Hop Around Kangaroo Island with Us, Mates!

Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island

Sure Sydney pops and Melbourne flairs but have you ever heard of Kangaroo Island, South Australia? This place is a wildlife dream and seafood lover's paradise. Come along with me as we head down under and explore what could be Australia’s best kept secret.

On a warm misty morning we set out on the hour drive to Port Jervis from Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. From here it's a 45 minute ferry ride to the island. PRO TIP: plan on reaching the terminal at least 45 minutes before the departure time and during peak season, it is highly advisable to book your ferry tickets in advance

The best, and perhaps the only way, to get around Kangaroo Island is by a self-driven car. Being Australia’s 3rd largest island you can surprisingly do it in around 2 hours. We chose to do 3 days on Kangaroo Island and it felt perfect. It allowed us enough time to explore the island’s best attractions at our own pace while not missing out on anything (except Kangaroo Island Brewery). With that being said, you could easily spend a week here without seeing everything this beautiful place has to offer. So let’s go! Here's our itinerary:

The daily catch at The Oyster Farm Shop, Kangaroo Island courtesy of @Kranky_Kangaroo

Day 1: We arrived in Penneshaw from our ferry ride famished and headed straight to get some tucker (food in Australian). If you love seafood you have to check out The Oyster Farm Shop. Located in the pretty seaside town of American River, you will find some of the best-tasting Pacific Oysters in the world at this modest seaside store! Serving the freshest oysters on Kangaroo Island, they are shucked daily when in season (around April to January) as well as the daily catch of King George Whiting fish. Once satiated, we have just one question: what pairs perfectly with Oysters?

Cocktail Garden at Kangaroo Island Spirits

Gin! Not just any old gin but some of the best gin in the entire world. Kangaroo Island Sprits is the birthplace of Australia gin and home to the country’s first dedicated gin distillery. With native flora and fauna abound, this distillery boasts a wide range of juniperus elixirs that highlight the wild and wonderful variety of botanicals grown on-site. Our favorites: the seasonal and highly limited, Mulberry Gin, that is both naturally sweet and boldly tart, as well as the Wild Gin, distilled uniquely with ‘Boobialla’, Kangaroo Island native juniper. Balanced with fresh local limes, mint picked from the garden, and hand harvested pink pepper corns.

Heading north-west we reached what could be the island’s best secret, Stokes Bay. When you arrive at the car park, you see a bay surrounded by rocks at one end and that's about it. You'll probably wonder why we even sent you here. Head to the rocks and you will spy a small sign that says “beach” and if you didn’t know better, you might think the sign was a joke. Walk towards the gap in the rocks and you will see a worn path. Follow it between the rocks (it gets pretty narrow in a couple of spots, but it’s short and easy to manage) and meet your reward: crystal blue water and a white sand beach. You might even get lucky enough like we did and have it all to yourselves.

After a quick disco nap it's time to check in to our AirBnb. We chose Vivonne Bay as our base due to its proximity in the middle of the island. The fact this beach has been ranked the best beach in the world in numerous publications is a bonus!

Day 2-We dedicated this day to the beautiful Flinders Chase National Park where we kicked off our day exploring the massive shapes of Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture perched impossibly on top a granite dome plunging into the ocean. Then, breaked for a picnic lunch in the bush that we picked up earlier in the day from Vivonne Bay General Store near our Airbnb. Next, we headed to Admirals Arch, a coastal grotto which provides a haul out for a large colony of Long-nosed fur seals which swim effortlessly through the crashing waves. This park is known for its exquisite wildlife experiences, so be on the lookout as everywhere you look, you’re bound to see all sorts of marsupials.

Having our full of nature and beauty we headed back to our base and soaked up the afternoon sun at our favorite beach.

Day 3- Checking out of our airbnb, we set off early in the morning to Kangaroo Island's premier tourist attraction, the award-winning Seal Bay. Offering visitors an unforgettable wildlife experience, this is where the island’s resident Australian Sea Lion colony gather together to bask in the sun after a day spent fishing in the surrounding ocean. The bay boasts the third largest colony of these sea lions in the country and is one of the most popular stops for visitors on the island. To get down to the beach where the sea lions bask, frolic, and bathe, you have to pay for a tour – this is a system put in place to protect the colony and their future. And it is money well spent!

Before hitting the ferry home, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to detour to Dudley Wine’s, situated just 12km from the ferry terminal in Penneshaw, it is the ideal spot to toast to a stellar itinerary with award-winning wines and even better views. It is simply perfect for soaking up your last few hours on this one-of-a-kind island.

I truly hope this inspires you to visit this magical destination and stay tuned for more from Carry On With Chris. Hooroo, mates!