This gorgeous island is teeming with native wildlife and often called "the zoo without fences" because more than a third of the island is conserved as National Park. Plus there are five Wilderness Protection Areas to enjoy. This means that our Kangaroo Island accommodation places you in the perfect position to spot wild kangaroos, koalas, penguins and even sea lions in their natural habitats. You'll also find lots of wildflowers in bloom, all year round, as there are almost 900 different species of native plants on the island!
Wildlife
One of the best places to spot native animals is at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (formerly the Parndana Wildlife Park), where you can handfeed kangaroos, pat koalas and hold a python, if you dare. If you're fascinated by snakes and other reptiles, pop in to the Raptor Domain for the "Fang-tastic" interactive reptile show. You'll also see lots of birds of prey at the Raptor Domain, which is famous for its "In-Flight" show. When you've finished there, head down to Seal Bay, where you'll see a colony of wild Australian Sea Lions sunning themselves.
If you're keen to hit the beach while you're here, Kangaroo Island has more than 500km of coastline to explore, but the beaches on the northern coast are the safest for swimming. You'll also enjoy fishing and peering into the rock pools. For a quick thrill, visit the heritage-listed sand dunes of Little Sahara, where you can go sand-boarding on dunes as high as 70m above sea level!
Another star attraction on the island is Flinders Chase National Park, where you'll see the Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, Weirs Cove and Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse. Or, if you like spelunking, visit the Kelly Hill Caves inside the Kelly Hill Conservation Park.
Food and Wine
Native wildlife isn't the only attraction on Kangaroo Island, though. It's also a gourmet destination for foodies and wine connoisseurs, with a number of cellar doors and farm gates open to the public. Some of the specialties on the island include honey, southern rock lobster (plus a huge array of other seafood delights), wine, cheese and lavender products. If you don't have time to follow the food and wine trail, you can pick up plenty of local goodies at the Farmers' Market, held on the first Sunday morning of the month. If you're keen for a truly gastronomic extravaganza, the Kangaroo Island FEASTival is not to be missed. The festival is celebrated over five days, towards the end of April, with 15 separate events, which capture the essence of the lifestyle and cuisine of the island. There are demonstrations by celebrity chefs, cooking competitions, market stalls, live entertainment and, of course, lots of free samples.
Getting here
Getting to the island is easy because it's only a 45- minute ferry trip from Cape Jervis, which is about a two hour drive from Adelaide. To get around the island, you can either drive your car onto the ferry or hire a car once you arrive. Otherwise, jump aboard a coach tour or four-wheel drive tour and let someone else take the wheel, while you sit back and unwind.
For a relaxing island getaway, surrounded by nature and delicious food, book one of our Kangaroo Island hotels.
