Schnapper Point further up the coast from Cape Jervis

Cape Jervis (including Delamere & Rapid Bay)
Major access point for travellers to Kangaroo Island.
Located 108 km south of Adelaide, Cape Jervis is the terminal for the main car and passenger ferry across to Kangaroo Island. It is positioned at the very south-western tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Cape Jervis looks out on Backstairs Passage. The first European to site the passage and Kangaroo Island was Matthew Flinders who, during his circumnavigation of Australia in the Investigator in 1802, explored, charted and named the island.

On Kangaroo Island, Flinders and his crew killed 31 kangaroos and, as Flinders wrote: 'half a hundredweight of heads, forequarters and tails were stewed into soup...and as much steaks given....to both officers and men as they could consume by day and by night.... In gratitude for so seasonable a supply, I named this southern land Kangaroo Island ...'. Flinders also named the strait between the island and the mainland declaring 'It forms a private entrance, as it were, to the two gulphs; and I named it Backstairs Passage'. Flinders also named Cape Jervis after the First Lord of the British Admiralty.

Today the town is really little more than a fishing destination and a place where people gather to catch the ferry across to Kangaroo Island although it is true that there are a number of interesting and attractive parks in the area.

Things to see:  

Deep Creek Conservation Park
Located 120 km south of Adelaide and 8 km south of Delamere and east of Cape Jervis, Deep Creek Conservation Park is a 4030 hectare park. It is an interesting combination of steep cliffs, waterfalls, bush and coast inhabited by western grey kangaroos, blue wrens, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, wedge-tailed eagles and scarlet robins.

Talisker Conservation Park
Turn onto Range Rd between Delamere and Cape Jervis. This is a small 134 hectare park which contains the ruins of an old silver-lead mine.

The Heysen Trail
The justifiably famous Heysen Trail - a walking track from here to the Flinders Ranges - starts at Cape Jervis. If you want to experience South Australia in all its variety there can be no better way.

Rapid Bay
Rapid Bay is a beautiful stretch of coastline which lies to the north of Cape Jervis and is characterised by a pebbly beach, a jetty and rocky headlands. There are excellent walks along the cliffs and the waters in the bay are good for both fishing and skindiving. The area offers squid, tommy ruff, yellowtail kingfish, red mullet, sea mullet, whiting, barracouta, salmon and garfish, amongst others. The nearby Second Valley Jetty is also good for tommy ruff, garfish and squid. Local tourist information is available from the foreshore kiosk, tel: (08) 8598 0011.

	Tourist Information
	Tourist Information Centre Foreshore Kiosk Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0011
	Motels
	Cape Jervis Hotel/Motel Main Rd Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0276 Facsimile: (08) 8598 0249
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Cape Jervis Station Guesthouse Main Rd Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0288, 1800 805 288 Rating: ****
	Old Cape Jervis Homestead Guesthouse Main Rd Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0233 Rating: ***
	Holiday Homes & Units
	Cape Jervis Holiday Units Lot 7 Flinders Dve Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0229
	Cottages & Cabins
	Beachside Caravan Park Cape Jervis Rd Normanville Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8558 2458 Facsimile: (08) 8558 2929 Rating: ***1/2
	Cape Jervis Station Pine Cottage Main Rd Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0288, 1800 805 288
	Normanville Beach Caravan Park Jetty Rd Normanville Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8558 2038 Facsimile: (08) 8558 3573 Rating: ***1/2
	The Cabin Corner Crafts Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 4097 Facsimile: (08) 8598 4097
	Caravan Parks
	Beachside Caravan Park Cape Jervis Rd Normanville Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8558 2458 Facsimile: (08) 8558 2929 Rating: ***1/2
	Normanville Beach Caravan Park Jetty Rd Normanville Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8558 2038 Facsimile: (08) 8558 3573 Rating: ***1/2
	Camping & Other
	Southern Ocean Retreats C/O Delamere Post Office Delamere Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 4169
	Restaurants
	Cape Jervis Hotel/Motel Main Rd Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0276
	Cape Jervis Station Guesthouse Main Rd Cape Jervis SA 5204 Telephone: (08) 8598 0288, 1800 805 288