, some of which can be explored by scuba divers. There is also plentiful fish life to view.

Surfing: Kangaroo Island caters for novice and experienced surfers alike, with full instruction on offer from a few tour operators on the Island.

Food and Wine: Kangaroo Island has many local food and wine producers which you can experience first hand, such as wineries, marron farm, sheep dairies, honey farms and lobster depot.

Accommodation on Kangaroo Island

A wide range of accommodation options are available on Kangaroo Island, including campsites, backpacker hostels, bed and breakfasts, station and farmstays, exclusive secluded retreats, more conventional hotels and finally 5 star Eco hotels.