Kangaroo Island is the 3rd largest island in Australia after Tasmania and Melville Island but somehow remains a very mysterious place. I’ve been working on “KI” for the last 7 months and I can give you directly the answer you’re looking for : YES you should visit Kangaroo Island.
Now let’s see why and let’s dive into 3 reasons that make visiting the island worth it.
1 – Observe wildlife everywhere
The wildlife on Kangaroo Island is really unique. Home to several native species that you can find only on the island, it doesn’t matter where you stay or where you drive, you WILL see at least one of those animals roaming around your accommodation, in your garden, in the fields or on the roads :
Kangaroo Island kangaroos
Of course, with about 200 000 of them the KI kangaroos are everywhere. Having no natural predators on the island, those kangaroos are slightly slower and shorter than their counterparts from the mainland.
Being much more active at night than during the day, be super extra careful when you’re driving from the end of the day to early mornings if you want to get back that deposit from your car rental !
Tammar wallabies
You thought 200 000 kangaroos were a lot ? There’s about a million Tammar wallabies on the island ! How do they count them ? I have no idea but I believe that number when I see them running around everywhere as soon as the sun sets.
Koalas
Our favorite sleepy fluffs. Did you know koalas have been introduced on KI ? Having also no predators on the island and being disease-free, over the years they even started to be a big problem for the island.
Before the fires of 2020 there was a real unsustainable number of koalas and the natural disaster actually brought their numbers back down to something manageable for KI.
Echidnas
Echidnas are so cute, wobbling around KI with their little bums. If you’re lucky you might see something very special : an echidna train ! This behavior occurs during the mating season, when a female needs a partner she will be followed around by several males in a single line and the last one standing wins the competition.
Other fun fact, echidnas are the only mammals with the platypus that lay eggs !
Goannas
Alright those ones look a little bit more creepy, but they’re not go(a)nna hurt you ! Those big lizards are pretty crafty, the females laying their eggs inside of termite mounds to use them as incubators the time that the eggs hatch.
Being cold blooded, they just love to chill outside on sunny days and mind their own lizards business.
Eagles
Whether it’s wedge-tailed eagles or white-bellied sea eagles, you’ll probably spot their huge wings flap around the island. Magpies don’t like the wedgies too much, despite the huge size difference they’ll sometimes bunch up as an angry mob and attack the big guy to chase him away.
2 – The beautiful nature
There are a few oddities and very cool places to visit on KI, some of them being :
Remarkable Rocks
Located at the Flinders Chase national park, the remarkable rocks are truly remarkable. One of the biggest highlight of the island, those beautiful formations will make you wonder on which planet you’ve just landed.
The sand dunes of Little Sahara
Sand dunes look cool, period. No wonder why Lawrence of Arabia has been acclaimed for it’s beauty since decades. Apparently they can also be homes of giant massive worms. I can’t promise you’ll find Timothée Chalamet at Little Sahara but if you can sandboard those dunes without doing a massive faceplant at the end, you are my Lisan Al Gaib.
The beaches
KI being a big island you have beaches almost everywhere. And the best thing about it is : they’re never crowded ! Of course you have the visitors favourite beaches like Stokes Bay, Vivonne Bay or Emu Bay but don’t hesitate to go to any beach where you have access, you’ll find a hidden gem just for yourself almost everywhere you go. Hot tip from an almost local : Red Banks is very little known and one of my favourite spots on the island.
The sky
That’s my own little bonus on this list, the sky in Kangaroo Island is absolutely gorgeous. The summer sunsets will blow your mind and the night sky is very impressive, KI being one of the few places where I’ve been able to see the milky way with the naked eye.
3 – Go on a tour on Kangaroo Island
There are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from when you’re visiting KI, whether you’re looking for adventure or something more chill, you’ll find some side quests to fill your day. Here are some of the tours you can book :
Drive a quad bike
This is definitely one of the most fun thing to do on the island, hop on a quad bike and go through bushes and rocky terrains with a guide. Spoiler alert : I’m actually one of the guides ! I know what you’ll say, I’m probably biased about the tour but believe me about this one, coming from an adventure guide who’ve guided many other activities before, you’ll have a blast with this one.
See the Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action website for more informations : Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action
Walk on the beach with seals
There are a few colonies of seals settled on the island and one of them is located at Seal Bay. 800 sea lions are part of this colony and you can go and observe them from pretty close ! Of course you’re not allowed to go pet them or steal one of the pups but if you book a tour, a guide will take you down to the beach where the seals are chilling (and oh my god do they know how to chill) and tell you everything you need to know about this colony.
For more informations go to : Seal Bay
Swim with dolphins
Who has never dreamt of swimming with one of the smartest animal on earth ? There are plenty of dolphins all around KI and you can hop on a boat to observe them and swim with them. Put on your tightest wetsuit, jump in the water and try to communicate with them via ultrasound (if you know how to do that) to tell them to bring some friendly whales along.
There are 2 companies offering those tours on the island, go check KI Marine Adventures and KI Ocean Safari
Conclusion
If you still didn’t get my point, yes it’s worth visiting Kangaroo Island. You’ll feel free, you’ll feel close to nature and you’ll have fun ! KI is the opposite of a tourist trap, it’s a hidden treasure that’s gonna make you happy whether you’re traveling with your family, your friends or solo ! So just book that bloody ferry and come down here.