Western Grey Kangaroo
Jean-Paul Ferrero / Auscape International

Highlights

Kingscote

The island’s largest town, Kingscote is situated on the Bay of Shoals. It was the site of the state’s first European settlement (1836), and its long pioneering history is presented in the excellent National Trust Museum. Other attractions include tours to see the nearby colony of little penguins.

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Some 700 Australian sea lions feed their young and rest between fishing expeditions at Seal Bay. See the creatures from a boardwalk or up-close on a ranger-guided tour, which takes you down onto the beach.

Flinders Chase National Park

This park is the location of the Remarkable Rocks, enormous weathered boulders that perch precariously on a cliff. It is also known for its wonderfully varied springtime wildflowers and for its wildlife – including the New Zealand fur seal colony at Cape du Couedic and the Cape Barren geese often seen wandering around the visitor centre. Walking trails lead into the wilderness.

Cape Borda Lighthouse

This unusually shaped lighthouse – squat and square rather than tall and round – was built in 1858 and converted to automatic operation in 1989. Guided tours are conducted regularly and accommodation is available in the old lighthouse-keeper’s residence.

Gourmet produce

Fast-developing as an authentic, grassroots foodie destination, ‘KI’ is deservedly proud of its ‘clean and green’ status. The island is particularly well-known for its flapping-fresh seafood and superb cheese and honey. Try Ferguson Australia in Kingscote for fresh rock lobster and crab, Clifford’s Honey Farm in MacGillivray and the Island Pure Sheep Dairy in Cygnet River (for its haloumi, in particular). Cafe-style eateries showcasing local produce are dotted across the island; Rockpool Cafe in remote Stokes Bay is one favourite.

Focus On: Wildlife-watching

As a result of its isolation from the mainland, Kangaroo Island has one of Australia’s most impressive concentrations of wildlife. Seal Bay is home to a colony of Australian sea lions, while at Cape du Couedic in Flinders Chase National Park there is a 600-strong colony of New Zealand fur seals. This national park is also the best place to see land animals like kangaroos, tammar wallabies, brush-tailed possums and the occasional koala or platypus. Little penguins can be seen on tours operating from Kingscote or Penneshaw. There is a large and varied bird population (240 species) across the island, with Murray Lagoon (en route to Seal Bay) home to many waterbirds.