Kangaroo Island

Overview

Kangaroo Island, just a hop away from Adelaide is one of the best places on the continent to see a menagerie of native animals in its natural habitat, including species that are rare, even extinct, on the mainland. It’s the Galapagos of Down Under.

Even on a day trip to KI you are likely to spot koalas and wallabies (5,000 of the latter to every person!), emus and kangaroos, possums and penguins, seals and sea lions and birdlife from cockatoos to ospreys. Divorced from the mainland 10,000 years ago, its evolution has been free of feral pests and predators such as foxes. The entire island has barely changed since explorer Matthew Flinders first stepped ashore in 1802 (as an interesting aside, any road that’s covered in bitumen is locally known as a highway).

Day 1 - Flinders Chase National Park

We’ve included a superb two-day tour of Kangaroo island which starts at the airport on your arrival from Adelaide and includes, on the first day, the Flinders Chase National Park, a visit to a 20,000 strong fur seal colony at Admirals Arch, a spectacular coastal grotto, the Remarkables Rocks, a cluster of huge natural granite sculptures (think Henry Moore meets Salvador Dali) and a memorable picnic in the bush.

Day 2 - Seal Bay

On day two you’ll travel through some of the island’s best farming country to the North Coast and Lathami Conservation Park where you’ll ‘walk quietly through the bush with your guide - what makes that noise, whose tracks are those, and who left THAT little pile there?’ as well as look for wallabies and kangaroos. After another fine bush picnic you’ll walk among the sea lions loafing, playing, nursing and occasionally scrapping on the beach at Seal Bay before returning to the airport for your flight back to Adelaide.

You’ll stay the night at Stranraer Homestead, a family run 1920s farmhouse with a wraparound veranda and a spread of 5,000 acres. It’s very traditional in style, with open fires in all four bedrooms and lots of little comforting touches like the basket full of woolly slippers just inside the door and a set of Driza-Bones just in case the weather turns wild. It’s located in the middle of the island, with great views. And the food is terrific.

Price

Price from £744 per person, including one night’s accommodation B&B, two days’ 4WD touring with Exceptional Kangaroo Island and flights from Adelaide. You might want to treat yourself to a stay at Southern Ocean Lodge or Lifetime Private Retreats, two of Australia’s exclusive options; see our luxury section for details.