Kangaroo Island is not a particularly easy destination for tourists to access.
There’s no denying that a pricey ferry or flight, plus a lack of transport options on the island (there are no taxis or public buses), can make it a somewhat uneconomical and tricky destination to visit.
But that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth doing. Some of the most amazing places that I’ve seen are the ones that are trickiest to get to. And generally speaking, the more difficult that it is to access, the less people are bothered to do it. Destinations like Kangaroo Island aren’t overcrowded with hoards of tourists because many people put it in the “meh… too hard” basket. Hello, wide empty open spaces with no one else there to get in the way of your photos!
I really enjoyed my short stay on Kangaroo Island. My only regret is that I didn’t have enough time to see more of it. Travelling with a toddler made it difficult to stop at all the attractions in a timely manner (gone are my days of efficiently planned sightseeing!), so I was left wishing that I’d spent at least three days on the island instead of the measly two that we had there. Oh well, what can you do.
If you’re planning a trip to South Australia and are wondering how to get to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide, you have a few options. Here are all the best ways for tourists to travel there.
Quick summary:
Planning a trip to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide? This guide covers all the best transport options—including ferry, bus, flights, and guided tours—plus practical tips for getting around the island once you arrive.
Recommended tours:
🚌 Kangaroo Island Day Tour from Adelaide – A full-day trip that includes transport, ferry, and top island attractions.
🦘 Full Day Kangaroo Island Tour from Penneshaw – Ideal for walk-on ferry passengers wanting a guided experience once on the island.
A – Adelaide
AA – Adelaide Airport
CJ – Cape Jervis (ferry terminal)
P – Penneshaw (ferry terminal)
KA – Kingscote Airport
By car & ferry:
I used the Kangaroo Island ferry as we were travelling with my parents and therefore had access to their car. The ferry takes vehicles and passengers from the mainland to the island.
An easy option for tourists would be to rent a car in Adelaide for your trip to Kangaroo Island. The drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis (where the ferry departs from) takes just under 2 hours.
The boat to Kangaroo Island is operated by SeaLink which has around 10 departures per day. It can get fairly busy during peak travel periods, so it’s highly advisable that you make a booking well in advance. Arrive at the terminal about 30 minutes before your departure time, then it’s a reasonably short 45 minute ferry across to Kangaroo Island.
This is a popular option with tourists because it allows you to have access to a car once you’re on the island, though the ferry ticket with a vehicle can be pricey. We were carpooling and therefore splitting the cost of the vehicle ticket four ways to make it less expensive.
By bus & ferry:
It’s possible to get a coach transfer from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, then catch the ferry as a walk-on passenger. The benefit of this option is that the passenger ticket on the ferry is much cheaper than a vehicle ticket. LinkSA operate coach transfers departing from Adelaide Central Bus Station.
Once you arrive on the island, there are a few options for geting around. Several car rental companies have offices near the ferry terminal in Penneshaw, so if you’re stepping off the ferry and would like to rent a car for your Kangaroo Island adventures, check out Budget or Hertz.
If you’d prefer not to drive, there are a few private companies with bus transfers that link up with ferry arrivals. Peninsula Coaches has a shuttle bus that travels between Penneshaw, American River, and Kingscote twice daily in each direction. You’ll usually have to submit an online enquiry or call the company to make a booking.
🦘 Alternatively, you can book a Full Day Kangaroo Island Tour departing from the ferry terminal in Penneshaw, which will take you to all of the best Kangaroo Island attractions over the course of a day.
By guided tour:
🚌 If you want transport from Adelaide, I’d suggest booking a Adelaide to Kangaroo Island Guided Tour which departs the city in the morning and drops you back there in the evening.
It is worth noting that this will be a very big day with a lot of time spent on the bus, but if you’re short on time and really want to see Kangaroo Island while you’re in Adelaide, this would be a good option.
Bus tours will stop at all the top attractions on the island and give you a chance to see the amazing wildlife and scenery, without you having to worry about navigating the roads, planning for ferry timetables, or booking tickets for the activities.
By flight:
Kangaroo Island has a small airport at Kingscote (KGC), with Qantas offering direct flights from Adelaide (ADL) twice daily. The flight is very short, only around 30-40 minutes.
If you’re flying to Kangaroo Island by plane, it’s important to note that there are no taxis or public transport services available on Kangaroo Island, so you’ll need to rent a car from Kingscote Airport. Budget, Thrifty, and Hertz all operate out of this location.
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