Even in this day and age when information is so easily accessible, some people still think that anywhere you go in Australia you can see koalas in the trees and kangaroos hopping down the street. It is only remote places like Kangaroo Island where that kind of thing is still possible so if that’s the kind of Australia you’re looking for this is the place for you.

Kangaroo Island is big and unspoiled. Off the coast of South Australia, Kangaroo Island’s isolation has protected the indigenous animals which are now its main attraction; koalas, seals, penguins, sea lions, echidnas, goannas, wallabies and obviously kangaroos are the big name celebrities here, but because its so unspoiled you’re seeing them in the wild, going about their daily business as opposed to what you would see in a zoo or animal park. Birds and whales pass by here on their annual winter migrations, which is an incentive to come in Winter.

Highlights of a visit to Kangaroo Island would include seeing the nightly penguin procession, dropping in on Seal Bay and the resident sea lion population, tasting the local honey (Kangaroo Island also has a bee sanctuary?) a tour of the lighthouse and a swim at Vivonne Bay, rated by a Sydney University study as one of Australia’s top beaches.

To help keep Kangaroo Island nice for its animal inhabitants, Park Rangers from Flinders Chase National Park, which covers a third of the island, ask that visitors stick to the walking tracks and DON’T FEED THE LOCALS however cutely they may look at you.

One of the most famous walks is the Hanson Bay Hike, at Kelly Hill through Pink Gum woodlands along the southern coastline which takes about six hours to finish but takes you past some of the islands prettiest bays and best views.

Get there on a daily ferry from Adelaide. If you’re staying for a few days you may want to bring your car - Kangaroo Island is 155kms long. There is a variety of accommodation from cottage to camping to luxury. If you have time Kangaroo Island is also a good place for a cycling tour, you can also swim, fish, snorkel, surf, kayak and dive.

Kangaroo Island information for visitors.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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