Andrew from the Viva team recently had the opportunity to see firsthand how quickly Kangaroo Island in South Australia has regenerated following the devastating bushfires of early 2020 that burnt almost 50% of the island. Hosted by the South Australia Tourism Commission Andrew spent two nights on KI as the locals call it, and was amazed at the diverse range of flora and fauna and the sense of community as the island positively rebounds and welcomes back tourists in droves.
Getting to KI can be either a quick 25 minute flight from Adelaide or by car ferry from Cape Jervis, about a 1.5 hour drive south of the capital. If you haven’t been to KI before, one of the first things you will realise is the island is big! Stretching 145kms East – West and 54kms at its widest point North – South, a hire car (preferably 4WD) is a must if you want to get around and explore all of the islands natural wonders. Experienced and confident drivers are recommended as many of the roads off highway are unpaved and driving at dawn or dusk can be dangerous due to the wildlife. If you aren’t a confident driver there are several companies that host day or multi day tours with accommodation pick up and drop offs.
Exploring KI provides access to some of the most stunning scenery and wildlife Australia has to offer. Flinders Chase National Park on the western side of the island includes the famous Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch as well as lighthouses at Cape Borda and Cape du Couedic. Andrew was lucky enough to spot a mother whale and her calf swimming off Remarkable Rocks. Seal Bay Conservation Park is another must-do experience for anyone travelling to KI where you can get very close with the native seal lions in their natural habitat. And for those looking for a more adventurous experience Little Sahara in the south of the island has two square kilometres of natural sand dunes where you can take a hosted buggy ride adventure or hire sand-board and toboggans to ride the dunes. Another highly recommended experience is a 75 minute ocean safari leaving from Penneshaw on the eastern side of the island. A local tour guide will provide informative history and facts as you have the chance to see dolphins, whales, seals and birdlife looking over the island’s magnificent coastline.
Of course any trip to KI is not complete without taking a visit to one (or more!) of the island’s wineries as well as sampling some locally produced gin. KI is also famous for having the world’s only pure bred and disease free population of Ligurian honey bees and a purchase of KI honey is an absolute must for everyone that visits the island. The Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, 15 minutes south of the islands largest town Kingscote is the only Eucalyptus Oil distillery in South Australia and offers self guided and guided tours, a range of natural products to purchase as well as a cellar door experience for Kangaroo Island Cidars.
The range of accommodation options on the island is very diverse from camping and budget conscious options right through to luxury private accommodation with all inclusive food and local alcoholic beverage packages. Kingscote is the Islands largest township with nearby towns including Penneshaw and American Ridge also providing many options to stay. Given the size of the island a 3-4 night minimum stay is recommended and you may want to consider splitting the stay with a few nights on the eastern side, coupled with a night or two closer to Flinders Chase National Park. Andrew had the opportunity to stay at the Mercure Lodge in American River which is great for families and hosts one of the island’s best restaurants. For those looking for a luxury experience, Oceanview Eco Villas (pictured on left below) is a fully hosted, all inclusive eco luxury accommodation option, completely off the grid, offering stunning views of Napean Bay. And if you have the budget to stretch, One Kangaroo Island (pictured on right below) is a private beachfront 5 bedroom retreat on the north coast, unparalleled in luxury with private chef prepared meals and even including a stunning outdoor bath overlooking the private beach below.
If you are worried the island has been destroyed by the bushfires, don’t be. 18 months on, the regeneration is stunning and the island is absolutely open for business. The community is amazing and you will go out of their way to make your stay on KI a memorable experience.
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