11 Must-Visit Kangaroo Island Beaches

The sparkling sapphire waters off Kangaroo Island beckon, promising countless hours of dreamy beach days.

Going to Kangaroo Island without going to the beach is like going to Italy and not eating pasta. It just isn’t done, and one should never try to resist. And with hundreds of miles of coastline to explore at the South Australian island, there’s no chance you’ll be able to. To make the temptation all the more irresistible, we’ve laid out the best Kangaroo Island beaches for you to explore.

Seals laying on the beach at Seal Bay. — Beach days on Kangaroo Island are a must. (Image: Gab Rivera)

Need to know before you go

Can you swim at Kangaroo Island?

Not only can you swim on Kangaroo Island, but it’s also one of the most popular activities to do here. Alongside surfing, fishing, trekking and wildlife spotting, the beaches here provide an endless number of things to do. As any good beach lover knows, care should of course be taken when entering the water, especially if conditions look like they could be rough. Pay attention to any signs – or locals – warning about conditions or the presence of marine life.

Are there sharks at Kangaroo Island?

Sharks such as the great white or bronze whalers can occasionally be found off the coast of the island.

1. Emu Bay

One of the best-known Kangaroo Island beaches, Emu Bay is a gorgeous, languorously long stretch of white sand along the island’s north coast. Snorkel in the clear turquoise waters and try to spot the flipper of a wild dolphin, 4WD up the four-kilometre-long bay or amble up the jetty to try your hand at a catch. Emu Bay is just a 15-minute-drive from the town of Kingscote, and just a few minutes’ drive to Emu Bay Lavender Farm . Overall? It’s hands down one of the best things to do while on the island.

Aerial shot of people swimming in Emu Bay's turquoise waters. — Emu Bay is known for its turquoise waters. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Elliot Grafton)

2. Vivonne Bay

Rocking up to Vivonne Bay, it’s not hard to see why a recent study by Australian marine scientists found it to be ‘Australia’s best beach’. Head down a dirt path by foot to find a white, sandy bay, hugging around incredibly clean, sparkling blue water. Drop your towel wherever – it’s unlikely to be crowded, despite its fame – or take a walk up the jetty. Surfers are also welcome here.

Van parked on dirt road by Vivonne Bay. — Vivonne Bay is Australia’s best beach. (Image: As We Wander)

Vivonne Bay is on the south coast of the island. The Vivonne Bay General Store (and its famous, oh-so-delicious whiting burgers) is a few minutes up the road, and the Little Sahara Adventure Centre is 10 minutes by car.

People and dog walking into ocean at Vivonne Bay. — Vivonne Bay is the ideal beach spot. (Image: As We Wander)

3. Stokes Bay

Pick through a cave system tunnel to get to this magical hidden cove. On arrival, adventurous beach lovers can explore the pools, and wade through the clear waters. Stokes Bay is on the island’s north coast. The Stokes Bay Campground is nearby, and has a cafe that is open October to May – but if camping is your thing, then be sure to read up on the island’s most beautiful camping sites, as Stokes is only one of many.

Man wades through the cave to get to Stokes Bay. — Wander through the caves to get to the bay. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Elliot Grafton)

4. Snelling Beach

After a beach that will satisfy both surfers and swimmers? Go to Snelling Beach. Facing north-west, this beach has a 100m zone for the most avid surfer, as well as multiple places to take a dip. Barbeque, toilet and picnic facilities can be found here. Snellings is in the north of the island and is just a stone’s throw across the road from the famous KI Fig Tree (formerly Gastronomo’s Enchanted Fig Tree) – one of Kangaroo Island’s best dining experiences.

Aerial view of Snelling Beach and the rocks. — Surfers and swimmers unite at Snelling Beach. (Image: @saltythebus)

5. Hanson Bay

A secluded bay known for its surf waves; you can get to Hanson Bay via the unsealed West River Road. Wake up to the beauty of the beach by booking a holiday cabin at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary , and tie in your beach time with a guided tour to learn more about koalas, tammar wallabies and other Kangaroo Island inhabitants. Hanson Bay is located on the western end of the island.

6. Brown Beach

Head up to the Dudley Peninsula for a kid-friendly paddle at Brown Beach. Hunt for shells with the little ones, or head out for a snorkel. The Browns Beach Campground is just next door and has barbecues, toilets and showers available to use.

Person kayaking on Brown Beach with One Kangaroo Island in the background. — Brown Beach is great for the whole family. (Image: Kane Overall)

7. Western River Cove Beach

A remote and spectacular beach, Western River Cove Beach can be found on the northern side of the island. Travel here by a dirt road before finding yourself at a meandering river that leads down to the serene swimming spot. A calm little bay, this is also a popular spot for fishing. Camping, picnic and toilet facilities are available.

Spectacular wide shot of Western River Cove Beach. — Western River Cove Beach is accessible by dirt road. (Image: Ben Goode)

8. Penneshaw Beach

Have you hopped off the Kangaroo Island ferry, desperate to throw your towel on the first beach you see? Penneshaw is your best bet as it is right next to where visitors depart and leave. Also known as Hog Bay (a historical quirk that relates back to the fact a whole host of pigs were once released here), Penneshaw makes for a refreshing dip and picnic area if you’re early to catch a ride back to the mainland.

Sunset at Penneshaw Beach. — Penneshaw is also known as Hog Bay. (Image: Greg Snell)

9. Seal Bay

While you definitely can’t swim at Seal Bay , it’s still a must-see beach on the island. This, of course, is because of its star residents: the Australian sea lions who have lived here for thousands of years. Visit Cape Ganthaume/Seal Bay Park to see the pups of the ocean, yawning and stretching on the warm sand, via the accessible boardwalk or take a guided tour . Seeing them dive through the waters got you craving the feel of saltwater on your own skin? Vivonne Bay is just up the road.

Two seals kissing at Seal Bay. — You can’t swim at Seal Bay but you can observe plenty of sea lions frolicking in the waves and on the sand. (Image: Ben Goode)

10. D’Estrees Bay

After the ultimate D’Estree-ssing experience? This south coast surfing beach is also not far from Seal Bay and its residents. Here you can surf and fish, swim at low tide and even read up on the history of the shipwrecks in the area. Those seeking a beachside camping experience on Kangaroo Island can pitch their tents at the grounds nearby .

11. Pennington Bay Beach

One of Kangaroo island’s most famous surf beaches, with stunning breaks courtesy of the strong swell, and surrounded by bushland. Grab your board (or your fishing rod) and get over to the south side of the island as soon as you can to see for yourself. The surf can be a challenge, so even if you’re confident, keep an eye on the conditions.

High shot looking down at Pennington Bay. — Pennington Bay is a famous surf beach. (Image: Isaac Forman)

Head to our Kangaroo Island travel guide for more on where to go and what to see while you’re there.

Slow down and find your rhythm on a Murray River journey through time and place.

Trust is a funny thing. It seems not that long ago that my mother was insisting on pouring the milk into my cereal bowl, because she didn’t trust me not to slosh it over the table, and yet here I am on the Murray River at Mildura in far north-west Victoria, being handed the keys to a very new and very expensive luxury houseboat.

After a crash course in how not to crash, I’m at the wheel of the good ship Elevate – pride of the All Seasons fleet – guiding her upstream past red-ochre cliffs as pelicans glide above the rippled river and kookaburras call from reedy banks. There’s a brief moment of breath-holding while I negotiate a hairpin turn around a jagged reef of skeletal, submerged gum trees, before a cheer rings out and calm descends as the timeless river unfurls in front of us.

The Murray River winding through Yarrawonga. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

Setting sail from Mildura

Murray River birds — Home to a large number of bird species, including pelicans. (Image: The Precint Studios)

A journey along the Murray River is never less than magical, and launching from Mildura makes perfect sense. Up here the river is wide and largely empty, giving novice skippers like myself the confidence to nudge the 60-tonne houseboat up to the riverbank where we tie up for the night, without fear of shattering the glass elevator (the boat is fully wheelchair accessible) or spilling our Champagne.

My friends and I spend three days on the water, swimming and fishing, sitting around campfires onshore at night, and basking in air so warm you’d swear you were in the tropics. The simplicity of river life reveals an interesting dichotomy: we feel disconnected from the world but at the same time connected to Country, privileged to be part of something so ancient and special.

Stop one: Echuca

19th-century paddlesteamers — A historic 19th-century paddlesteamer cruises along the Murray River. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The six-hour drive from Melbourne to Mildura (or four hours and 20 minutes from Adelaide) is more than worth it, but you don’t have to travel that far to find fun on the river. Once Australia’s largest inland port, Echuca is the closest point on the Murray to Melbourne (two hours 45 minutes), and you’ll still find a plethora of paddlesteamers tethered to the historic timber wharf, a throwback to the thriving river trade days of the 19th century. The PS Adelaide, built in 1866 and the oldest wooden-hulled paddlesteamer operating in the world, departs daily for one-hour cruises, while a brand-new paddlesteamer, the PS Australian Star , is launching luxury seven-night voyages in December through APT Touring.

The town is also a hot food and wine destination. St Anne’s Winery at the historic Port of Echuca precinct has an incredibly photogenic cellar door, set inside an old carriage builders’ workshop on the wharf and filled with huge, 3000-litre port barrels. The Mill, meanwhile, is a cosy winter spot to sample regional produce as an open fire warms the red-brick walls of this former flour mill.

Stop two: Barmah National Park

Just half-an-hour upstream, Barmah National Park is flourishing, its river red gum landscape (the largest in the world) rebounding magnificently after the recent removal of more than 700 feral horses. The internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetland sits in the heart of Yorta Yorta Country, with Traditional Owners managing the environment in close partnership with Parks Victoria. Walkways weave through the forest, crossing creeks lined with rare or threatened plants, passing remnants of Yorta Yorta oven mounds and numerous scar trees, where the bark was removed to build canoes, containers or shields.

The Dharnya Centre (open weekdays until 3pm) is the cultural hub for the Yorta Yorta. Visitors can learn about the ecological significance of the Barmah Lakes on a 90-minute river cruise, led by a First Nations guide, or take a one-hour, guided cultural walking tour along the Yamyabuc Trail.

Stop three: Cobram

Continue east to Cobram to find the southern hemisphere’s largest inland beach. Swarming with sun-seekers in summer, the white sand of Thompson’s Beach is shaded by majestic river red gums and dotted with hundreds of beach umbrellas, as beachgoers launch all manner of water craft and set up stumps for beach cricket. But the beach is at its most captivating at sunset, when the crowds thin out, the glassy river mirrors the purple sky, and the canopies of the gum trees glow fiery orange.

The region is also home to some fine resorts and indulgent retreats. Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort has two riverside championship golf courses, luxury apartments and self-contained villas. While not strictly on the Murray, the historic wine town of Rutherglen is rife with boutique (and unique) accommodation, including an exquisitely renovated red-brick tower in a French provincial-style castle at Mount Ophir Estate. Fans of fortified wines can unravel the mystery of Rutherglen’s ‘Muscat Mile’, meeting the vignerons and master-blenders whose artistry has put the town on the global map for this rich and complex wine style.

Stop four: Albury-Wodonga

First Nations YindyamarraSculpture Walk — First Nations Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk is part of the Wagirra Trail. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Follow the river far enough upstream and you’ll arrive at the twin border cities of Albury-Wodonga. The Hume Highway thunders through, but serenity can be found along the five-kilometre Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk – part of the Wagirra Trail that meanders through river wetlands just west of Albury in Wiradjuri country. Fifteen sculptures by local First Nations artists line the trail, conveying stories of reconciliation, enduring connection to culture, local Milawa lore and traditional practices. It feels a long way from Mildura, and it is, but the pelicans and kookaburras remind us that it’s the same river, the great conduit that connects our country.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

New Mildura motel Kar-rama. (Image: Iain Bond Photo)

Kar-Rama is a brand-new boutique, retro-styled motel in Mildura, with a butterfly-shaped pool and a tropical, Palm Springs vibe. Echuca Holiday Homes has a range of high-end accommodation options, both on the riverfront and in town.

Playing there

BruceMunro’s Trail of Lights in Mildura — Bruce Munro’s Trail of Lights in Mildura. (Image: Imogen Eveson)

Artist Bruce Munro’s Trail of Lights installation, comprising more than 12,000 illuminated ‘fireflies’, is currently lighting up Mildura’s Lock Island in the middle of the Murray. Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) is a hub for contemporary art, with a rotating roster of exhibitions, and is a major outlet for young and First Nations artists.

Eating there

Mildura’s diverse demographic means it’s a fantastic place to eat. Andy’s Kitchen is a local favourite, serving up delicious pan-Asian dishes and creative cocktails in a Balinese-style garden setting. Call in to Spoons Riverside in Swan Hill to enjoy locally sourced, seasonal produce in a tranquil setting overlooking the river.

11 must-visit Kangaroo Island beaches