I really expected Kangaroo Island to be busier with tourists.
I’d seen photos of this incredible destination years ago, and it’s somewhere I’d always planned on visiting. When I finally got there in the spring of 2024, I was expecting it to be overflowing with tourists like me who were there to see all the amazing natural beauty…
… only I found that it was pretty much empty.
My best guess is that it’s because of the devastation of the 2020 Black Summer bushfires. Kangaroo Island (and particularly Flinders Chase National Park) was hit hard. Approximately 211,000 hectares burned in the fires, affecting nearly half of the island’s landscapes, wildlife, and communities.
And I think tourists are still a bit cautious about returning. After 4.5 years, there are still some remnants of the bushfires that can be seen on the island. But I think that makes it a perfect time to go right now, because such a stunning place will not remain unnoticed.
In a few years time, when people will have forgotten all about the bushfire devastation, Kangaroo Island will undoubetdly heave with tourists once again.
So if you’re thinking about visiting Kangaroo Island, I’d suggest that you go and take a look at it sooner rather than later. Take your chance to see this incredible island destination while there’s practically no one else there.
I’ve already got a guide on how to get to Kangaroo Island, so pick your mode of transport and get going for a weekend adventure! Here are some essential things to see on Kangaroo Island, with plenty of activities to fill your time on the island.
Quick summary:
Kangaroo Island is one of South Australia’s most spectacular destinations, filled with rugged coastlines, wildlife encounters, and pristine beaches. This guide covers all the best things to do — from Remarkable Rocks and Seal Bay to koala spotting, local gin tasting, and discovering hidden beaches.
Recommended tours:
🦭 Kangaroo Island Day Tour from Penneshaw – See the highlights on a guided full-day adventure.
🐨 Koala Walking Tour at Hanson Bay – Spot wild koalas with a knowledgeable local guide.
🏜️ Little Sahara Buggy Tour – Race over the dunes in a thrilling off-road experience.
🍸 Kangaroo Island Gin Tasting – Sample award-winning gins and learn about the distilling process.
🍯 Kangaroo Island Half-Day Tasting Tour – Visit local producers for honey, lavender, and eucalyptus.
Where to stay on Kangaroo Island:
My visit to Kangaroo Island was on a family trip with my parents, husband and young toddler, so we booked a three bedroom holiday home near Kingscote. The house was built recently and was located in a quiet spot surrounded by gum trees.
If you’re wondering where to stay on Kangaroo Island, it’s worth noting that the island does not have a huge amount of grocery stores, fuel stations, or cafes, so I found it nice to be close to Kingscote (the main township) for the convenience of stocking up on supplies. Kingscote is in a reasonably central location which can be used as a base for exploring the island.
For those of you who will be arriving by ferry and won’t have a car, Penneshaw is a good option as some Kangaroo Island day tour operators can collect you from the ferry terminal or accommodations in this area.
The best things to do on Kangaroo Island:
Take photos at Remarkable Rocks
As one of the most photographed Kangaroo Island attractions, Remarkable Rocks are a sight that everyone visiting the island will want to see. This collection of massive red-tinged stones, which are perched on a point with a spectacular view of the ocean, have unique shapes and rippled sides created from many years of water and wind erosion.
You’ll need to do a fair bit of driving to reach this spot in Flinders Chase National Park, which is located on the far end of the island.
🦭 If you won’t have a car, it’s possible to see Remarkable Rocks on a Kangaroo Island day tour from the Penneshaw ferry terminal or Kingscote Airport.
Once you’ve arrived at the Remarkable Rocks parking lot, it’s only a short walk along a boardwalk to access the rocks. We had lots of fun climbing around and taking pics, though anyone visiting should be careful of slippery surfaces and the cliff edge which could deposit over-adventurous tourists into the angry ocean below.
Admire rock formations at Admirals Arch
Located not far from Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase National Park, this archway has been eroded out of the coastal cliffs by wind and waves over thousands of years. This is another attraction that will be included on a Kangaroo Island day tour.
The boardwalk and viewing platforms at Admirals Arch provide an incredible vista of the ocean – the raging waves and wind give you a sense that you’re standing at the edge of the Earth.
It was uncomfortably windy as we descended the stairs down the cliffs, but it was ultimately worth bracing the gusts to see this massive ocean arch. We even spotted a few New Zealand fur seals frolicking in the calmer waters below!
Take a photo of the wobbly road in Flinders Chase
After seeing photos of this wobbly road in Flinders Chase National Park, I was determined to find it. And I did! When you’re heading in the direction of Remarkable Rocks, it’s located right after the Bunker Hill Lookout, just beyond the next curve in the road.
There’s a gravel area to pull over your car and get out to take a few snaps, though just be super careful of oncoming cars if you’re standing on the road!
Spot a wild koala at Hanson Bay
I was determined to see a wild koala on Kanagroo Island. If you want to absolutely guarantee a sighting, head to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary which is just near the entrance to Flinders Chase National Park.
🐨 Here, you can book a Koala Walking Tour with a guide who will show you to some members of the wild koala population, while giving you an overview of their habitat on the island.
Unfortunately my toddler wouldn’t have done well following along on a guided walk, so I researched the best places to see wild koalas on Kangaroo Island and discovered that the Duck Lagoon Camping Area at Cygnet River is a top koala-spotting location. We found three koalas in the trees around this area! These fluffy animals sleep most of the day, though the one pictured above enjoyed a good scratch while we were watching it.
See the vibrant colours at Vivonne Bay
The sand at Vivonne Bay was some of the whitest I’ve ever seen! And the bright turquoise colour of the ocean was absolutely stunning. We didn’t spend long here, just stepping out of the car briefly to snap a photo, but if you have time then I’d imagine Vivonne Bay would be a great place to spend an afternoon at the beach.
We stopped in at the Vivonne Bay General Store to grab some lunch. The burger selection was reasonably small but they had a vegetarian halloumi option, which made me very happy.
Visit the fur seals at Seal Bay
Seal Bay is kind of weird in that it’s a beach that you have to pay to access, but it’s definitely worth doing. It’s one of the only places that you can see Australian fur seals up close, and with a local population of a few hundred animals, the seals are all over the beach and dunes.
Run by the state National Park Service, tickets to Seal Bay help fund conservation of the area and are available to purchase on arrival. The boardwalk down to the beach is accessible/pram friendly and only takes about 15-20 minutes to walk each way. You can also choose to pay a little extra to hop on a guided tour where you’re actually able to walk onto the beach, though I felt that the boardwalk option (which leads to a viewing platform beside the beach) was completely adequate.
If you’ve got some extra time, stop in for tobogganing or a Little Sahara Adventure Centre Buggy Tour at the nearby sand dunes. We unfortunately didn’t have enough time for this activity but it looks like it would be loads of fun!
Sample the local beer, wine, and gin
Kangaroo Island has a brewery, a spirits distillery, and a number of wineries. We decided to skip the wineries as McLaren Vale was next on our Adelaide itinerary, but we did manage to stop in at the other venues, which are both located near the town of Kingscote, for a beer and a gin.
I tried the ginger beer at Kangaroo Island Brewery (it was a little dry for my liking, but certainly not bad) and ordered a tasty cranberry gin cocktail at Kangaroo Island Spirits. I very much enjoyed the distillery’s outdoor courtyard with its cottage garden vibes on the pleasantly warm spring afternoon that we were visiting.
🍸 If you want a more in-depth experience, it may be worth booking a premium gin tasting activity at the spirits distillery which includes a flight of gin and tonic pairings and a tour of the facility.
Taste the local products
Kangaroo island is known for being a prime growing region with exceptional local products. We stopped in at Island Beehive to taste the Kangaroo Island honey. Unfortunately the onsite cafe that once served visitors is now closed, but it was nice to sample their honey ice cream while watching the bees travel in and out of their hives from the balcony. We also picked up some choc-covered honeycomb from the gift shop to enjoy later.
Visitors to Kangaroo Island can also find some eucalyptus products at Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery or lavender products at Emu Bay Lavender Farm.
🍯 If you’re interesting in trying all of these options, you might want to jump on a Kangaroo Island half day tasting tour which visits all three honey/eucalyptus/lavender options plus the spirits distillery and a winery!
See the massive silo art at Kingscote
I’m a sucker for a large-scale mural, so when I found the Kingscote silo art while browsing around on Google Maps, I flagged it as a stop on our Kangaroo Island itinerary. This impressive installation is 25 metres tall and features an Aussie kangaroo and glossy black cockatoo.
A peephole in the fence surrounding the silos allows people to stick their cameras in for a photo just like the one I took above.
Find the hidden beach at Stokes Bay
If I was ranking a list of beaches by the most fun access method, this one would top it. At Stokes Bay on the north side of Kangaroo Island, a sandy path leads beachgoers between large rocks and through a small cave tunnel to access a hidden beach on the other side.
The beach itself is beautiful with a rockpool at one end that protects swimmers from any rough waves. If it’s a nice day on your visit, I’d highly recommend taking a towel and some beach attire with you for a few hours of sun and relaxation. There’s also a small cafe next to the parking lot where you can grab a beer or a bite to eat.
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