Choose from 6 Fun Things to Do in Kangaroo Island
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Admirals Arch
A scenic boardwalk leads to the viewing platform for Admiral’s Arch – the naturally formed rock bridge that towers above colonies of New Zealand fur seals.
Originally an ancient cave, Admirals Arch has been shaped by the intense winds and surf that pound the coast of Kangaroo Island. Stalactites still hang from the rocky ceiling whilst the floor has been eroded to a smooth finish. The Arch has been designated a geological monument, and is one of 27 geological monuments on the island.
The boardwalk runs along the cliff face, providing uninterrupted views of the ocean. Dolphins can often be spotted, and whales migrate along the coast from May to October. Year round entertainment however, is provided by the colony of fur seals that live and play on the rock platforms beneath the cliff. Pups are born in December, and remain with their mothers for a year, playing in the rock pools under the Arch.
Originally an ancient cave, Admirals Arch has been shaped by the intense winds and surf that pound the coast of Kangaroo Island. Stalactites still hang from the rocky ceiling whilst the floor has been eroded to a smooth finish. The Arch has been designated a geological monument, and is one of 27 geological monuments on the island.
The boardwalk runs along the cliff face, providing uninterrupted views of the ocean. Dolphins can often be spotted, and whales migrate along the coast from May to October. Year round entertainment however, is provided by the colony of fur seals that live and play on the rock platforms beneath the cliff. Pups are born in December, and remain with their mothers for a year, playing in the rock pools under the Arch.
Practical Info:
Sitting on Cape du Couedic in Flinders Chase National Park, Admirals
Arch is a 10 minute walk from the Admirals Arch Car Park. Several longer
walks such as the Cape du Couedic Hike begin within the area, and the
Cape du Couedic Lightstation lies on the road to the Admirals Arch
Boardwalk.
Address: Admiral's Arch Boardwalk, Flinders Chase National Park, Flinders Chase, SA 5223, Australia
Hours: Open 24/7 but day visitors are requested to leave the park by sunset.
Admission: Adult: $10 (2 Day Pass $15). Child: $6 (2 Day Pass $9)
From $ 219
Vivonne Bay
You would think that a beach voted “Best in Australia” would be a little more crowded than this. Serenely set along the southern coast of Australia’s Kangaroo Island, Vivonne Bay is one of the most scenic—and famous—beaches in all of Australia. White sand stretches out to the horizon and simply begs to be walked at sunset, and consistent waves crash on the shoreline in a fusion of turquoise and white. Playful dolphins and migrating Right whales can occasionally be seen swimming offshore, and the scent of the ocean wafts on the breeze as children splash in the surf. Even with all of its beauty, however, the long drive to the southern coast keeps the bay relatively empty, with long weekends and school holidays being the few exceptions to the rule.
Travelers staying in Vivonne Bay can pitch a tent just steps from the ocean at the popular Vivonne Bay campground, or share a romantic balcony with a view from the handful of coastal lodges. Watch as fishermen haul their catch from the rustic boat ramp and jetty, and for an up close encounter with island wildlife, stroll down the beach with dozens of sea lions along the neighboring Seal Bay shoreline.
Practical Info
Vivonne Bay is located 1 hour and 20 minutes from Penneshaw and 50 minutes from Kingscote. The beach is accessed by a short road just after the Vivonne Bay store, and the safest swimming areas are either by the jetty or in the river that empties into the bay.
Address: Vivonne Bay, South Australia, Australia
Hours: Daily
From $ 27
Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery
The first Aboriginals to walk Australia’s forests discovered the power of eucalyptus oils. In addition to its trademark, earthy aroma, the oils contained in the eucalyptus leaves can naturally bolster health. Once the Australian continent was settled, eucalyptus oil became the nation’s first export and the global source of the product. Today, however, diluted sources from other nations dominate the global market, and the original eucalyptus oil industry has seen a steady decline into obscurity.
Here on Kangaroo Island, however, South Australia’s only eucalyptus distillers still operate out in the bush. With rusting relics scattered about the property and an eccentric taste of the outback, the family-run Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery still churns out the sweet-smelling elixir. Learn the ways that the oil is extracted from the narrow mallee leaves, and the healing benefits the oils can have for aiding wounds or illnesses. Group tours and self-guided tours help visitors experience the property, and in addition to the enchanting historical feel, there is a small bar attached to the farm where you can sample the locally made spirits.
Practical Info
Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery is located 45 minutes from the ferry at Penneshaw and 25 minutes from Kingscote. The distillery is open from 9am to 2pm on every day except Christmas, and is open for guided group tours during school holidays and peak seasons. During all times of a year, a self-guided tour makes for an informative visit, and entrance fees range from $4-$7 depending on the type of tour.
Address: Willsons Rd., Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia
Hours: 9am to 2pm on every day except Christmas
Admission: $4-$7
From $ 156
Remarkable Rocks
500 million year old granite has been shaped by the elements to create the intriguing formations that are the Remarkable Rocks.
Perched on a large granite dome that drops abruptly to the crashing surf, the Remarkable Rocks are changing even today. Information boards display pictures of the rocks from the 1800s alongside current photographs, as well as detailed information on the weathering process.
The Remarkable Rocks have been weathered into strange and unique shapes – many visitors enjoy picking out familiar objects in the formations, such as giant chairs and hooks. Enhancing their beauty are the colours in the granite uncovered as the rocks are worn down – blues, blacks and pinks play across the surface of the rocks.
As well as the Remarkable Rocks themselves, the viewing area offers visitors an unobstructed outlook upon the wild Southern Ocean. Migrating whales can be spotted between May and October, and Cape du Couedic and its Heritage Listed Lightstation can be seen from the Western platform.
Perched on a large granite dome that drops abruptly to the crashing surf, the Remarkable Rocks are changing even today. Information boards display pictures of the rocks from the 1800s alongside current photographs, as well as detailed information on the weathering process.
The Remarkable Rocks have been weathered into strange and unique shapes – many visitors enjoy picking out familiar objects in the formations, such as giant chairs and hooks. Enhancing their beauty are the colours in the granite uncovered as the rocks are worn down – blues, blacks and pinks play across the surface of the rocks.
As well as the Remarkable Rocks themselves, the viewing area offers visitors an unobstructed outlook upon the wild Southern Ocean. Migrating whales can be spotted between May and October, and Cape du Couedic and its Heritage Listed Lightstation can be seen from the Western platform.
Practical Info:
Located within Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island, the
Remarkable Rocks are accessed by a 1km return boardwalk from the
Remarkable Rocks Car Park – a short drive from the Flinders Chase
Visitors Centre. The National Park is open year round with minimal
entrance fees.
Address: S Coast Rd, Flinders Chase, SA 5223, Australia
Hours: Open 24/7 but day visitors are requested to leave the park by sunset.
Admission: Adult: $10 (2 Day Pass $15). Child: $6 (2 Day Pass $9)
From $ 219
Kelly Hill Conservation Park
The star attraction of Kelly Hill Conservation Park is the extensive network of caves that lie beneath it. With guided tours of the caves, short walks or longer hikes above ground, and views of woodlands and the Southern Ocean, the park is well worth the visit.
Impressive formations of stalactites, stalagmites and more await visitors underground. Discovered when a horse named Kelly fell into one of the caves, the complex is one of the few dry limestone cave networks in Australia. The Kelly Hill Visitor Centre runs frequent guided tours of the caves, or, for the more adventurous, adventure caving. In addition, souvenirs, drinks and snacks are also available from the visitors centre.
As well as the underground attractions, Kelly Hill Conservation Park is home to several short walks around the Visitors Centre. Visitors after a longer trek can undertake the Hanson Bay hike – an 18km return track past lagoons, woodlands and sand dunes.
Impressive formations of stalactites, stalagmites and more await visitors underground. Discovered when a horse named Kelly fell into one of the caves, the complex is one of the few dry limestone cave networks in Australia. The Kelly Hill Visitor Centre runs frequent guided tours of the caves, or, for the more adventurous, adventure caving. In addition, souvenirs, drinks and snacks are also available from the visitors centre.
As well as the underground attractions, Kelly Hill Conservation Park is home to several short walks around the Visitors Centre. Visitors after a longer trek can undertake the Hanson Bay hike – an 18km return track past lagoons, woodlands and sand dunes.
Practical Info:
Kelly Hill sits on the southwest of Kangaroo Island, close to Flinders
Chase National Park and the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is
open 24/7 year round, though day visitors are asked to leave the park by
sunset. The Visitors Centre is open 10:15-4:30 daily. Guided cave tours
are $15 for adults and $9 for children with multiple tours per day,
whilst adventure cave tours are $50 for adults and $30 for children over
8, and run at 2:15pm.
Address: Kelly Hill Conservation Park, Karatta, SA 5223, Australia
Hours: Day visitors are requested to leave the park by sunset. Kelly Hill Caves Visitor Centre: 10:15am - 4:30pm Daily (except Christmas Day).
Admission: Cave Tour Fees: Adult: $15; Child: $9
From $ 332
Clifford's Honey Farm
Kangaroo Island is known for its wildlife, but honeybees usually aren’t part of it. At the fascinating Clifford’s Honey Farm, however, hives of pure blood Ligurian bees create a strain of honey that is so tantalizingly sweet it has becomes a staple of Kangaroo Island. Sample honey that has been carefully collected from the world’s only purebred Ligurians, and savor the famous honey ice cream that draws visitors from the mainland and beyond.
More than just pleasing to the taste buds, however, a visit to the farm provides an intriguing insight to the complex social structure of bees. Learn the way they interact in the hive and the intricacies of the honeybee hierarchy, and watch as honey is collected from hives and bottled for visitor’s enjoyment. And while it might not have the same level of “wilderness” as the rest of Kangaroo Island, the swarms at Clifford’s Honey Farm might become your favorite animals of the trip.
Practical Info
Clifford’s Honey Farm is open 9am-5pm on every day except Christmas. It is located 25 minutes south of Kingscote down rural South Coast Road, and is a convenient stop between American River and the airport for flights to the Mainland.
Address: 1157 Elsegood Road, Kingscote, South Australia, Australia
Hours: 9am-5pm every day except Christmas
From $ 156