Travel destinations: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

“Kangaroo Island is the third largest island of Australia and is located only 13 km from Cape Jervis on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. It has a coastline that extends for 540 km and has is one of the world’s last untouched natural environments. Over half of the island has never been cleared of any vegetation so it has remained virtually unchanged since the beginning of time. Over one-quarter of the island is preserved in conservation parks, national parks and wilderness areas.

There are five wilderness areas on Kangaroo Island:

Finders Chase National Park

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park

Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area

Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area

There are no rabbits or foxes on this island, mainly due to its distance from the mainland. They are prohibited from the island as well. The animal species that are native to this island are:

Kangaroo Island Kangaroo

Rosenberg’s Sand Goanna

Southern Brown Bandicoot

Tammar Wallaby

Common Brushtail Possum

Short-Beaked Echidna

New Zealand Fur Seal

The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is a species unique to this island and is not found anywhere else in the world.

Over 140,000 visitors come to Kangaroo Island each year making it one of the most popular locations in Australia. At Seal Bay you can engage in guided walks that will take you into the midst of Australian sea lions that bask on the rocky shores and beaches. There are numerous walking trails and camping locations in Finders Chase National Park as well as lighthouses. Visit the Remarkable Rocks in this park, which is a geological phenomenon with gigantic rocks perched atop a large granite outcrop. See the forces of nature at their finest when you visit Admiral’s Arch, located within Finders Chase National Park. It is here you can see the New Zealand fur seals frolicking in the surf or basking on shore.

Spend some time at the Bay of Shoals Wineries, the site of the first settlement in South Australia. Here you can see some of the first vines planted here and watch the harvest as they are hand pruned and the grapes picked by hand. Of course, you do have to sample the fine wine that results from these vines. With so many attractionsns on this island, the main problem you will have is deciding what to do next.

Whatever accommodation) you would like to have is available on Kangaroo Island as well from self-contained apartments and cottages to luxury lodges and resorts.

If you are looking for a vacation destination where you can really get away from it all, you just have to visit Kangaroo Island.