A seal at Seal Bay (pic: S.A. Tourism Commission)

Kangaroo Island (including Kingscote, American River, Parndana and Penneshaw)
Australia's third-largest island. A superb and fascinating wilderness mixed with a number of attractive small townships.
Located 110 km south-west of Adelaide and easily accessible by ferry, Kangaroo Island is one of the nation's supreme scenic spots.

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island (after Tasmania and Melville Island) stretching 155 km from east to west, 55 km at its widest point, and containing nearly 1600 km of sealed and unsealed roads.

The island was first settled by Aborigines but their history is scant and complex. It seems they left the island about 3,000 years ago for reasons which remain unknown.

The first European to see the island was Matthew Flinders who, during his circumnavigation of Australia in the 'Investigator' in 1802, explored, charted and named the island.

Flinders and his crew killed 31 kangaroos and as he 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".

The following year the island was visited both by the French navigator Nicholas Baudin and some American sealers who set up their operations on the site of American River.

The sealers and whalers, who scoured the island's coasts for the next two or three decades, were a wild and vicious bunch. Captain Sutherland, who explored the island in 1819, described the sealers as 'little better than pirates' depicting them as people who 'dress in kangaroo skins with linen, and wear sandals made of seal skins, they smell like foxes'. They enslaved Aboriginal women (mostly from Tasmania) and used them to capture and kill seals. The women were prized by the sealers because they were highly skilled hunters who could swim across to the seal colonies, move quietly amongst the seals and kill large numbers of them without panicking the colonies.

The first official settlement of the island occurred in 1836 when the South Australia Land Co. established a base at Nepean Bay. This eventually grew into the island's main town, Kingscote. By 1837 shiploads of German emigrants were being brought to the Island by the South Australia Land Co. but the soil was infertile, the water supply was unreliable and consequently by 1840 it had collapsed and most of the settlers had moved to the mainland.

The road from the south to the north of Kangaroo Island

Isolation, the poor quality of the soils, the scrubby nature of the vegetation, an average annual rainfall of 491 mm leading to marginal water supplies, all conspired to ensure that Kangaroo Island remained relatively underdeveloped. Consequently, even today, the island has a population of less that 5,000 and its economy is primarily driven by tourism.

At various times through the nineteenth century there were attempts to establish viable industries. Salt was mined in the 1840s; a few farmers tried to carve pastoral leases out of the thin soils; and by the late 19th century eucalyptus oil production and gypsum mining were well established.

By 1905 tourism was becoming important to the islands's economy. Today the island's numerous natural attractions, and its large pristine areas, are the centrepieces to an economy driven by tourism.

Things to see:  

How to Get There
There is a car/passenger ferry run by Kangaroo Island Sealink which leaves Cape Jervis for Penneshaw four times daily. It takes about 1 hour to make the 16 km journey. Reservations and times: 13 1301. There are also a number of flights from Adelaide Airport.

Kingscote
Kingscote is an attractive small settlement gazing over the waters of the Bay of Shoals. Kingscote was first settled in 1836 and, as such, was the first town in South Australia. There was even talk of it becoming the new colony's capital but a shortage of reliable water terminated this discussion. It was named Kingscote after Henry Kingscote, a director of the South Australian Company. It remained an important port until the 1860s and, in the early days, provided the basalt for the road which was built between Port Adelaide and the new town of Adelaide.

Ozone Hotel
The town's attractions include the Ozone Seafront Hotel (just up from the jetty) which was opened in 1907 and by the mid-1930s had become 'the' place to stay for wealthy holidaymakers from Adelaide. It enjoys excellent views across the ocean and the harbour.

The mulberry tree at Kingscote

The Mulberry Tree
This huge and historic mulberry tree was planted by some of the island's earliest settlers. No one knows for sure who planted it and a sign indicates that there are no fewer than four families - the Powells, Christians, Kleemans and Baeres - all believe that their forebear planted the tree. The argument is that each of the four families had an ancestor who planted a mulberry tree at Kingscote. No one is quite sure which of the forebears planted this particular tree although the Kleeman family, which had grown to 2,562 people by 1969, claim that the original Friedrich Wilhelm Kleeman planted the tree in 1837.

Hope Cottage Museum
On the hill above Kingscote is the Hope Cottage Museum. It is part of a trio of cottages originally called Faith, Hope and Charity (Faith is no longer in existence) which were built in 1859. Also on the site is the Cape Willoughby lighthouse (built in 1852 it is the oldest lighthouse in South Australia) which was transferred from Cape Willoughby (on the eastern extremity of the island) and an interesting model eucalyptus distillery.

The view from the boardwalk at Seal Bay

Seal Bay Conservation Park
A substantial park covering 750 hectares and including both the Seal Bay area (a carefully managed section of coastline where, under supervision, people can see seals lying on the beach) as well as the fascinating Little Sahara set of sand dunes which lie between Seal Bay and Vivonne Bay. At its peak Seal Bay is home to a population of about 500 sea lions. There are walkways which allow people to go down to the viewing points above the beach and, on a regular basis, there are guided tours which allow visitors to get closer to the animals. There is an entry fee involved. For details contact (08) 8559 4207.

Little Sahara
This is very difficult to locate (it is not signposted from the road - the sensible thing is to go to the General Store at Vivonne Bay and ask for directions) but worth visiting. There is a rough unsealed track to a car park and beyond it the sand dunes, swept up by the winds off the Southern Ocean, rise dramatically.

The jetty at Vivonne Bay

Vivonne Bay
There is nothing more here than a General Store and a jetty. However the views across the bay are quite stunning and the sands are extraordinarily white. Nearby is the Vivonne Bay Wildlife Reserve which is a private park with 40 km of walking trails. It is a popular destination for school groups eager to learn about the fauna and flora of the island. Contact (08) 8559 4232 for details.

Kelly Hills Conservation Park
Large 6,306 hectare conservation park located between Seal Bay and Flinders Chase on the southern coast of the island. The area is named after a horse, Ned Kelly, which stumbled into the caves in the area. The landscape is dominated by mallee and coastal scrub. There are extensive walking trails and the park is noted for its Kelly Hill Caves which are open to organised tours. For details contact (08) 8559 7231.

Remarkable Rocks (pic: S.A. Tourism Commission)

Flinders Chase National Park
Flinders Chase National Park, which takes up most of the western half of the island, is one of the largest national parks in South Australia. Many visitors to Kangaroo Island head straight for the national park for while it is very isolated it also happens to contain such interesting attractions as the Remarkable Rocks, the Admirals Arch and the Cape Borda lighthouse, one of the most inhospitable lighthouse locations on the whole of the Australian coastline. It is also here that the alert bushwalker and coastal explorer will come across sea lions, sea eagles, ospreys, Cape Barren geese, kangaroos, wallabies and black cockatoos on trails which wind through a variety of vegetation from gum forests to mallee scrub.

Formations like Remarkable Rocks and the Admirals Arch (which is located at Cape du Couedic) are fine examples of the unrelenting power of the winds and the oceans. Remarkable Rocks are a collection of rocks weathered by the sea which form fantastic and unusual shapes. Admirals Arch has been carved out of the rocks. It is possible to see New Zealand fur seals lying on the rocks near this popular destination.

Cape Borda Lighthouse
When the French sailor Nicholas Baudin first sighted this rugged cliff he named it after the French mathematician Jean Charles de Borda. The Cape Borda lighthouse was built in 1858 on a cliff 155 metres above the sea. In the early days there was a cannon (which is still at the site) which was some times used to warn ships of the danger they were in. The cannon is now fired daily.

Cape Borda Lighthouse (pic: S.A. Tourism Commission)

The lighthouse is extraordinarily isolated and it is hardly surprising that there is a small graveyard nearby where 13 people are buried. Of particular interest is the Cape Borda Maritime Museum which provides a detailed history of this lonely outpost. For information and details of cannon firing times (08) 8559 7235.

Stokes Bay
Quiet and peaceful area with a fascinating 'hidden' beach. Take the signs from the car park and you will find yourself winding through the rocks and around the headland. When you emerge from this 'secret tunnel' there is an excellent natural swimming pool and a good beach for swimming and surfing.

Stokes Bay on the north of the island

Emu Bay
Emu Bay is a sleepy little settlement which was once the main port on the island's north coast. All that is left now is a jetty which was built in 1916 to ship grain and timber. It is still used by fishermen. In spite of this charming sleepiness it is the second largest holiday destination for families on the island. The 4km beach can be driven on by people who have 4WDs.

American River
This small settlement was named by the American sealers who settled there in the early 1800s. Today it is a pleasant destination which is popular with holidaymakers who want to enjoy aquatic activities including fishing, swimming, boating and sailing. The town also boasts the first house (dating from 1844 and built out of pug and split pine by John Buick) on Kangaroo Island and there is also a plaque to the American brig Union with an anchor which was recovered near the town's wharf in 1969.

Penneshaw
A small township on Backstairs Passage which has become important as the major entry point to the island. A ferry crosses the 16 km passage between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw bringing both visitors and their cars to the island. Both Matthew Flinders and Nicholas Baudin moored here at Christmas Cove and Frenchman's Rock respectively. Baudin scratched an inscription on Frenchman's Rock (translated it reads 'Expedition of discovery by Captain Baudin in the Geographe. 1803) but the sea and the weather damaged it so much that it was removed to the South Australian Museum in Adelaide and a more durable 'facsimile' put in its place. The original Frenchman's Rock is now housed at the Gateway Visitor Information Centre, Howard Drive, Penneshaw. There is a local Folk Museum in the old school house. It contains some interesting relics from the island's maritime past. For opening times contact (08) 8553 1176.

Cape Willoughby
The island's easternmost point, and a spectacular vantage point when the Southern Ocean is crashing against the coast. The cape was named in 1802 by Matthew Flinders. The name comes from the town of Willoughby in Lincolnshire, England.

Maritime Heritage Trail and Shipwrecks
Kangaroo Island has a total of 23 shipwrecks around its coastline. The earliest, the William, was wrecked in 1847 and the most recent, the Portland Maru, sank off Cape Torrens in 1935. A number of these vessels can be explored by experienced scuba divers. For more information on the Heritage Trail contact (08) 8207 2283.

	Tourist Information
	Kingscote Tourist Information Centre National Parks & Wildlife Dauncey St Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2381 Facsimile: (08) 8443 2531
	Penneshaw Tourist Information Centre Howard Dve Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1185 Facsimile: (08) 8553 1255
	Motels
	Kangaroo Island Lodge Scenic Road (P.O. Box 285) American River Kangaroo Island SA 5221 Telephone: (08) 8553 7053 Facsimile: (08) 8553 7030 Rating: ****
	Matthew Flinders Terraces Motel Government Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3100 Rating: ***
	Ellsons Seaview Motel Chapman Tce Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2030 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2368 Rating: ***
	Kangaroo Island Seafront Resort 49 North Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1028 Facsimile: (08) 8553 1204 Rating: ***
	The Island Resort Motel 4 Telegraph Rd Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2100 Rating: ***
	Wisteria Lodge Motel 7 Cygnet Rd Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2707 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Penneshaw Hotel North Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1042
	Queenscliffe Family Hotel/Motel Dauncey St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2254
	Ozone Seafront Hotel/Motel Commercial Rd Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 84882 2011 Rating: ***
	Queenscliffe Family Hotel/Motel Dauncey St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2254 Rating: ***
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Attarak Holiday Farm Bed & Breakfast Mt Taylor Rd Karatta Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 7202 Rating: **
	Correa Corner Bed & Breakfast Second St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2498 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2355 Email: correac@kin.net.au Rating: *****
	Gum Valley Retreat Guesthouse Western River Cove Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8231 0404 Rating: ***
	Merediths Beachside Bed & Breakfast Emu Bay Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 5381
	Seascape on Emu Bay P.O. Box 597 Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 5199 Facsimile: (08) 8553 5198 Rating: *****
	Wanderers Rest Guesthouse Bayview Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3140 Rating: ****
	The Kings Bed & Breakfast Bayview Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 7003 Rating: ****
	The Fig Tree Bed & Breakfast Leander Ave American Beach Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1054 Rating: ****
	Koala Lodge Bed & Breakfast Playford Hwy Cygnet River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 9006 Rating: ****
	The Open House Bed & Breakfast 70 Smith St Parndana Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 6113 Rating: ***
	Apartments
	Casuarina Coastal Apts 9 Ryberg Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3020 Rating: **
	Hanson Bay Holiday Apartments Hanson Bay Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8333 0646 Rating: **
	Shoreview Holiday Apartments South Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 4831 028 or 0157 17564 Rating: ***
	The Anchorage Apartment Willoughby Rd Island Beach Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3184
	Graydon Holiday Lodge Apts 16 Buller St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2713 Rating: ***
	Matthew Flinders Terraces Holiday Apts Government Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3100 Rating: ****
	Holiday Homes & Units
	Brownlow Holiday Units Third St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2293 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2293 Rating: **
	Cooinda Holiday Village Bayview Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3063 Rating: ***
	Kangaroo Island Holiday Village 9 Dauncey St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2225 Facsimile: (08) 8553 3014 Rating: ***
	Parade Units P.O. Box 385 Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2394 Rating: **
	Cottages & Cabins
	American Beach Cabins Lot 74 Bessell Dve Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8337 0654
	Barbaree Cottage Pelican Lagoon American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3190 Rating: ***
	Bay Rainbow Beachfront Cottage Frenchmans Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8278 8026 Rating: ***
	Bentleys at Penneshaw P.O. Box 492 Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1166 Rating: **
	Blue Wren Cottage Lot 133 Flinders Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8381 2096
	Butterfly Beachfront Cottage 3 Frenchmans Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8276 7993 Rating: ***
	Calico Cottage Scenic Dve American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3054
	Careys Island Beach Cottages Government Rd Island Beach Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8261 7646 or (08) 8553 3178
	John & Nanettes Cabin Playford Hwy Parndana Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3206
	Kellys Pioneer Bend Cottage Pioneer Bend Rd Parndana Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 6256 or (08) 8553 6249 Rating: **
	Lonnie Bay Cottage Lot 5 South Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3053 Rating: ***
	Penneshaw Caravan & Camping Park Talinga Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5222 Telephone: (08) 8553 1075 Facsimile: (08) 8553 1075 Rating: **1/2
	Reevara Holiday Home Cottage 28 Todd St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2776 Rating: ***
	Rock Cottage Cnr FrenchmansTce & Cheopis St Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8362 1868 Rating: **
	Roo Lagoon Cottage Playford Hwy Western River Cove Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3267 Rating: ***
	Silver Fern Cottage Talinga Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8278 4158 Rating: **
	The Esplanade Cottage 20 Brownlow Rd Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: *(08) 8553 2390 Rating: ***
	Tuna & Trevally Cottages Frenchmans Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8332 1083 Rating: **
	Western KI Caravan Park Flinders Chase Service Karratta Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8559 7201 Facsimile: (08) 8559 7298 Rating: ****
	Correa Corner Bed & Breakfast The Parade Brownlow Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2498 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2355 Email: correac@kin.net.au Rating: *****
	Cape View Cottage P.O. Box 245 Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5222 Telephone: (08) 8553 2390 Rating: ***
	Allambie Cottage 6 Hawthorn Ave Parndana Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 4258 Rating: ***
	Kingscote Nepean Bay Caravan Park Cnr 1st & 3rd Sts Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2394 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2394 Rating: ***
	Middle River Homestead Cottage North Coast Rd Middle River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2357 Rating: ***
	Riverview Cottage Government Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3169 Facsimile: (08) 8553 7152 Rating: ***
	Middle River Heights Cottage North Coast Rd Middle River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3201 Rating: **
	The Rookery Cottage Emu Bay P.O. Box 502 Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 5247 Rating: ***
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Telhawk Holiday Farm Western River Rd Western River Cove Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3225 Rating: ***
	Wingara Farm House Church Rd Karatta Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 7222 Rating: **
	Yerda Farm Accommodation Bark Hut Rd Parndana Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 6238
	Lodges & Chalets
	Seascape on Emu Bay P.O. Box 597 Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 5199 Facsimile: (08) 8553 5198 Rating: *****
	Tanderra Holiday Lodge 33 Middle Tce Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1233 Rating: *
	Ulonga Lodge Government Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3171 Rating: ***
	Seaview Lodge Willoughby Rd Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1132 Facsimile: (08) 8553 1183 Rating: ****
	Caravan Parks
	Penneshaw Caravan & Camping Park Talinga Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5222 Telephone: (08) 8553 1075 Facsimile: (08) 8553 1075 Rating: **1/2
	Western KI Caravan Park Flinders Chase Service Karratta Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8559 7201 Facsimile: (08) 8559 7298 Rating: ***1/2
	Kingscote Nepean Bay Caravan Park Cnr 1st & 3rd Sts Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2394 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2394 Rating: **1/2
	Camping & Other
	Babet Holiday Homes Cnr Commercial & Franklin Sts Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2061 Rating: ***
	Babet Holiday Homes Lot 111 Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2061 Rating: ***
	Emu Bay Holiday Homes Lot 232 Emu Bay Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 5241 Rating: ***
	Lovering Beach House Beachfront Rd Destress Bay Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 8261 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Ellsons Seaview Motel Chapman Tce Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2030 Facsimile: (08) 8553 2368
	Matthew Flinders Terraces Motel Government Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3100
	Old Post Office Restaurant North Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1063
	Ozone Seafront Hotel Kingscote Commercial St Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2011
	Penneshaw Hotel North Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1042
	Sorrento Resort Motel North Tce Penneshaw Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 1028 Facsimile: (08) 8553 1204
	The Island Resort Motel 4 Telegraph Rd Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2100
	Wanderers Rest Guesthouse Bayview Rd American River Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 3140
	Wisteria Lodge Motel 7 Cygnet Rd Kingscote Kangaroo Island SA 5223 Telephone: (08) 8553 2707