Looking out over the inky waters of the Backstairs Passage, Kangaroo Island seems normal enough. A little green smudge on the water.
Only friendly locals and the odd clued-in traveller know it for what it really is: one of Australia’s most beautiful and underrated wildlife sanctuaries, a time-warped isle whose clocks seem to stop in about 1973. Kids here still ride bikes to school and farmers chase ‘roos off their front lawns before dawn, but it’s the local wildlife that’s the real drawcard. Grey kangaroos, fur seals, dolphins, echidnas, koalas and dozens of other species that have flourished on the island without the threat of introduced species. Think of it as a mini Galapagos off the coast of South Australia.
Kangaroo Island Tours
3 Days
From
$806
Unearth Australia’s third-largest island on an adventure tour from Adelaide. Kangaroo Island, or "nature’s playground"…
#treatyourself with a trip to Kangaroo Island
Take a selfie with Skippy in one of Australia’s most Instagrammable destinations. Aside from the cute native critters, there are stunning beaches, and wanderlust-inducing sunsets. Experience one of Australia’s must see destinations and get some great shots while you’re there.
See our Insta-worthy shots from Kangaroo Island below and start planning your Skippy selfie now!
These iconic animals are so cute that South Australia have named a whole island after them. With over 60,000 kangaroos on the island, you’re bound to get some jealousy-inducing snaps worthy of these feisty natives.
You don’t necessarily need to head north to enjoy some of Down Under’s best beaches. Spend your days sunning yourself on the white sands of Kangaroo Island’s coast and your evenings going for long walks on the beach.
Capture a koala in their natural habitat as they snack on Eucalyptus leaves, amble around the branches of their gumtree home or simply snooze. And with over 25,000 of them on the island, it will simply be a matter of point and shoot.
Get in touch with nature and stage a dramatic photography shoot on the equally dramatic rock formations on Kangaroo Island’s south east. The shapes and angles are the perfect way to show off your photography skills.
Australia’s sea lions are some of the rarest in the world, but you’ll still find about 1,000 of them cruising around Seal Bay off Kangaroo Island. Now, that’s bound to grab the attention of your Instagram followers.
Nothing says holiday like a shot of a sharp coastlines and the great ocean blue. And with over 54 kilometres of stunning sandy coast, you’ll be able to achieve that wistful-looking-into-the-sunset shot with ease.
Things to do on Kangaroo Island
Kick back at Vivonne Bay
When the University of Sydney travelled the country to establish Australia’s best beaches in 2002 (and just quietly, how do we get that job?) Vivonne Bay, tucked into a little pocket on Kangaroo Island’s south coast, came out close to the top. Considering Australia has over 10,685 beaches, that’s a pretty good effort. Five kilometres of squeaky white sand (perfect for picnics), aquamarine water, cray-fishing boats puttering around the headland – Vivonne has a lot going for it. There’s even a BBQ near the jetty and an adjacent 887-hectare nature reserve. All you need to complete the picture is a towel and a good book.
Hop on a bike
Exploring Kangaroo Island on two wheels fits with the whole ‘eco ethos’ the place stands for. Low impact on the environment, plenty of fresh air and mile upon mile of stunning coastal scenery? Sounds like a winning combo. Some of our favourite riding trails on the island are up to Penneshaw Hill (Kangaroo Island’s highest peak…although ‘peak’ may be generous) and the rugged, unsealed wilderness of Three Chain Road – a challenging route that passes the island’s alien-looking salt flat. For beginner riders, there’s always the leisurely highway leading away from Kelly Hill Caves. Just watch out for the Tammar wallabies along the side of the road.
Kayak the Harriet River
No raging torrents or waterfalls on this river, we promise you. Harriet is a tranquil stream that flows down to an estuary on the south coast of Kangaroo Island. The pace is laid back and the scenery gorgeous. There are usually two kayak tours departing during the day, one in the early morning and one in the afternoon. We recommend the arvo session: the fading light really makes the surrounding bush come alive. Keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the riverbank gums, as well as the occasional bream or salmon swimming underneath your kayak. Definitely the most peaceful form of transport on the island.
Soak in the views
Kangaroo Island is blessed with some of the most stunning coastal scenery on Australia’s south coast (sorry, Great Ocean Road. We still love you.) Wherever the land hits the sea here it does so in plunging sandstone cliffs, or windswept grassy bluffs that are crying out for a wide-angled lens. Our favourite places are the Remarkable Rocks (sort of a coastal version of the Devil’s Marbles), the lighthouse at Admiral’s Arch (along with its spooky coastal sea saves) and the idyllic cliffs at Cape du Couedic. If in doubt, just head out to the coast at sunset and face west. You’ll get the general idea.
Sandboard at Little Sahara
Is there a cuter name for a landmark than Little Sahara? We doubt it. In any case, this collection of silky soft sand dunes is one of the few places in South Australia, let alone Kangaroo Island, you can try your hand at sandboarding. Sitting alongside the spectacular Vivonne Bay, you’ll get some great views as you board or toboggan your way down the slopes (the biggest of which is nearly 70m high). You can hire all the gear you need in nearby Vivonne Bay town, but if you travel with us, your local guides can take care of all that logistical stuff. You just focus on looking gnarly (we’re bringing that word back).
