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.

Thanks to its rugged good looks, inviting beaches, iconic natural attractions and accommodation with mesmerising views, Kangaroo Island offers a wonderful mix of things to do.

Got a few days up your sleeve? Whether you’re hankering for a relaxing family holiday or an intimate getaway, Kangaroo Island has become one of South Australia’s most coveted destinations and is the place to be.

Book a trip to Kangaroo Island and check out our recommendations, from world-class wineries to wildlife spotting in wide, open spaces.

1. Stay at Hamilton & Dune

Kangaroo Island is scattered with a range of luxury accommodation, from over-the-top pods to bell tents with all the trimmings. Hamilton & Dune is one of Kangaroo Island’s destination digs: choose between the architecturally designed Dune House, a chic, three-bedroom property where no detail has been overlooked, or Hamilton House, a property that can house larger groups but is a little less ‘designer’. It’s definitely one of our top places to stay on Kangaroo Island.

Woman showering in outdoor shower overlooking the ocean at Hamilton & Dune Kangaroo Island. — Shower with a view at Hamilton & Dune. (Image: Sarah Byden & Vinnie Preston)

2. Check out Seal Bay Conservation Park

Wander along the soft sand that makes up Seal Bay Conservation Park and you will come across Australia’s third largest sea lion colony. There are no enclosures on Seal Bay, but there is a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that leads down to viewing platforms that jut out over Seal Bay, which has been home to the Australian sea lion population for thousands of years. Take a guided tour or go at your own pace.

Seals lay on the beach at Kangaroo Island's Seal Bay. — Seal Bay Conservation Park is Australia’s third-largest sea lion colony. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

3. Visit the teeny penguins of Penneshaw

Kangaroo Island has its own population of little penguins, who can be seen going about their nightly routine over at the Penneshaw Penguin Centre . Take a penguin-friendly torch and walk carefully and quietly to see the world’s smallest penguin in its natural environment.

Two penguins holding hands at Penneshaw Penguin Centre. — Penguins hold hands too! (Image: Alana Whennen)

4. Dine at Emu Bay Lavender Farm

Emu Bay Lavender Farm features rows of pretty lavender that unfurl down to a rustic farmgate cafe serving homemade lavender scones and lavender ice cream. It also features in our pick of the most beautiful lavender farms around Australia.

Tea and scones with sprigs of lavender at Emu Bay Lavender Farm. — Indulge in some lavender tea and scones. (Image: Meaghan Coles)

After snapping a few selfies amid the purple-hued field, pop inside to procure aromatic body washes, lavender-filled heat pillows and loose-leafed tea. Visit Emu Bay Lavender Farm between mid-September and mid-May to see the fields painted violet.

Lady walks with basket full of lavender at Emu Bay Lavender Farm on Kangaroo Island — Emu Bay Lavender Farm is one of the most beautiful lavender farms in Australia. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

5. Swim with wild dolphins

Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures demonstrates its commitment to the environment by not using bait or propellers during its tours. This is good news for eco-conscious travellers who want to frolic and swim with pods of wild dolphins off the coast of KI. Expect to swim and snorkel with between 20 to 50 wild dolphins at any one time as part of the three-hour Island Explorer Tour. If it’s tours you’re after, we’ve also revealed our top picks for Kangaroo Island tours. Give it a read.

A dolphin jumping out of the water at Kangaroo Island. — Swim with a dolphin on Kangaroo Island. (Image: Chris Bray)

6. Go quad biking

Prefer your adventure activities to be land-based? Whether you’re into hooning through the wilderness on a quad bike, sandboarding dunes at Little Sahara or quietly kayaking through picturesque countryside, the team at Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action will not only look after you but leave you wondering why it is you didn’t take up that particular sport of choice all those years ago.

Family having fun on quad bike at Little Sahara Adventure Centre on Kangaroo Island. — Quad biking on sand dunes is a must. (Image: Megan Crabb)

7. Enjoy Vivonne Bay

The beach near Vivonne Bay General Store is often voted as one of the best in the country. And there is nothing more enticing than ordering a whiting burger from the Vivonne Bay General Store and taking it down to the beach to enjoy with your toes in the sand. Wolfing down a whiting burger is considered somewhat compulsory on Kangaroo Island and the Vivonne Bay General Store is famous for them.

High shot of Vivonne Bay Jetty and the turquoise water around it. — Relax on the Vivonne Bay Jetty. (Image: Mark Elbourne)

8. Invest in the island’s craft beer and gin industry

Kangaroo Island Spirits is Australia’s first craft distillery and the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a tasting tour of wild gin. If you prefer a craft beer, Kangaroo Island Brewery , located just outside Kingscote, serves eight craft beers as well as a decent menu in a relaxed setting. Sunny Sunday afternoon sorted.

Kangaroo Island Brewery worker walks behind bar with rustic scenery. — Kangaroo Island Brewery is the ideal relaxed vibe. (Image: Josie Withers)

9. It’s a notable wine region

Island hop in style around Kangaroo Island onboard the Kangaroo Island Trail Hopper for a hop-on, hop-off tour of key spots around Kingscote, including The Islander Estate Vineyards , where you can pick up a bottle of its award-winning Investor cabernet France. Kangaroo Island Trails also offers a full-day tasting tour that includes a stop at Bay of Shoals Wines . You can also enjoy self-drive the winery trail of Kangaroo Island’s must-visit wineries including Dudley Wines .

Two women drink wine at Gastronomo Enchanted Fig Tree on Kangaroo Island. — Kangaroo Island Trails includes lunch at Gastronomo. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

10. It’s home to the most quintessentially Australian degustation experience

There’s no place better to take an outside table and enjoy some of the finest KI produce at Sunset Food & Wine as you watch the sunset dip into the scorched earth. Add a few kangaroos to the picture and the odd birdsong and you have the degustation meal of a lifetime.

Table set for Sunset Food & Wine — Enjoy the finest Kangaroo Island produce at Sunset Food & Wine. (Image: Elise Cook)

11. There’s no place better to enjoy a road trip

Love to get behind the wheel for an hour or two of outback car karaoke? Amateur chanteuses will be thrilled with the island’s 1,600 kilometres of scenic road – mostly unsealed – snaking its way past soaring cliffs, sand dunes and the ever-present wildlife. It takes two hours and 20 minutes to drive east to west and 45 minutes north to south and yes, you will need a 4WD with powerful brakes (those kangaroos love to hop right out in front of your car).

Kombi Van is parked at Pennington Bay on Kangaroo Island. — Kangaroo Island road trips are a must. (Image: Jordan McArthur Mattea Carson)

12. A scenic ferry experience is included

Sure, there are quicker ways to get to Kangaroo Island than taking the SeaLink Ferry from Cape Jervis (around one hour and 40 minutes south of Adelaide), but airlines don’t touch the sides of what the ferry journey across to Penneshaw offers. First, there’s the scenic drive through the Fleurieu Peninsula, and then there are the wonderful people you meet during the crossing. The cherry on top? A post-ferry meal at Millie-Mae’s Pantry , located right by the ferry terminal.

Aerial shot of SeaLink Ferry Terminal on Kangaroo Island. — The scenic SeaLink Ferry is a dream. (Image: Isaac Forman, Serio)

13. Go a-fishing

For die-hard fishing fans, a fishing charter is one of the best ways to experience the waters around Kangaroo Island. Catches can include kingfish, tuna, gummy shark, squid, trevally, and much more. Fishing charters such as Emu Bay Fishing and Kangaroo Island Fishing Adventures are on hand to show you all the top fishing spots that only locals know about.

Man and boy fishing at Antechamber Bay on Kangaroo Island. — Fishing on Kangaroo Island is an unforgettable experience. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

14. You can visit Raptor Domain

This popular island conservation centre continues to thrill with its famous demonstrations of birds of prey. Visitors to Raptor Domain can expect one-hour shows featuring everything from wedge-tailed eagles to kookaburras and owls. While the centre rescues many orphaned, injured and sick birds each year, it is also home to snakes and lizards and creepy crawlies and presents a fang-tastic venom/reptile show.

Owl eating a mouse at Raptor Domain on Kangaroo Island. — Watch an owl demonstration at Raptor Domain. (Image: Tourism Australia)

15. Have a thrilling day with the kids

As well as quad biking and sand tobogganing, the Kangaroo Island Shipwreck Trail can be explored by foot or by water if you’re diving. For a laid-back afternoon out, the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery runs tours around their farm property to learn about the products that are made here.

16. This is the place for food tours

Whether you’re after a quick oyster tour or one that takes up the whole day, Kangaroo Island is still in business. For those who hunger after fresh seafood, The Oyster Farm Shop, located in American River, offers visitors a land-based tour (no trips out to their oyster leases just yet), combined with a shucking demonstration and tastings.

Luxury tour operator Exceptional Kangaroo Island offers excursions such as the one-day small group or private Fine Flavours tour, which takes in everything from oysters to honey, wine, gin, olives and olive oil, and the three-day private Fished, Farmed and Fermented tour, which invites visitors to connect with the island’s local producers as well as its landscapes and wildlife.

Person holding a handful of fresh unshucked oysters at The Oyster Farm Shop on Kangaroo Island. — Don’t resist a stop at The Oyster Farm Shop. (Image: The Oyster Farm Shop)

17. Penneshaw Market Day

If you happen to be on the island on the first Sunday of the month any time from October to April, be sure to check out Penneshaw Market Day – an event that brings the whole town alive with a selection of regional foods, musical entertainment, community activities and artisan arts and crafts. You can also buy local at Kingscote Farmers & Artisans Market and enjoy a foraged breakfast of sorts.

18. Explore the art of the island

The residents here are a creative bunch, and you can spot the best of Kangaroo Island’s art and jewellery at creative hubs like Kangaroo Island Gallery , KI & Co , A.R. Tells a Story Gallery and Fine Art Kangaroo Island .

Couple looking at artwork at Shep's Studio in Kingscote on Kangaroo Island. — Immerse yourself in the art of the island. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

19. Support local Australian producers

Fill up your car on the island and kit out your rented accommodation with items you’ve purchased from the local supermarket. Head down to Kingscote gift shop and load up on souvenirs before popping in at every artisan enterprise and dropping cash like a Rothschild. Think Fryar’s Free-Range Eggs , D’Estrees Bakery sourdough, Kangaroo Island Fresh Garlic , Kangaroo Island Oats and Kangaroo Island Sea Salt .

Clifford's Honey Farm Honey Wheat Ale bottles with beeswax candle. — Support local on Kangaroo Island. (Image: Meaghan Coles)

20. Get honey-ed up with the island’s bees

KI is famous for its Ligurian bees, who genetically speaking, have not cross-bred with any other species. Sample the fruits of their labour and purchase some Kangaroo Island honey by visiting Kangaroo Island Living Honey , Clifford’s Honey Farm and The Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co .

Honey drips off a hive frame at Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co — Taste the famous honey made by the Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

21. Have an Instagram-friendly meal

There aren’t many other places to eat more gram friendly than The Fig Tree (formerly Gastronomo: The Enchanted Fig Tree). A sprawling fig tree that dates back over 120 years, this Snelling Beach wilderness eatery offers beautiful surroundings in the soft green leaves of the day or the fairylight-dappled evening. Needless to say, bookings are essential.

Couple dining at Gastronomo: The Enchanted Fig Tree. — You’ll definitely get the Insta shot at The Fig Tree. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

22. Spot a koala

You can get up close with one of Australia’s cutest residents at the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary . The sanctuary – which is also home to kangaroos, crimson rosellas, Tammar Wallabies, and echidnas – is one of the best places to witness and learn about the regeneration of Kangaroo Island following the the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires.

Take a Guided Koala Walk & Bushfire Ecology Tour or a Sunset Noctural Adventure Tour, or book into a beachfront cabin for true immersion in the great outdoors.

Two koalas cuddling in a tree on Kangaroo Island. — There are plenty of opportunities to see a koala. (Image: Jetabout Holidays)

23. Strap on hiking boots for a walk

From Flinders Chase National Park with the Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch to the lighthouse in Cape Willoughby Conservation Park , Kangaroo Island has plenty of sites to ramble along to. Wait patiently for a tell-tale ripple on the Platypus Waterholes Walk , or climb Prospect Hill for the highest views on the island . Or go underground with a tour at Kelly Hill Caves Conservation Park .

Cape Willoughby lighthouse. — Take a walk to Cape Willoughby. (Image: Gab Rivera)

Or tackle the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, a 66-kilometre five-day walk, independently or with a licensed operator such as Life’s an Adventure.

24. Beach-hop Kangaroo Island

While beaches like Emu Bay and Vivonne Bay get a big portion of the attention (well-deserved, considering the latter was once voted Australia’s number one beach), there are plenty of other spots on Kangaroo Island to set up your towel as well. Spot dolphins on Snellings Beach, and head through a cave system to get to Stokes Bay.

Couple walking through cave to get to Stokes Bay. — Walk through caves to get to Stokes Bay. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Brown Beach is family friendly with hand barbeque facilities, while the waters of Chapman River offer the chance for a freshwater dip. Fancy a surf? Pennington Bay Beach on the south coast is your best bet to catch some waves while you’re here. Need more? You can check out the entire list of top Kangaroo Island Beaches here.

Man kayaking on Chapman River. — Take a dip in Chapman River’s fresh water. (Image: Julie Fletcher)

Additional updates written by Kate Bettes

Head to our Kangaroo Island travel guide for more on what to do while you’re on the ground.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

24 things to do on Kangaroo Island