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Kangaroo Island

ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

Kangaroo Island was separated from mainland Australia around 10,000 years ago, due to rising sea levels. It is recognised as Karta or “Island of the Dead” by mainland Aboriginal tribes. Although there are no known traditional owners, shell middens and stone tools demonstrate that Aboriginal people lived on Kangaroo Island for as long as 16,000  years and may have only disappeared from the island as recently as 2000 years ago.

We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. 

LOCATION

Kangaroo Island is located fifteen kilometres off the south coast of South Australia.

CLIMATE

With long, warm and sunny days in all seasons, Kangaroo Island is an ideal destination all year round.

GETTING THERE

The Island is accessible by air from Adelaide airport scheduled flights which take approximately 30 minutes, or by a 45 minute car ferry ride from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.

Located a hop off the coast from the mainland, Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island, 155km long by 55km wide.

While Kangaroo Island suffered damage as a result of bushfire in January 2020, many parts of the island are completely unchanged and ‘KI’ (as the locals call it) is still very much open for business.

Home to an abundance of native wildlife, Kangaroo Island is widely regarded as Australia's Galapagos. 

Visitors can wander among the sea-lion colony at Seal Bay, go sand-duning at Little Sahara and swim with dolphins on the stunning north coast. There are wineries to visit in Kingscote, Cygnet River and on the Dudley Peninsula and freshly shucked oysters to try at American River. There’s also an award-winning gin distillery, a brewery and great dining at cafes and restaurants showcasing fine ingredients made by the island’s small-scale producers, organic Ligurian honey and freshwater marron among them.

As Kangaroo Island recovers from the natural wildfire event (a fact of life in Australia and many other countries), now more than ever the resilient local community is keen to welcome visitors to their island home.