You can drive to pristine Kangaroo Island using the Kangaroo Island SeaLink vehicle ferry service, which runs to and from the island multiple times daily. Ferries travel between Cape Jervis on the mainland and Penneshaw on the island in just 45 minutes. The ferry crossing across the Backstairs Passage is the only way to reach Kangaroo Island with your vehicle in tow, as there are no bridges or tunnels between the mainland and the island. While the ferry can be inconvenient, you’re rewarded once you land on the island with over 1600 km of roads through unspoiled wilderness.
Kangaroo Island is located off the southern coast of Australia in South Australia. The island lies 20 km offshore from Cape Jervis and is surrounded by the waters of the Great Australian Blight to the south and west, St Vincent’s Gulf to the north, and Long Bay to the east. The stretch of water between the island and the mainland is known as the Backstairs Passage. Kangaroo Island is located 130 km southwest of the state capital, Adelaide.
There are several ways to travel to Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third-largest island. While most visitors travel by ferry, this isn’t the only option available.
Here’s our overview of the different transport options for Kangaroo Island:
Road – There are no bridges or direct road connections between the mainland and Kangaroo Island. The only way to get to the island with your vehicle in tow is by taking the SeaLink vehicle ferry from Cape Jervis on the mainland to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.
Sea – A single-vehicle ferry route serves Kangaroo Island with a separate passenger ferry route. SeaLink operates the vehicle ferry, and the route is serviced by two large vehicle and passenger catamaran ferries. Named Sealion 2000 and the Spirit of Kangaroo Island, they sail to and from the island between 3 and 12 times daily. The frequency of sailings depends on the season and the day of the week. The crossing is relatively short and comfortable, taking just 45 minutes to complete.
A separate passenger-only ferry service known as Kangaroo Island Connect is also available. Considered a premium option, the ferry travels between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw in 30 minutes. It also sails to American River in 45 minutes, which lies west of Penneshaw. This ferry could be a good option if you don’t need to bring your vehicle. There are daily sailings, with more during the peak summer months.
Air – Kangaroo Island has one notable airport that offers commercial scheduled flights. Known as Kingscote Airport, it is located 14 km outside Kingscote. The airport only offers regular flights to Adelaide, from where you can connect to other Australian or international destinations.
Several car hire companies are located at the airport, so you can easily rent a vehicle to explore the island.
Kangaroo Island is one of Australia’s great wildlife and wilderness destinations. Pleasantly undeveloped, scenic, and welcoming, it’s a great destination for a few laid-back days.
Here are the best things to see and do on Kangaroo Island:
Beaches & Swimming – The north of the island is where you’ll find some of the best beaches for relaxing and swimming. Considerably more sheltered than other parts of the island, you’ll find the water warmer and much calmer. Some of the best beaches include Snelling Beach, Stokes Bay, and Emu Bay.
Surfing – While the north of the island is good for swimmers, the south is the preserve of surfers. Hanson Bay, Vivonne Bay, and Pennington Bay rank among the best locations to catch a wave.
Bushwalking – One of the best activities on the island is exploring the wilderness under your own steam. The Independence Trail, Kingscote Scenic Walking Trail, and the Mighty Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail are all excellent routes. The latter is a 73 km long route through the Flinders Chase National Park. This area is one of the best to explore on foot, with much shorter trails also available.
Fishing – There’s good fishing across the island, with many species in the water. Jetties in various different locations let you get out over the water and are often the most productive spots. If you’ve got the time and the money, you should consider a fishing charter, which will allow you to land some really big fish.
Diving – There’s a wide variety of fish life around Kangaroo Island, making it a good place to dive and snorkel. As well as the abundant fish life, there are coral reefs and some excellent wrecks you can dive into.
Whale Watching – From May through September, you can see migrating Southern Right Whales and Humpback Whales. It’s possible to see these majestic animals from the island, but a tour on the water gets you much closer and is highly recommended.
Kangaroo Island is generally best visited during the warmer summer when you can make the most of the island’s natural attractions. During this time, the days are largely warm and dry, with temperatures averaging 20-25°C. This creates the perfect conditions for bushwalking, surfing, fishing, or relaxing on one of the island’s spectacular beaches. Some of the island’s famed wildlife is more visible and active outside of the summer months, but this shouldn’t dissuade you from visiting during the summer.
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