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10 of the Best Things to See on Kangaroo Island, Australia in One Day

Many travel guidebooks overlook it, but a visit to the hidden treasure of Kangaroo Island is well worth your time if you’re visiting Australia. The island was uninhabited when the English explorer Matthew Flinders first visited in the early 19^th century. Thankfully, subsequent generations preserved much of this unspoiled wilderness, and today much of the land here remains undeveloped and protected for us to enjoy.

You’ll see plants and animals here unlike any others in the world. Kangaroos, koalas, sea lions, wallabies, and wombats abound. The best things to see and do on Kangaroo Island revolve around observing wildlife and the island’s remarkable rock formations up close.

Just below is the list of top 10 things to see on Kangaroo Island in one day. For more details, keep reading for a great Kangaroo Island itinerary. You’ll see that touring Kangaroo Island is truly one of the fun things to do during your trip to Australia.

Top 10 Things to See and Do on Kangaroo Island

1. Penneshaw
2. Seal Bay Conservation Park
3. Little Sahara
4. Vivonne Bay
5. Hanson Bay Koala Walk
6. Flinders Chase National Park
7. Remarkable Rocks
8. Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
9. Admirals Arch
10. Flinders Chase Visitors Centre

Where Is Kangaroo Island Located?

On a map of Australia, Kangaroo Island is located off the southern coast, not far from Adelaide (the capital of South Australia). It’s northwest of the island of Tasmania. The island is 155 km long and 55 km wide (96 miles long and 34 miles wide).

How to Get to Kangaroo Island

The SeaLink Ferry is a convenient option to get to and from Kangaroo Island. You can take your pick from among several departure and return times each day. Booking in advance is wise to ensure you get your preferred times. Note that schedules can vary depending on the time of year, so it’s always best to check the latest ferry schedule information from the link above.  

It’ll take about 2 hours to drive from Adelaide on the mainland to Cape Jervis. The ferry ride itself will take about 45 minutes from Cape Jervis to the island. Kangaroo Island is not far from Adelaide, only about 110 kilometers. It will cost around $55 each way for the ferry. On board, you can purchase snacks and beverages if you wish. You can also use their free Wi-Fi.

Another, newer ferry option is Kangaroo Island Connect. This ferry also transits between the island and Adelaide several times per day. Their boats are smaller but cheaper than SeaLink’s. Check their website for the latest departure times.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to fly you can take a plane from the airport in Adelaide to Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island. Qantas offers at least one flight per day, and it should take less than an hour. Regional Express used to be another flight option, but terminated its service to Kangaroo Island in mid-2022. Flying will cost more than the ferry. It will probably cost at least $250-300 to fly roundtrip between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.

How to Get Around on Kangaroo Island

If you have only one day on the island, a guided tour bus or car is the most convenient option for getting around. There are no real public transportation options as of the time of this writing.

For those with more time, it’s possible to self drive on Kangaroo Island. You can rent a car upon arrival on the island. Budget and Hertz are among the car rental agencies available at Penneshaw’s ferry terminal. Car rentals are available at Kingscote Airport as well.

If you drive without stopping, it’ll take about 2 hours to drive from the eastern town of Penneshaw to western Flinders Chase. However, you’ll want to stop to see the sights from time to time.

In-Depth Kangaroo Island Itinerary

If you’re staying in Adelaide, wake up early in the morning and catch a bus to Cape Jervis. It should take around two hours to drive that far, so the earlier you start, the better. Ideally, you’ll depart your hotel in Adelaide at around 0630 and arrive at Cape Jervis by 0830 so you can depart on the ferry at 0900.

After you disembark at Kangaroo Island, it’s a good idea to drive or be driven along the southern coast of the island. This will make the most efficient use of your time and maximize your sightseeing opportunities. You’ll start out in the eastern half of the island, which is the developed part with most of the towns. As you move westward, you’ll see more and more of the wilderness and wild animals.

Penneshaw

If you’ve taken the ferry, you’ll dock at Penneshaw. Disembark and look out to the rocky outcroppings by the sea. You’ll probably see plenty of birds there.

Then drive west past Pelican Lagoon and Pennington Bay. You probably won’t have time to visit them with just one day, but they’re worth checking out if you’ll be spending more time on the island.

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Keep driving southwest along the coast until you arrive at the remarkable Seal Bay Conservation Park late in the morning. This is a place you should not miss on Kangaroo Island. Here you’ll see Australian Sea Lions galore. Before you reach the shore, you might even see one napping in the brush, as I did.

At a viewing platform, a parks officer may deliver some remarks and take you down to the beach. You’ll see plenty of sea lions frolicking or basking in the sun on the sand. You’ll get nearly close enough to touch them, but don’t touch—just observe. That’s best for them and for you. Sea lions can get aggressive if provoked.

The sea lions can get quite big, at up to 100 kilograms for females and 400 kilograms for males. A sea lion pup weighs only about 6-7 kilograms. When they’re young, they move through the water fast, at up to 30 kilometers per hour. They live for about 20-25 years, but don’t die peacefully from old age. They usually die when they’re too slow to get away from the white pointer sharks in the surrounding waters.

Seal Bay is worth around an hour of your time on a day trip. Plan to depart a little after noon.

Little Sahara

Proceed to the giant sand dunes of Little Sahara. If you have time, you might try your hand at sandboarding or tobogganing across the dunes. A vendor will probably be present if you’re interested in one of these opportunities. If not, just admire the dunes for a little while and get back on the road.

Vivonne Bay

Another picturesque bay, Vivonne Bay is surrounded by natural bushland. The on-site restaurant, Vivonne Bay Bistro, is a good place to stop and have a quick lunch.

Hanson Bay Koala Walk

Hanson Bay is another must-see place you should not miss on Kangaroo Island and one of the best places to see more animals.

It’s a delightful place to walk along a shady path and spot lots of koalas hanging out in the branches of eucalyptus trees. You are bound to see them here.

In fact, tens of thousands of koalas reside on the island. Since they have no natural predators, some parts of the island are overpopulated with them. The authorities sterilize some from time to time to keep their numbers manageable.

Walking amid the eucalyptus trees, you might spot echidnas and wallabies too.

In the adjacent field, you’re likely to see lots of kangaroos. Again, look but don’t touch, and don’t provoke the animals. Kangaroos are actually much scarier in real life than they seem in cartoons.

Do you know what it’s like to get kicked by one?

Don’t find out.

A kangaroo could disembowel you with ease.

Flinders Chase National Park

This is one of the biggest conservation parks in Australia, and the country’s second conservation park, established in 1972. Here you’ll see intriguing trees and coastal views. Look out over Yacca Flat. You’re more likely to see more wildlife emerge at dusk or dawn. Such animals might include short-beaked echidnas, tammar wallabies, and brushtail wallabies.

If there’s time, consider one or both of two short walking trails: Platypus Walk and Woodlands Walk.

Remarkable Rocks

Proceed to the appropriately named Remarkable Rocks. This is a series of granite boulders carved into odd looking formations on a stone platform above the ocean. Visiting this area will provide many excellent and surreal photo opportunities, like something out of a Salvador Dali painting.

Watch your step in this area, especially if it’s windy and the rocks are wet. Spend around 30 minutes here on a day trip.

Cape du Couedic Lighthouse

Built in 1906, this lighthouse is an attractive sight. It’s not open for tours, but worth at least a quick look from outside. Nearby you’ll see a series of cottages where lighthouse keepers and their families once lived. They may be available to you as lodging if you plan to spend more than a day on the island.

Admirals Arch

Around mid-afternoon, visit Admirals Arch, which is another must-see place on Kangaroo Island. You’ll walk down a trail toward a superb natural arch carved by the sea.

The best view is from a viewing platform at the end of a boardwalk. Here you’ll probably see a number of New Zealand Fur Seals. Spend around 30 minutes here on a day trip.

Flinders Chase Visitors Centre

This is the headquarters of the National Parks and Wildlife Rangers on the island, located inside a sugar gum forest. The informative displays will tell you all about local plants and animals. You can also buy souvenirs, snacks, and drinks here before returning to the ferry terminal or airport.

If You Have More Time

Kangaroo Island is most certainly worth visiting and has much to offer the interested traveler. It’s well worth the trip and offers the chance to spend time in unspoiled wilderness with unique wildlife. You can see the highlights in one day, but 2 days will make the experience less rushed. Some locals suggest you need several days and up to a week to fully appreciate Kangaroo Island.

With more time, you might return to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided night tour, as animals on the island are most active when it’s dark. Or see Kelly Hill Caves, a limestone cave complex that stretches underground about nine kilometers. You could drive north to Kingscote, the capital of the island and its commercial center. See the penguin colony at Penneshaw Penguin Centre.

See even more wildlife at the Raptor Domain, the Venom Pit, and Will’s Rare Breeds Farm.

Emu Bay on the north coast, Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island’s West End, the American River village overlooking Eastern Cove, and the agricultural hub of Parndana are a few of the additional sightseeing opportunities on the island.

Places to Stay on Kangaroo Island

Here are some reasonably priced places to stay on Kangaroo Island if you intend to spend more time here.

• Lindsays of Kangaroo Island (Penneshaw)
• Seashells Penneshaw (Penneshaw)
• The Hakeas (Kingscote)
• Inna Nutshell (Kingscote)
• Emu Bay Holiday Homes (Emu Bay)

Regardless of how many days you spend here, your time on the island is sure to be memorable and a highlight from your time in Australia.

Fun Facts About Kangaroo Island

1. The population of Kangaroo Island in 2022 was only about 5,000.
2. Aborigines resided here as long as 16,000 years ago and mysteriously vanished perhaps 2,000 years ago. The reasons for their disappearance are unknown, but the indigenous name for the island is Karta, which means Land of the Dead.
3. The Australian Sea Lion is a rare species found only on the southern and southwestern coasts of Australia. Fewer than 15,000 of them are left. Seal Bay is the country’s second largest Australian sea lion breeding colony.
4. The kangaroos on Kangaroo Island evolved along different lines and are smaller, darker, and have longer fur than kangaroos on the mainland.
5. You might see giant Rosenberg goanna lizards feasting on roadkill along the roads.
6. Kangaroo Island is seven times larger than Singapore.
7. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island.
8. Locals on the island will sometimes greet each other on the road with the “Kangaroo Island Wave,” a gesture that involves lifting the index finger to acknowledge passing cars. Remember, it’s the index finger!