Must See, Must Do

Must See, Must Do

Seal Bay

Kangaroo Island's most famous attraction is Seal Bay Conservation Park on the south coast, the permanent home to a colony of approximately 500 rare Australian Sea-lions. They loll about on the sands and in the dunes, nurture their young and recover from days at sea. You can join a tour with a park guide and walk among them, gaze at the young from the boardwalks and have a close encounter with these extraordinary giants of the sea.

Flinders Chase National Park

In Flinders Chase National Park the rugged coastline is spectacular, and acacias, banksias and tea-trees grow right down to secluded beaches. The coast provides a haven for many fur seals, sea lions, sea eagles, osprey and numerous other species of wildlife. The undisturbed forest and grassland is home to kangaroos, wallabies, brush tailed possums, echidnas, goannas and the elusive platypus. Koalas are also very abundant on the Island, and it is one of the few places in Australia that visitors can see them in the wild.

Little Penguins

A visit to Kangaroo Island is not complete without seeing the Little Penguins that make their nests in the sand hills and rock faces around Penneshaw and Kingscote. The only species to breed in Australian waters, these penguins wait until dusk before coming ashore. Guided tours at Kingscote and Penneshaw are the best way to see these adorable creatures, held just after sunset when the penguins return to their burrows after a day fishing at sea. Although penguins can be seen year round they are in their greatest numbers between April and October.

Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch

The impressive Remarkable Rocks form what appears to be a cluster of precariously balanced granite boulders high above the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean. Their curious, tortured shapes have been carved over thousands of years by wind, rain and sea spray. Their apparent colour changes during the day, so not surprisingly, these are one of the Island's most photographed natural features. Admirals Arch is naturally sculptured too, and under its suspended cliff face, New Zealand fur seals frolic in the waters or rest on the rocks.

Diving

Kangaroo Island features some of the best temperate water diving in Australia. Colourful underwater coral cliffs and rocky reefs are home to undisturbed marine ecosystems and there are more than 60 shipwrecks scattered around the Island, many of them lying just off the beaches. The underwater life is vivid and the unpolluted waters team with fish such as the Blue Devil, Harlequin, Truncate Coral Fish and the elusive Leafy Sea Dragon.

Find out more about Diving off Kangaroo Island on our main Australia site

An Underground World

At Kelly Hill Conservation Park, an underground labyrinth of limestone caverns and sinkholes contain ornate formations of stalagmites, stalactites and helictites. You can discover an amazing underground world on a tour that is terrific for the whole family. Or, if you wish to explore more of the caves, special Adventure Caving Tours are also available.

Little Sahara

These spectacularly white sand dunes surrounded by bush vegetation are miles from the sea. Take a walk through the dunes, and marvel at the unique sand landscape, while enjoying great views of the surrounding bush and farmland. The more adventurous, can take a sandboard to the top of the razor back ridges and race down.

Parndana Wildlife Park

Get close to rare and unusual animals at this award-winning Parndana Wildlife Park. Its large collection of rare and protected birds and animals include Tammar Wallabies, Koala, Echidnas, Emus and more. Enjoy a picnic among the animals and hand-feed a kangaroo.

Beaches

Kangaroo Island's shoreline is dotted with some of Australia's most beautiful and secluded beaches; long stretches of golden and often completely deserted sand. Vivonne Bay, on the South Coast, was recently named Australia's best beach while beaches like Emu Bay, Stokes Bay and Browns Beach on the north coast of the island are the safest for swimming.

 

Wine Tasting

Kangaroo Island is South Australia's newest wine region with more than 20 growers and more than 200 hectares of vines. Choose from exciting labels, some of which are exported to the UK, USA and Europe. Tasting is available at the Island's cellar doors, restaurants, the Kangaroo Island Wine Centre at Penneshaw or Ozone Cellars in Kingscote.

Find out more about wineries on Kangaroo Island on our main Austrlia site

Island Produce

Kangaroo Island produces a range of delicious produce such as honey from the world's only pure Ligurian Bees, marron - a delicious fresh water crayfish, and fabulous sheep's milk cheeses. The eucalyptus distillery is a fragrant attraction, with a retail shop on site selling wonderful eucalyptus products and a wide range of souvenirs.