Welcome to Kangaroo Island
From Cape Jervis, car ferries chug across the swells of the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island (KI). Long devoid of tourist trappings, the island these days is a booming destination for wilderness and wildlife fans − it's a veritable zoo of seals, birds, dolphins, echidnas and (of course) kangaroos. Still, the island remains rurally paced and underdeveloped − the kind of place where kids ride bikes to school and... Read More
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Kangaroo Island activities
Kangaroo Island in a Day Tour from Adelaide
After early morning pickup from your Adelaide or Glenelg hotel, meet your guide and relax aboard a comfortable air-conditioned coach on the scenic 90-minute journey over the Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis. Then enjoy a 45-minute ferry ride across the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island where you transfer to a luxury coach for your island tour. If you choose to fly to Kangaroo Island, your coach meets you at the Kingscote Airport.Take in the scenery as you drive to Seal Bay Conservation Park where Australian sea lions sunbathe and frolic on a stunning beach. Meet a National Parks Ranger for a guided walk on the beach and get a close look at the sea lion colony. Leave the sea lions and head to gorgeous Vivonne Bay for a delicious 2-course lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro. Large windows and a sun deck allow you to look for critters like kangaroos and koalas in the native bush that surrounds the building. See more wildlife after lunch when you stop at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Koalas lounge in the eucalyptus groves and echidnas, kangaroos and wallabies roam free on the large predator-free property. Then continue to the rugged southern coast of Flinders Chase National Park for a walk among the giant granite boulders called Remarkable Rocks. Snap photos of a natural rock archway named Admirals Arch, gaze over the Cape Du Couedic coastline and observe the antics of long-nosed fur seals as they play and laze about on the rocks. Throughout the day, your expert guide shares facts about the wildlife and history of the island. After a day exploring the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, return to Penneshaw or Kingscote Airport, keeping your eyes peeled for more kangaroo and wallaby sightings. Then travel by air or ferry and coach back to Adelaide where your tour ends.
2-Day Kangaroo Island Adventure Tour from Adelaide
Get to know the beauty and native wildlife of Kangaroo Island on this 2-day tour with a knowledgeable guide who takes you off the beaten track to discover the natural wonders of the island, including spectacular parks and wildlife preserves.Stay overnight at Vivonne Bay Lodge, a clean and comfortable budget accommodation that features spacious dorms, shared bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, complimentary tea and coffee, billiards, table tennis, bike rentals, and more. Find a hammock in a quiet nook if you want to relax; explore the hiking and biking trails on the large property; or swim at a gorgeous beach located just a few minutes walk from the lodge!The spirit of this tour is to work as a group in a fun and informal setting. For instance, everyone helps the guide with meal preparation and cleanup. If you're looking for privacy in between activities, upgrade to a private room at the lodge. See the Itinerary section for details on each day. Bed linens are provided at the lodge; please bring your own towel. Your tour includes two lunches, one breakfast and one dinner. You also have the option to upgrade to include a flight back to Adelaide.
5-Day Adelaide and Kangaroo Island
Please see the Itinerary below for details on accommodation and each day's activities.
Small-Group Kangaroo Island 4WD Tour from Adelaide
After an early morning pickup from your Adelaide or Glenelg hotel, relax on a scenic coach ride from Adelaide to Cape Jervis on the vineyard-covered Fleurieu Peninsula, where you’ll make the 45-minute ferry crossing to Kangaroo Island; all up, the coach and ferry trip to the island takes three hours. If you choose to fly, you'll be picked up from your Adelaide hotel and transferred to the airport for your 30-minute flight to Kangaroo Island.Your wildlife guide will meet you at the port at Penneshaw, and provide an overview of Kangaroo Island’s history and environment. Your drive by 4WD across the island takes you through several habitats, including eucalyptus forests home to echidnas, wallabies and a huge variety of birdlife. You’ll discover that many species have survived on Kangaroo Island, while they’ve become extinct on the mainland, and many species are unique to the island.You’ll also visit the Seal Bay Conservation Park to see the park’s colony of Australian sea lions basking on the beach and sand dunes. As you admire the sea lions’ playful antics, your small-group guide will provide essential information on the lives of these spectacular marine animals.After a gourmet picnic lunch with wine at a heritage-listed bush property, take a guided bushwalk or stroll on the beach. Then go for a 4WD drive through the island’s interior, keeping watch for koalas and cockatoos. Take a bushwalk on Kangaroo Island’s north coast, where you might see the area’s endemic Tamar wallaby. As the day draws to an end, you’ll see kangaroos leave their daytime bush retreats to graze the open pastures at dusk.Your small-group 4WD tour of Kangaroo Island ends with a drive to Kingscote Airport for your 30-minute flight back to Adelaide if you’ve chosen the flight option, or to Penneshaw to catch the ferry back to Cape Jervis and coach transfer to Adelaide.
McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Peninsula Day Trip by 4WD Including Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Start your full-day tour with morning pickup from either McLaren Vale or Adelaide or its environs. Climb into your comfortable and sturdy 4WD vehicle for the relaxed 40-minute drive to the internationally renowned McLaren Vale wine region. The adventure begins as your guide follows off-road tracks through beautiful landscapes with world-class vineyards and ancient geological sites. After some exploring, pull into an exclusive location for morning refreshments consisting of cheeses served with local white and red wines and handcrafted beers. Enjoy your first tastes of the region’s excellent products while taking in stunning views of the surrounding scenery. Next, pop into a winery where you meet a local winemaker and learn about the winery’s operations, then sample wine fresh from the barrel. Continue south where, if the tides allow, you drive along Gulf St Vincent on Silversands beach. Then your 4WD maneuvers along 4WD tracks through the Willunga Hills into Inman Valley and Second Valley. After a thrilling ride, stop at a spectacular and remote location to savor a gourmet picnic lunch provided by a premium McLaren Vale restaurant.After lunch, continue through gorgeous Deep Creek Conversation Park and learn about the traditional lands of the Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri, the Indigenous Australians of the Fleurieu Peninsula.Arrive at a lookout where you can snap photos of Kangaroo Island, the south coast and the Southern Ocean. Look for local wildlife, including kangaroos, native birds and migrating southern right whales from May to October. While enjoying refreshments including wine or beer, take in some of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s most dramatic views.Take a rugged track through a classic Fleurileu Peninsula landscape before stopping for tea or coffee at Leonards Mill restaurant, located in a gorgeously restored 155-year-old flour mill. Then make the 90-minute return journey to Adelaide to end a memorable day.
Overnight Kangaroo Island Wildlife Adventure from Adelaide
From your comfortable minibus you’ll appreciate the fantastic coastal views as you head towards Kangaroo Island along the Fleurieu Peninsula. After driving for 90 minutes, hop aboard the massive ferry for the 45-minute cruise to the picturesque beachside village of Penneshaw, where you can stock up on supplies.The first stop is Prospect Hill, where a moderately easy climb offers magnificent 360-degree views of Australia’s third-largest island.The highlight for many is the guided tour along the pure-white beach of Seal Bay, where you can walk within metres of countless Australian Sea Lions snoozing on the sand or frolicking in the surf. Or maybe your favorite part will be the Flinders Chase National Park in the far west of the island, which hosts two extraordinary geological features: the Remarkable Rocks and the Admirals Arch, which is also home to a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals.The dormitory style accommodation is located within a farm on the edge of the national park. After a huge Aussie barbecue dinner, we sit around the campfire swapping stories, playing didgeridoos and maybe, spotting wildlife, such as kangaroos and possums.After breakfast on day 2, your wildlife adventure continues! In the cooler morning weather, you can hike one of the many walking trails on the island where you can watch kangaroos hopping about the bush, koalas nesting in their favorite gum trees and possibly, spot a shy echidna shuffling past. In the summer months, spend some time swimming and snorkeling in search of the elusive leafy sea dragon which resides off the coast. You can laze about Vivonne Bay, Hanson Bay, Stokes Bay or one of the other superb beach spots with their pristine sand and clear water, or alternatively you can follow the nearby trail along the beach and river to search for more wildlife.The action packed afternoon starts with sand-boarding down the Little Sahara dunes. Enjoy a leisurely paddle in kayaks along the Harriet River, but if you do crave something more adventurous, quad-biking along rocky paths through dense scrub is an optional extra.From Penneshaw, take the ferry to Cape Jervis for the short drive back to Adelaide to arrive at around 8:30pm.