Did you know that Lonely Planet has named Kangaroo Island the #2 destination on their list of must-visit regions for 2024?
Well, I am not surprised! It is a true Australian icon and something everyone should experience.
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island, and one-third is a National Park or wilderness protection area. There is so much to see and I will just scratch the surface in this short article, but hopefully, this helps give you a taste of what to see and how to visit.
What's the best way to see Kangaroo Island?
There is no public transport on the island, so travellers wanting to explore the many iconic sights will need to either hire a vehicle or join a tour.
There are several tour operators who can provide day tours or extended tours. Expert guides introduce tour participants to local behind-the-scenes experiences and "secret" locations.
Visitors can also discover Kangaroo Island's aquatic delights. There are several tour operators who offer fishing tours, diving, snorkelling or sightseeing cruises.
The spectacular view from Cape Willoughby.
Remarkable Rocks
What are the top sights to see on Kangaroo Island?
There are so many! The iconic sights that Kangaroo Island is most famous for are the top priority - the beautiful coastal landscapes in the Flinders Chase National Park, including Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and the Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse.
Or the fabulous animal experiences - view the Sea lion colony at the Seal Bay Conservation Park or take a guided Koala walk at the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Have an amazing experience swimming with dolphins and seals on a coastal cruise.
Vivonne Bay's famous King George Whiting Burger.
You can "eat and drink" your way around Kangaroo Island with the many food and wine experiences. From Dudley Wines and False Capes Wines cellar doors on the Dudley Peninsula to the Oyster Farm in American River. Drop into Emu Bay Lavender Farm, Kangaroo Island Brewery and Vivonne Bay Shop for one of their famous King George Whiting burgers - just delicious!
An exceptional experience is the Gin Blending Masterclass at Kangaroo Island Spirits; there is something special about creating your own blend of gin. An activity I have not had the opportunity to try is the Enchanted Fig Tree gastronomo dining experience. Due to the nature of the "living venue" this restaurant is only open in the summer months over limited dates and I have always visited Kangaroo Island at a time when they are not operating! I will have to put the Enchanted Fig Tree Restaurant onto the list for my next visit.
 View to the mainland from Dudley Wines, Cuttlefish Bay. |  On our gin blending masterclass at Kangaroo Island Spirits. |
Can you do a day trip to Kangaroo Island?
I have visited Kangaroo Island six times, sometimes on a day tour and on other occasions on an extended tour. The day tours are very long days and are usually conducted in a large coach. With limited time, the tours can only visit a few locations on this very big island. However, if you ONLY have one day free to visit Kangaroo Island, then still consider a day tour, as it is worth the inconvenience to see the major sights of Kangaroo Island if only for a short time.
My preference is to take an extended tour and I would highly recommend visiting Kangaroo Island for at least 3 full days / 2 nights. A visit of this duration will provide you with a comprehensive tour of most of the major sights. With a longer stay on the island, visitors will be less rushed, have extra time to enjoy the ambience of this incredible island and discover for themselves why Lonely Planet has named Kangaroo Island Number 2 on their list of must-visit regions for 2024.
How to get to Kangaroo Island
There are several ways to travel to Kangaroo Island.
By Flight
Qantaslink provides regular 30-minute flights from Adelaide to Kingscote airport. The airport is located 14 km from Kingscote, the largest town on Kangaroo Island. Other notable towns on the island, American River and Penneshaw are only 30-40 mins drive from the airport.
By Ferry
The more popular option is by ferry. Many people choose to take the 45 minute Sealink ferry service across the Backstairs Passage between Cape Jervis on the South Australian mainland and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. The large catamarans provide a combined passenger and vehicle ferry service. The ferries are comfortable and feature a cafe, plenty of seating inside, outside viewing areas and restrooms. The number of ferry services per day varies depending on the season. There can be up to 12 ferry services per day in peak season.
Passengers can connect between Adelaide to Cape Jervis by a scheduled coach service (offered a couple of times per day in each direction) or choose to drive to Cape Jervis to meet the ferry. If travellers have a rental vehicle and want to take it on the ferry, it is recommended that they check with the rental company that the vehicle is allowed to travel on the ferry, as some rental companies do not permit their vehicles to travel on ferries. There is a vehicle rental company at the Penneshaw ferry terminal if you decide to travel as a passenger on the ferry and collect a rental vehicle on Kangaroo Island.
The Kangaroo Island Shuttle Service, provided by Peninsula Coaches, connects with two ferries per day and transfers passengers between Penneshaw, American River and Kingscote (and vice versa).
