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.

The allure of its multi-hued beauty, preserved natural landscapes and abundance of seasonal produce is well documented, but Kangaroo Island is also home to a number of first-rate accommodation options – offering everything from luxury accommodation to beautiful camping spots. Start planning your escape to South Australia’s most prized island paradise by selecting from our pick of the best accommodation on Kangaroo Island.

Hotels and resorts

Kangaroo Island Seaview Motel

Best for: location, location, location

Marvellous views come standard with every room at the Kangaroo Island Seaview Motel .

Modern wooden dining table at Kangaroo Island Seaview Motel — Seaviews are a given at this stunning motel. (Image: Kangaroo Island Seaview Motel)

Situated in the town centre and spanning a whole corner block, the Seaview delivers on all the conveniences of its central location while still providing guests with a tranquil escape.

The iconic motel was the first to open on Kangaroo Island, but they’ve expanded the accommodation offering in recent years to also include an ocean-view suite and two-bedroom apartment for travellers in search of a little more luxury than a standard motel.

Art hangs above the bed on the sage coloured wall. — Seaview was the first motel on the island. (Image: Kangaroo Island Seaview Motel)

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

Best for: peace and serenity

Tucked away on the eastern side of the island is the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge . The tranquil setting provides plenty of opportunities for guests to unwind, watch the sunset over the calm waters of the American River and relax to the soothing sounds of nature.

The Mercure offers a more secluded, relaxed accommodation option for those looking to avoid crowds. There are 38 well-appointed guest rooms of various sizes – most of which feature exceptional waterfront views.

The property’s award-winning fine dining offering, Reflections Restaurant, is an excellent place to dine for an evening. The venue won Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award in 2020 and 2021 and continues to deliver on both taste and quality.

There is an abundance of birdlife and wildlife to encounter, including tammar wallabies, black cockatoos, and brush-tailed possums – and you can feed the local pelicans each morning with the whiting scraps from the restaurant. Or explore the coastal scrub and curious wildlife along two of the main walking tracks, the Independence Trail or the Fish Cannery walk.

The Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge offers a more secluded, relaxed accommodation option.

Adagio Retreat

Best for: those who want to slow it right down

Adagio ’s beachfront-meets-bush location provides the perfect backdrop for a holiday that offers easy access to Island Beach, plenty of coastal and bushwalking opportunities and abundant wildlife encounters.

The modern B&B accommodates two people and includes traditional breakfast, access to a barbeque, a balcony with 180-degree-views of Island Beach, an independent entrance for guests – and the option of a tailored itinerary.

Adagio Bed and Breakfast — Slow down at Adagio Retreat.

Luxury accommodation

Southern Ocean Lodge

Best for: the ultimate Kangaroo Island stay

The new-look Southern Ocean Lodge opened in December 2023, four years after the original iteration of the iconic nature-based luxury lodge was razed to the ground during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

sunrise views over Southern Ocean Lodge — Southern Ocean Lodge is dramatically situated high above the Southern Ocean. (Image: George Apostolidis)

Back and better than ever, SOL 2.0 is perched on a clifftop overlooking the wild Southern Ocean, with 25 exquisite suites – including the ultra-luxe Baillie Pavilion – poised to make the most of those windswept views. Or soak it all in from the heart of the lodge, the Great Room, with a glass of KI wine in hand.

the Great Room at Southern Ocean Lodge — The Great Room remains the heart of the lodge.

A founding member of Luxury Lodges of Australia , Southern Ocean Lodge is all about experiential luxury: designed to immerse guests in the surrounding nature, as well as the community of Kangaroo Island.

Read our take on the stunning rebuild here.

Hamilton & Dune

Best for: modern luxury

If this luxury Kangaroo Island accommodation option isn’t already on your radar, Hamilton & Dune’s duo of exclusive lodges overlooking Emu Bay are about to go straight to the top of your wish list.

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)

Choose between the architecturally designed Dune House, a chic, private three-bedroom property that boasts direct beach access and a sunken living room with a wood fire and a breathtaking backdrop of uninterrupted ocean views; or the homier, yet equally impressive, Hamilton House, which is perfectly sized to cater to larger groups or families with spectacular ocean views and a large deck for entertaining.

Dune House with the wood fire in the centre of the living room. — Cosy up by the fire at Dune House. (Image: Hamilton & Dune)

There are additional experiences to book in advance of your stay, including an in-house massage or yoga session, an in-house chef, food delivery service, a beach picnic experience and more.

Couple sit next to the fire at Hamilton & Dune. — Hamilton & Dune take luxury to the next level. (Image: Sarah Byden & Vinnie Preston)

Stowaway self-contained cottages

Best for: panoramic views

Stowaway is for those who allow aesthetically designed properties to influence their booking decisions. From the beauty of the surrounding natural landscape to the lush furnishings, scenic reading nooks, fireplace, free-standing bath, neutral tones and wooden floorboards within the property – you’ll be hooked.

Stowaway Kangaroo Island's scenic reading nook. — Read your afternoons away in the reading nook. (Image Nadinne Grace Photography)

The four self-contained properties – The Nest, The Sleepy Hollow, The Snug and The Hide – are tucked away on the corner of a family farm on the north coast of the island near Stokes Bay. All properties feature panoramic views of the native bushland and ocean, as well as plenty of opportunities to admire flora and fauna in the Lathami Conservation Park it butts up against – including the rare Glossy Black Cockatoo if you’re lucky.

Large green plant sits beside a double vanity at Stowaway Kangaroo Island. — The property’s aesthetic design will have you swooning. (Image Nadinne Grace Photography)

Spend your days immersed in the rugged beauty of the island, take a dip in the pristine waters of Stokes Bay, and taste the locally sourced food and exceptional wine that the region is renowned for.

Panorama of Stowaway Kangaroo Island. — Take in the panoramic views from Stowaway. (Image Nadinne Grace Photography)

Sky House

Best for: honeymooners or romantic getaways

Spend your stay on Kangaroo Island perched on a cliff overlooking Snellings Beach inside the exquisite Sky House (formerly LifeTime Private Retreats). The luxurious rammed-earth villa sleeps six, but you’ll want this one all to yourselves.

Woman reading book on the bed at The Cliff House on Kangaroo Island. — The Cliff House is luxury in a nutshell. (Image: Melissa Koh)

Boasting a number of romantic features, including a master bedroom fashioned inside a circular tower with panoramic views of the Southern Sea, a cushioned sunken pit with open fire, an outdoor cliff-edge Jacuzzi and a nearby helicopter pad for those romantic scenic flights you’re bound to book.

Woman drinking wine in the jacuzzi by the cliff. — Relax in the cliffside jacuzzi. (Image: Kane Overall)

The addition of a fully equipped kitchen keeps things simple and convenient for those not wanting to venture far, or opt to cook up some of that famous South Australian produce on the barbecue.

Food on the table at The Cliff House overlooking the ocean. — Cook up a feast with a view at Sky House. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Ecopia Retreat

Best for: eco luxury

Set within 60 hectares of pure nature in a private wildlife sanctuary, Ecopia Retreat offers off-grid luxury with plenty of heart.

Choose to sleep in one of two rammed-earth eco villas, loft-style two-bedroom The Rise, or three-bedroom home, the Ecopia Residence.

A couple watches the sun set from the deck ar Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island — Ecopia Retreat is an off-grid luxury stay on a private wildlife sanctuary. (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australian Tourism Commission)

Want more in the way of accommodation with all the trimmings? We’ve lined up Kangaroo Island’s most luxurious stays here.

Holiday home accommodation

Antechamber Bay Retreats

Best for: nature lovers

A stay in one of the three self-contained properties at Antechamber Bay Retreats is a fully immersive experience of Kangaroo Island’s most coveted natural treasures.

Antechamber Bay Retreats bedroom with a view. — Antechamber Bay Retreats has two distinctive cottages: Nat’s and The Kona.

The three distinctive cottages – Nat’s (four bedrooms), The Kona (three bedrooms) and Shylie’s Retreat (one bedroom) – are located on Creek Bay, the oldest continuous farming estate in South Australia. Each property rewards its guests with dramatic ocean vistas, expansive views of native bushland and four kilometres of unspoilt white-sand beach to explore.

Watch the wildlife at dawn and dusk, cook a barbecue on the verandah or book the in-house catering option in advance of your stay for a little extra guaranteed downtime.

Aerial view of Antechamber Bay Retreats and the view of the ocean. — Each property has dramatic ocean views.

Airbnb stays

Airbnb properties on Kangaroo Island are giving hotel rooms a run for their money. Here is a selection that far exceeds expectations when it comes to the humble homestay.

Best for: Those who want it all

Instagrammers flock to the newly renovated, aesthetically appeasing Sorrento on Sorata .
Alchemy on Island Beach is what beach house dreams are made of.
Set up in a charming, contemporary cottage set amid a grove of gums and grass trees at Grass Tree North Coast.

Want more options? We’ve lined up of the best Airbnbs to check out on Kangaroo Island here.

Caravan parks and camping

Are you one of those who want to wake up every day to a different view (and after a cheap accommodation on Kangaroo Island!)? Look no further than the island’s incredible campsites. When nature is the star attraction, it’s no wonder that so many campgrounds have popped up around KI.

Vivonne Bay Campground

Best for: Those who want to stay next to one of Kangaroo Island’s prettiest beaches

Stay a stone’s throw from one of Australia’s best beaches. The campground is accessible for caravans and has both powered and unpowered campsites and is one of the three council campsites to have showers available. It is just up the road from the famous Vivonne Bay General Store , with its equally famous whiting burger (one of the best things to eat on Kangaroo Island).

Costs range from $23 per night for two people at an unpowered site at this council-run campground. It is also pet-friendly, so no need to leave the dog at home.

Woman sits on cliff face overlooking Vivonne Bay. — Camping at Vivonne Bay puts you in the heart of everything. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park

Best for: Those who like their camping with a touch of affordable luxury

Only 300m away from the SeaLink Ferry , the Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park has incredible views over Hog Bay Beach. Settle in to enjoy them at one of the caravan parks glamping eco-luxury tents, oceanview villas or from a powered or unpowered campsite.

Couple sit at a table in front of glamping tent at Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park. — Where camping meets luxury. (Image: Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park)

Browns Beach Campground

Best for: Those who want an adventure with the family

With unpowered sites only, Browns Beach Campground overlooks the family-friendly beach located on the north coast of the island. Being just 15 minutes’ drive from Penneshaw, it’s no hassle to duck back into town if you need any further supplies – or a bottle from one of Kangaroo Island’s best wineries.

An accommodation overlooking the Browns Beach. — Stay overlooking the family-friendly Browns Beach. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Check out our Kangaroo Island guide for more on what to see and do while you’re there.

Torquay’s Bells Beach is considered one of the best surf beaches in the world.

It’d be easy to think Australian surf culture was born around the right-hand point breaks of the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. These regions seem the epitome of how the world views Aussie surfers – bronzed (or burnt), languishing in warm water and sunshine. The reality is a lot different.

The rise of surf culture along Victoria’s coastline

surfers at Bells Beach in Australia — Surfers stand on the shore at Bells Beach, where the country’s biggest surfing competition is held each year. (Image: Getty/Filed Image)

True Aussie surf culture was born on the chilly waves of Victoria’s winters, when huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean hit cliff-lined beaches along the Great Ocean Road . These beaches were the ultimate proving ground – surfers from all over Australia arrived in panel vans and VWs to do battle with the biggest waves they could find.

Surfers take advantage of the huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean at Bells Beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

There are surf breaks all along this very picturesque coast – but those around Torquay were most revered. The ultimate test of a surfer’s ability – and durability – however, was Bells Beach: Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. Just beyond, the breaks at Jan Juc and Winkipop beckoned.

an aerial view of surfers at Bells Beach — Hit the waves along the picturesque coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Torquay became surfing’s Silicon Valley: HQ for the entire Australian surf culture revolution. Four young locals worked out of their backyards in Torquay to create two of the world’s biggest surf labels – Rip Curl and Quiksilver , which soon became the region’s biggest employers.

surfers out at Bells Beach — Surfers out at Bells Beach, Victoria’s most famous beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

Rip Curl started sponsoring the Bells Beach Pro in 1973 – and have done ever since. It’s been going since 1962 – making it the world’s longest continually run surfing contest. Held every Easter, it’s part of the world surfing tour. Spectators line its 30-metre-high cliffs to watch the world’s best take on enormous waves – it’s the ultimate coliseum for the sport and has inspired generations of Aussie surfers to join the list of heroes whose names are on its iconic bell.

Follow the waves through Victoria’s surfing heartland

Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay — The Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Just behind Torquay’s main drag, you can see all that history on display at the world’s best surf museum – the Australian National Surfing Museum . Here you can take your time absorbing the 100-year-or-so history of Australian surfing and check out the 150-strong surfboard collection.

surfboards on display at Australian National Surfing Museum — The museum holds surfing memorabilia, including a room dedicated to the history of boards. (Image: Tourism Australia)

But classic Aussie surf culture can be observed in everyday life all over the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. Surfing dictates life here; no work is done until the big swells have come and gone. Just being here provides a window into 60-odd years of rebellion against convention; for no-one likes nine-to-five living on the Great Ocean Road.

surfing memorabilia at Australian National Surfing Museum — The varied displays celebrate the Bells Beach competition, surfing legends and Aussie surf culture. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There’s less panel vans and VW Beetles these days, but surf culture still rules life. Surfers run this coast; you’re better off keeping out of their way when they’re running down past you to face the biggest swells – then hear them swap stories at cafes, restaurants and bars all around you.

surfing at Bells Beach — The beach near Torquay is Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. (Image: Visit Victoria/William Watt)

A Kangaroo Island accommodation go-to guide