13 things you didn’t know about Kangaroo Island

Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
hero media
If you haven’t heard much about this little slice of South Australian paradise by now, check out these fun facts.

It’s only 150 kilometres long, yet Kangaroo Island is home to arguably the densest and most varied menagerie of wildlife in Australia. Its landscape is so diverse you won’t believe that all of this can be crammed onto one island. And it’s also crammed full of some weird and wonderful facts.

1. Kangaroo Island is bigger than some countries

KI is seven times the size of Singapore at 4400km2. At its narrowest point, it’s just 900m wide.

Kangaroo hopping at Middle River on Kangaroo Island.
Kangaroo Island is bigger than Singapore. (Image: Ben Goode)

2. One of its parks was founded to combat “brain fag"

Flinders Chase National Park was established in 1919, “as a bit of a sanctuary for those suffering from ‘brain fag’", according to the park’s founding father Samuel Dixon. Brain fag is a type of mental fatigue, in case you were wondering.

Looking out at the ocean through Remarkable Rocks.
Remarkable Rocks are in Flinders Chase National Park. (Image: Elliot Grafton)

3. Kangaroo Island roos aren’t quite the same

The kangaroos on KI are slightly different from the mainland ones. They have longer fur and are darker in colour, having been separated from their mainland family for approximately 10,000 years.

Child pats Kangaroo Island kangaroos.
The kangaroos here have longer, darker fur. (Image: Alana Jayne Elgazzar)

4. Descriptions here are remarkably to the point

The Remarkable Rocks sit on Kirkpatrick Point, named after an 1899 shipwreck survivor. The term is from an original chart that described some “remarkable rocks". Today we know that they are around 500 million years old and shaped by rain, wind and waves.

Child sits on Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island
Remarkable Rocks are around 500 million years old. (Image: Kristy Billing @gypsyandherwild)

5. It’s seen plenty of shipwrecks

There have been more than 80 shipwrecks off KI since records began in 1847. The last of its three lighthouses (Cape Borda, Cape du Couedic and Cape Willoughby) was built in 1909 but at least 19 ships have been wrecked since, the latest in 2008.

Sunset at Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
Cape du Couedic has seen a number of shipwrecks. (Image: Sana Thakore)

6. Plants here have an explosive good time

Tate’s grass trees, known as yaccas in SA, grow 0.5 to 2.5mm a year. Until 1997 their red resin was harvested to make a gum that is used in fireworks, explosives and munitions.

Sunrise silhouette of grass trees in Kalbarri National Park
Yaccas’ red resin was harvested to make explosives.

7. There is an abundance of produce created here

Whether it’s because of the homegrown wineries or the restaurants with kitchens stacked with Kangaroo Island goods, trust us when we say that eating well on KI is not going to be a problem.

The open sigh at Millie Mae's Pantry in Kangaroo Island.
Kangaroo Island is full of fresh produce. (Image: Meaghan Coles)

8. The stalactites might not be what they seem

What looks like stalactites at Admirals Arch are in fact fossilised roots.

Admirals Arch
Admirals Arch stalactites are fossilised roots. (Image: Lauren Bath Services)

9. Seals have been here for thousands of years

The third-largest seal lion colony in the country has been here for a long time, and spotting the Australian sea lions is one of the best things to do on the island.

Two seals kissing at Seal Bay.
Seal Bay is a must-see. (Image: Ben Goode)

10. The bees here are unlike none other on earth

The Ligurian bees on KI are the world’s last pure population. KI was the world’s first bee sanctuary, established in 1885.

Bees at Clifford's Honey Farm.
KI bees are the world’s last pure population. (Image: Josie Withers)

11. It’s a camper’s dream

If you’ve ever fantasised about waking up at dawn to watch the sunrise over a picture-perfect Australian beach, you really can’t do better than at one of Kangaroo Island’s campsites.

Kombi Van is parked at Pennington Bay on Kangaroo Island.
Camping out on Kangaroo Island is dreamy. (Image: Jordan McArthur Mattea Carson)

12. KI also has a French name

KI could also be known as I’Île Decrès, as French explorer Boudin published the first map of the island in 1811 – three years before Flinders. For the mainland Indigenous residents, Kangaroo Island is known as Karta Pintingga – or island of the dead.

Woman at Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island Odysseys tour.
I’Île Decrès is Kangaroo Island’s French name. (Image: Tourism Australia)

13. Names here can be a tad confusing

American River is on a bay, not a river. And quite clearly, not American.

Looking over American River on Kangaroo Island.
American River is not a river. (Image: Julie Fletcher)
Start planning your trip to Kangaroo Island with our travel guide now.
Kate Bettes
Kate Bettes is a freelance travel writer. Whether having a picnic in Vietnamese jungle with new friends, or partying in the back of a limousine in Hollywood, Kate’s experiences have left her with the sneaking suspicion that the best travel memories happen when you least expect. It’s this feeling - and how to get it - that she loves to write about.
See all articles
The SA island named one of Australia’s top under-the-radar spots
Kangaroo Island

The SA island named one of Australia’s top under-the-radar spots

Remote, rugged and on the rise – this is one of the country’s top hidden gems, as voted by you.

Read more
An esky in the back of a vehicle by the beach on tour with Kangaroo Island Touring Company.
Kangaroo Island

15 must-try Kangaroo Island tours

When exploring an island that is four times the size of Singapore, it pays to book a tour with locals to see all the sights.

Read more
24 things to do on Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island

24 things to do on Kangaroo Island

From spending the night in luxury digs to touring the island on a foodie adventure and some of the best wildlife experiences you'll find anywhere, there's no end of things to see and do on this magical South Australian island.

Read more
An aerial shot of Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island

A Kangaroo Island accommodation go-to guide

Romance, nature, seclusion or a home away from home – there is an accommodation to suit all types of holidaymakers on Kangaroo Island.

Read more
hero media

The ultimate Margaret River road trip itinerary for food & wine lovers

    Monique CeccatoBy Monique Ceccato
    Continue
    Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

    Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

    In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

    Day 1

    the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay
    Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

    There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

    Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

    Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

    Day 2

    After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

    Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering  dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

    Day 3

    Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

    With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

    Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

    Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

    For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

    Day 4

    Pair'd Beach Club
    Elevate your dining experiences at Pair’d X Range Rover Beach Club.

    Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

    Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

    If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

    Day 5

    pair'd Grand Tasting
    Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

    Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

    Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

    Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

    Day 6

    Ngilgi Cave western australia
    Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

    After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

    Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

    Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

    Day 7

    Burnt Ends event at Pair'd
    Farewell the Margaret River.

    Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

    Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

    Pair’d Margaret River Region is proudly owned by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA.