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

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

If there’s one thing Aussies do well, it’s celebrating local destinations that are pushing the envelope. And in our 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, you proved your impeccable taste once again. We asked you for the one destination that deserves a little more of the spotlight. Clearly, one South Australian gem stood out – and it’s not hard to see why.

Which SA island made the list?

Kangaroo Island, SA
The sea and the bush exist in peaceful harmony on Kangaroo Island. (Image: Frame)

It may only be 15 kilometres off the coast of South Australia, but Kangaroo Island feels a world away from anything. At just over 150 kilometres long and 55 kilometres wide, it’s a small but mighty sanctuary that lives and breathes the hyperlocal. Kangaroo Island is one of those deeply Australian places where the ocean and bush peacefully coexist, not just in close proximity, but in complete harmony.

It’s this gentle way of life, deeply rooted in the natural landscape, that captivated the island’s roughly 5000-strong population. It’s also what attracted over 180,000 visitors last year, a number the South Australian Tourism Commission expects to climb in 2025.

Kangaroo Island, SA
Kangaroo Island remains relatively untouched thanks to a sustainable ethos. (Image: As We Wander)

So, how has such a magical place managed to fly under the radar for so long? The answer is pretty simple – a sustainable ethos that respects the environment, paired with a conservationist mindset that aims to protect it for years to come. Visiting Kangaroo Island is all about treading lightly, with stays and experiences that blend low-impact and luxury in order to showcase the landscape, instead of competing with it.

Your guide to exploring Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island, SA
Take to the crystalline waters with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari. (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australian Tourism Commission)

Kangaroo Island may be small in size, but it certainly isn’t lacking in things to see and do. In fact, you’ll be spoilt for choice. On the west coast, Flinders Chase National Park is a natural haven for wildlife.

It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Kangaroo Island’s furred and feathered locals, from koalas, kangaroos, pigmy possums and penguins to a range of reptiles and over 260 bird species.

A baby seal on Kangaroo Island, SA
Kangaroo Island is home to a thriving colony of sea lions. (Image: Southern Ocean Lodge)

If you’d rather meet the residents of the sea, join a tour with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari . The locally run business offers a range of experiences, from group snorkelling to private charters, where seals, sea lions, dolphins and turtles come out to play.

Prefer to take things a little slower? Spend an afternoon sampling local gin at Kangaroo Island Spirits , or pop into Kangaroo Island Brewery for a pint of beer brewed onsite. You can also taste your way through some of the island’s best restaurants – with menus that are inspired by the landscape and hero local ingredients.

Kangaroo Island Spirits on Kangaroo Island, SA
Sample gin infused with local ingredients and distilled on the island. (Image: Kangaroo Island Spirits)

Did you know that Kangaroo Island is also home to one of Australia’s most spectacular lavender farms? That’s right – head to the northern side of the island and you’ll find Emu Bay Lavender Farm , where you can purchase souvenirs like soap, lotion and oil, honey, jam and gin.

Where to stay on Kangaroo Island

Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, SA
Southern Ocean Lodge is designed around 180-degree ocean views. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

While there’s an accommodation type to suit travellers of all budgets, Kangaroo Island offers some truly luxurious stays. Take the recently revamped Southern Ocean Lodge, which was meticulously restored following severe damage from the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires.

Thanks to the dedication and determination of owners James and Hayley Baillie of Baillie Lodges , it reopened to the public in 2023. Guests can expect spacious suites, a day spa, wet-edge pool, walk-in wine cellar and uninterrupted ocean views – all futureproofed against fire.

Wander on Kangaroo Island, SA
Settle into your private outdoor tub overlooking Snelling Beach. (Image: Wander/Remy Brand Creative)

Or go off-grid at Wander on Kangaroo Island , a five-star stay that’ll have you feeling like the last person on Earth. Overlooking Snelling Beach, each WanderPod offers its own little pocket of private luxury. Your cosy cabin is complete with a fireplace, rainshower, outdoor bath and fully equipped kitchenette, plus some of the most jaw-dropping views you’ll ever see.

A few things to remember

Kangaroo Island, SA
Adhere to Kangaroo Island’s biosecurity laws to protect local wildlife. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Kangaroo Island is only accessible via air or sea. To get there, you can take a 45-minute ferry from Cape Jervis or hop on a 30-minute flight from Adelaide. SeaLink runs up to 12 services per day (dependent on the weather) and QantasLink offers daily departures.

Visitors should familiarise themselves with Kangaroo Island’s strict biosecurity laws before they arrive. Its remote location has protected it from many of the pests and diseases found on mainland Australia.

If introduced, these harmful organisms could have devastating effects on the island’s natural environment and agricultural industry. The exchange is beautifully uncomplicated: take only memories, leave only footprints.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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These new small group tours allow intimate access to Australia’s best experiences

    Lee MylneBy Lee Mylne
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    Big skies and otherworldly landscapes are the hallmarks of Australia. Discovering them in-depth becomes easier with the experts.

    Australia’s extraordinary landscapes make this vast continent like no other place on Earth, offering an unforgettable feast for the senses as you traverse deserts, cruise on vast inland lakes and dine under star-studded skies. What makes this land special is the people you’ll meet along the way, and the chance to forge a deep connection with the country and its people. The new AAT Kings small-group tours focus on the incredible experiences available in remote places that might otherwise seem daunting.

    With an average of 16 guests and a maximum of 24, the tours offer intimate access to the best Australia has to offer, with special behind-the-scenes encounters led by knowledgeable experts.

    1. Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer

    aerial shot of flinders island tasmania
    Fly over beautiful Flinders Island as part of a tour of Tasmania. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

    Escape the tourist trail in north-eastern Tasmania while still seeing everything the island state has to offer. From coastal villages to bucolic rural scenery, the six-day Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer tour offers world-class food and wine, with the bonus of a flight to Flinders Island.

    From Launceston, the tour winds through the verdant Tamar Valley and includes a stop at Fork It Farm , where guests are given insight into sustainable farming while snacking on a house-made charcuterie platter paired with Tasmanian wines.

    Fly by private plane to secluded Flinders Island, uncovering pristine beaches and savouring local seafood and wine. Explore the main settlement and learn about the history of Settlement Point and Wybalenna before soaking up views of the island and Bass Strait and exploring part of Strzelecki National Park . From there, it’s another scenic flight to Bicheno, flying down the east coast of Tasmania and across the stunning Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay (a taste of what’s to come by land).

    Other highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Brickendon Estate , still run by the same family since its founding in 1824, where the property’s convict history will be revealed.

    In Devonport, a heritage train ride will track alongside the Don River to Coles Beach before returning to learn more about Tasmania’s railway history and vintage locomotives at Don River Railway .

    2. South Australian Outback Adventure

    aerial of Anna Creek Painted Hills
    Fly over the Anna Creek Painted Hills. (Image: Emile Ristevski)

    From Adelaide, the highlights of the eight-day South Australian Outback Adventure tour open up the rugged grandeur of the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola. Home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years, the natural beauty and wide open spaces of this remote region unfold as you explore from both land and air.

    Looking to the skies for a new way to experience South Australia’s outback, a scenic flight over the striking outcrops of the colourful Anna Creek Painted Hills and the shimmering saltpan of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is an eye-opener like no other.

    Wilpena Pound Resort, owned and managed by the Indigenous community, is a haven in the midst of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park . It’s worth the hike to enjoy sweeping views over the natural amphitheatre before your journey continues through dramatic gorges, where you may spot endangered yellow-footed rock-wallabies.

    At the award-winning Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, dive deep into the region’s billion-year-old geological history with an expert guide as you tackle the steep ascent of the Ridgetop Track in an open-air 4WD. When the sun goes down, look up at the dazzling wonders of the Milky Way in this International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

    3. Broome and the Kimberley Highlights

    small plane flying over the Bungle Bungle Ranges
    See the iconic Bungle Bungle Ranges from the air. (Image: Tourism WA)

    From Broome’s sparkling beaches to the red dirt of Kununurra, the Kimberley region is one of Australia’s most extraordinary and unforgettable places. It’s a region of contrasts, beginning with multicultural Broome and the history of pearl divers.

    Kick off your Broome and the Kimberley Highlights experience with a tour of Broome led by a local Aboriginal guide. You’ll learn about 40,000 years of culture as you explore historic landmarks, discover bush foods and medicinal plants and enjoy a private didgeridoo performance.

    Learn about Broome’s rich pearling history at Willie Creek Pearl Farm , on the banks of a turquoise tidal estuary that provides the perfect environment for growing the South Sea pearls for which Broome is world-renowned. Then cruise the calm waters to see the oyster farm before a masterclass that reveals the secrets of the pearl industry.

    As you continue your discovery of the Kimberley, fly over the dramatic striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, the Argyle Diamond Mine and gorgeous Lake Argyle, Western Australia’s largest freshwater body of water. Take a sunset cruise on the lake, which is dotted with more than 70 islands and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The water teems with freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bream and cod.

    Complete your seven-day exploration of the Kimberley in Kununurra with a local Aboriginal guide to hear Dreamtime stories and wander through the ‘mini bungles’ of Mirima National Park.

    4. Outback Contrasts

    aat kings small group tours at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience
    Expand your knowledge at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. (Image: Tourism NT/ ArchieSartracom)

    From Alice Springs, the six-day Outback Contrasts adventure includes the wonders of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, offering premium accommodation and exceptional experiences. Ancient rock art, creation stories and the spiritual essence of the land will be revealed as you discover some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

    A highlight of your stay in Alice Springs will be meeting chef Rayleen Brown, who shares her knowledge of Aboriginal native foods with a tasting of the many flavours of Central Australia’s wild harvest bush tucker. More culinary indulgence will follow at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon in the heart of Watarrka National Park, where you’ll enjoy a degustation menu and paired fine wines under the desert moon.

    After a sunrise walk on the rim of Kings Canyon, head off to the Wanmarra community to learn about the Luritja and Pertame people’s spiritual connection to the land at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Crossing desert scenes, you’ll arrive at Uluru and end the day watching the setting sun’s changing palette on the ancient landscape.

    More awe-inspiring landscapes will be revealed as you wander between Kata Tjuta’s tallest domes in Walpa Gorge and explore the rugged beauty of Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

    Start planning your small group adventure with AAT Kings.