There are surprisingly not that many kangaroos in this Kangaroo Island guide. Instead, expect fresh produce, untouched wildlife and the warmest hospitality.
Summary
When I first heard of Kangaroo Island, I imagined a tiny island overrun with kangaroos. But alas, I struggled to spot wild kangaroos there and instead saw a whole other variety of wildlife! I was also surprised to learn that it’s seven times the size of Singapore 🤯
Located 3 hours from Adelaide, it’s Australia’s third-biggest island and home to thriving wildlife and fauna. It remains untouched past European settlement in Australia — essentially a time capsule!
I managed to squeeze in a day trip to Kangaroo Island while solo-travelling for six days in Adelaide and it quickly became the highlight of the trip! Postcard-perfect scenery, the freshest produce, adorable wildlife and the friendliest locals — the island has it all 🫶
So if you’re planning to visit the island for the first time, this Kangaroo Island Guide has got you covered.
Read also: Ultimate 6-Day Adelaide Itinerary — The Best of South Australia’s Underrated Capital City and its Surrounds
Getting to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide
There are three different ways to get to Kangaroo Island, but the most common route is to take a ~50-minute SeaLink ferry from Cape Jervis Ferry Terminal to Penneshaw Ferry Terminal.
Flight: ~40-minute flight from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island (From S$145/adult for one-way)
Self-drive and ferry: The drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis Ferry Terminal is ~1.5 hours. From there, drive your vehicle onto the ferry (from AU$236/vehicle for return). Each passenger will require a ferry ticket (~AU$118/adult for return).
Coach and ferry:SeaLink offers a 2-hour coach service that departs from Adelaide Central Bus Station to Cape Jervis at 6:45AM, daily (AU$68/adult for return). From there, catch the 9AM ferry to Penneshaw (~AU$118/adult for return).
*Pro-tip: Book in advance to secure a spot as only one bus departs from Adelaide each day.
As I was travelling alone, I bookeda day tourto check out the hidden gems on Kangaroo Island. This included a round-trip coach and ferry transfer from Adelaide Central Bus Station. But more on that later 😉
1) Meet birds of prey at Raptor Domain
Get up close and personal with birds of prey at Raptors Domain — a conservation centre dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating birds & reptiles on Kangaroo Island.
Catch their free-flight Birds of Prey presentation, featuring rescued birds native to the island like owls, tawny frogmouths, kookaburras, wedge-tailed eagles, and more!
*Pro-tip:Sit in the first row to get a chance to interact with the birds 🦉
Fun fact: Tawny Frogmouths are only found in Australia!
The birds are pretty chill around people, so for those who are daring enough to get up close to an apex predator, there’s an eagle hold experience (AU$30) after the show.
Consider staying for thereptile presentation(AU$24) that happens daily at 1PM — think snakes, lizards, scorpions, spiders and more!
Cost:AU$30/adult (~S$26)
Birds of Prey Presentation timings:11:30AM, 2:30PM
Opening hours:11AM – 4PM
How to get there:1hr drive from Penneshaw SeaLink Ferry Terminal (Google Maps)
2) Visit an Eucalyptus Distillery
Kangaroo Island is home to many local businesses like Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, where they make home-grown eucalyptus and essential oils on-site! Guided and self-guided tours are available where you’ll learn about the family business and how the oil is distilled.
Plus, there’s an emu — a tall flightless bird only found in Australia — on the property!
While there, we learnt that the Eucalyptus trees on the island are resilient. A wildfire incident struck the island a few years ago but they regenerated quickly 🙌
We also stopped at their cafe for a three-course lunch as part of the Kangaroo Island Sip & See day tour from Adelaide. They offer locally brewed cider flights for AU$10!
Besides the cafe, there’s a gift shop selling their eucalyptus oil and other related products from AU$6 😱 — I totally did some souvenir shopping there!
There’s also a rescued joey named Star, who lives on the property and can be seen hopping around the gift shop area.
Entrance fee:Free
Opening hours:9AM – 4PM
How to get there:20min drive from Raptor Domain (Google Maps)
3) Catch the stunning Pennington Bay
Pennington Bayis unarguably one of the most picturesque spots on Kangaroo Island.
Spend the afternoon on its white sandy beaches and watch locals surf on crystal clear waters during the summer. Plus, dolphins are regularly seen from the shore! If you’re visiting between May – Sep, keep your eyes peeled as you might just catch a glimpse of some migratory whales!
For those who don’t have time to head down to the beach, take in the view from the lookout point instead. Still epic!
Entrance fee:Free
Opening hours:24hrs
How to get there:20min drive from Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery (Google Maps)
4) Wine-tasting at False Cape Wines
Fun fact: Kangaroo Island is home to a thriving wine region, and False Cape Winesis the largest vineyard on the island!
At almost 60 acres, it’s home to rolling green vines and a stone cottage with al fresco tables — the perfect backdrop for a wine-tasting session.
The cellar door is open for walk-ins, and wine flights start from AU$12. We visited this winery as part of the Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour and got to sample eight glasses.
They were slightly experimental and modern, with one tasting like pepper! My personal favourite is their Fortified Shiraz, which tasted like cinnamon and Christmas. Fair warning as it has a 17% alcohol percentage.
Cost:From AU$12/flight (~S$10.50)
Opening hours:11AM – 5PM
How to get there:25min drive from Pennington Bay (Google Maps)
Read also: 11 Unique Things to Do in South Australia — Quirky Wineries, Epic Festivals and an Island Escape
5) Look for seals at Seal Bay
Photo credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
Seal Bay is the most iconic attraction on Kangaroo Island and it’s not hard to see why 😍
Located on the south coast, hundreds of wild sea lions (aka eared seals) can be seen napping and cuddling on the beach! The bay is home to over 800 sea lions and they’ve been lounging there for over a millennia without any enclosures.
Photo credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
While you can’t exactly get up close and personal with the sea lions for their safety, there’s a 900m (return) boardwalk on the beach to view them from. There are also guided tours (AU$42) to learn more about the Australian sea lion colony from an expert!
Entrance fee:From AU$19.90/adult (~S$17)
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM (Last entry 4PM)
How to get there: 1hr drive from Penneshaw SeaLink Ferry Terminal (Google Maps)
6) Go sandboarding at Little Sahara Adventure Centre
Photo credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
For those craving a little more adrenaline, zip down sand dunes at Little Sahara Adventure Centre — sans giant sandworms.
These naturally formed dunes are a playground for all ages, with sandboards and toboggans (from AU$37) available for rent to surf your way down.
They also offer dune buggy tours (from AU$77) and electric fat bike tours (from AU$177) which will take you through rugged coastlines and bushland — with guaranteed koala sightings!
Cost: From AU$37/adult (~S$32)
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM (Oct – Apr), 10AM – 4PM (May – Sep)
How to get there: 17min drive from Seal Bay (Google Maps)
7) Walk amongst Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park
Photo credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
Perched on a cliff by the ocean in Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks is one of the most Instagrammable spots on the island.
Formed and shaped by the wind and sea for over 500 million years, these granite rocks look like giant sculptures precariously balancing against each other. They’re covered by a layer of orange lichen which looks stunning during golden hour — so definitely drop by during sunset!
Consider visiting other attractions like Admirals Arch and Cape Borda Lightstation at the park!
Entrance fee: AU$14/adult (S$12)
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 52min drive from Little Sahara Adventure Centre (Google Maps)
8) See wild kangaroos at Stokes Bay
Photo credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
You can’t leave Kangaroo Island without catching a glimpse of its namesake 🦘
While there are plenty of kangaroos on Kangaroo Island, they’re mostly active at night. Nonetheless, Stokes Bay is a popular spot for sighting wild kangaroos during the day — specifically around the grassy fields!
The beach at Stokes Bay is also one of Australia’s best hidden gems — literally! To get there, walk through a towering rock tunnel and be greeted by pristine sand and crystal-clear waters.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24hrs
How to get there: 37min drive from Flinders Chase National Park (Google Maps)
Read also: 15 Epic Things to Do in South Australia Away from the Crowds — Wildlife Adventures, Scenic Landscapes, Thrilling Activities
9) Sunset dinner at Penneshaw Pub
Photo credit: Penneshaw Pub
Watch the sun set against an epic ocean view while having dinner at Penneshaw Pub. Just an 8-minute walk from the ferry terminal, the restaurant is perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean between Kangaroo Island and South Australia.
A favourite amongst locals for over a century, they specialise in seafood and meat dishes. There are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and more dietary options available too!
Photo credit: Penneshaw Pub
They also have an extensive wine menu if you’d like to sample wines from Kangaroo Island before leaving, including those from False Cape Wines 🍷
*Pro-tip: Have dinner at Penneshaw Pub before walking over to SeaLink Ferry Terminal to catch your ferry back to the mainland.
Cost: From AU$24/main
Opening hours:12PM – 2:30PM & 5:30PM – 8PM (Tue), 12PM – 2:30PM & 4:30PM – 8:30PM (Wed), 12PM – 8.30PM (Thu – Mon)
How to get there: 16min drive from False Cape Wines (Google Maps)
Getting around Kangaroo Island
Self-drive around the island
There’s no public transport or taxi service on the island so the best way to get around is to rent a car and self-drive. Rental shops are available near the ferry terminals and airport.
It’s pretty easy to drive as there aren’t many cars on the road — though watch out for the wildlife! Driving also gives you more flexibility over your itinerary and allows you to visit attractions not covered by tours like Little Sahara Adventure Centre and Stokes Bay.
*Note: Avoid driving at night as wildlife like kangaroos are known to be more active and may suddenly dash out onto the road.
Join a tour
If you can’t drive or if you’re solo travelling (like I was), joining a tour is a great way to meet people and learn more about the island from a local guide.
There are two tour types: the Kangaroo Island Experience Day Tour and the Kangaroo Island Sip & See Day Tour.
The former covers the nature highlights of the island such as Seal Bay, Admirals Arch, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.
The latter focuses on local produce and wildlife, visiting places like Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, Raptor Domain and False Cape Wines.
*Pro-tip: Redeem 5% OFF Klook car rental, tours, and activities for use later, up to 5x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&C’s apply!
Personally, a day trip felt too short to fully explore the island especially since I was restricted to a tour schedule. Two days would be perfect to fully experience the beauty of the island, and spot wild kangaroos!
But with its diverse wildlife, thriving local produce industry and crazy nature views — Kangaroo Island is a must-add to every South Australia itinerary.
Planning a trip to Kangaroo Island? Check out these guides and itineraries in and around South Australia:
–Ultimate 6-Day Adelaide Itinerary — The Best of South Australia’s Underrated Capital City and its Surrounds
– 15 Epic Things to Do in South Australia Away from the Crowds — Wildlife Adventures, Scenic Landscapes, Thrilling Activities–11 Unique Things to Do in South Australia — Quirky Wineries, Epic Festivals and an Island Escape–Cultures Explained: Australia — Why are Strangers Asking How’s My Day?
Know of any other things to add to our Kangaroo Island guide? Share with us in the comments!
