Few places on earth combine so much natural beauty, native wildlife, exceptional cuisine, local charm and lovely accommodation. Kangaroo Island has been the place to visit for those seeking luxury and light adventure off the beaten path but 2020 has not been kind to this idyllic Aussie favourite, making it the perfect paradise to show a little love right now. Get some friends or the family together for an adventure in paradise you won’t ever forget.
*Can be spec’d up or paired back, shortened or stretched to suit
With the option to charter flights directly to Kangaroo Island, enjoy private island tours with a local naturalist guide and stay in stunning private accommodation, this is the perfect place to preserve the charms of isolation. Meet local farmers and makers, tackle a few of the island’s lovely short walks, learn about the unique, endemic wildlife with plenty of time left for doing nothing at all.
DAY ONE
Arrive into Kangaroo Island via ferry, one of the regularly scheduled flights from Adelaide or via private charter from most major Australian cities. Be sure to ask us about charter flights as they can be surprisingly affordable with a group and are incredibly convenient.
Be met at the airstrip or ferry terminal on arrival for a private transfer to your accommodation. We love the Ocean View Eco Villas but there are dozens of wonderful options to suit a range of tastes, group sizes and budgets.
Enjoy a quick look around the area before settling into your accommodation. While we can arrange hampers filled with fresh local produce for self-catering, a private, in-house chef is an excellent option if you really want to relax and make the most of your experience.
Watch the sunset over the Southern Ocean on a short walk along one of the quiet, secluded trails by your lodge before turning in for dinner and a quiet evening with a few glasses of local wine.
DAY TWO
Kick-off after a hot breakfast (prepared by your chef, of course) on a fully tailored and extremely flexible, private Kangaroo Island experience. We suggest getting started fairly early to take advantage of the day but you should do exactly what you want because you deserve it.
Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in Island Life – at a slower pace, a more connected and grounded place. Your host throughout the trip is a passionate and knowledgable island local so expect them to know everyone around the island, all the local secrets and hidden treasures.
Travel out through Wisanger – past salt lakes first exploited by sealers in the 1800s’. Travel through back roads to Emu Bay – seeking out wallabies, kangaroos and other creatures in the bush as we traverse the landscape.
Break for a home-baked morning tea at Emu Bay – a long white sand beach which is the centre of community life through the summer and a welcome slice of solitude in winter.
Travel inland to Cygnet River – the largest drainage basin on the Island which morphs from a dry river bed in summer to a broad flood-out in winter. This region provides habitat for koalas, many parrots and bush birds in a setting first settled in 1819. Learn about the history of the Eucalyptus oil industry – perhaps the most original Australian product.
Visit a private property amongst the redgum forest and enjoy a barbeque lunch. After lunch check out the feeding and breeding habitat of the critically endangered Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo before continuing to Seal Bay.
At Seal Bay take a private guided tour into the colony of Australian sea-lions where you can learn about the feeding and breeding behaviour of these photogenic creatures. The experience has been likened to that in the Galapagos, where people and animals enjoy “shared space”.
End the day at D’Estrees Bay where opportunities include looking for osprey or other seabirds, learning about Wreckers’ Beach or taking a walk around the marine lagoon at Wheaton’s Beach.
Head back to your accommodation to settle in for another relaxing evening in your own private paradise.
DAY THREE
We’re starting to get into a bit of a rhythm now… a little lay in or maybe a stroll before another hot breakfast and another wonderful day of exploring.
Remember, Localing isn’t touring so you’ve still got all the freedom and flexibility of going it alone, just with an extra mate along for the ride who happens to know everything and loves doing all the driving, arranging and heavy lifting.
The Dudley Peninsula which forms the east end of Kangaroo Island is a microcosm of the rest of the island. The north coast has hills rolling down to the sea and white sand beaches. Roadside vegetation forms an avenue overhead many of the narrow roads. Ice-age dunes and rugged limestone cliffs dominate the south coast, which is indented by high-energy beaches.
Start the day at Pennington Bay situated at the narrowest part of the Island. This Southern Ocean beach is a popular fishing and surf spot. Enjoy home-baked morning tea overlooking extensive wave-cut platforms and contrasting deep aqua water.
Travelling east you have endless views of the serene marine sanctuary which is Pelican Lagoon. Adjacent the lagoon is excellent kangaroo habitat and the tea-tree thickets harbour tammar wallabies sheltering from their constant predator – the wedge-tailed eagle.
The deep alluvial soils of Willson River overlying limestone are perfect for grapevines. The team at False Cape Wines have a newly opened cellar door experience overlooking well-established wines. We will sample their range of wines and then enjoy a local produce picnic overlooking the vines.
Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, established in 1852, stands tall on an exposed headland. Explore the lighthouse precinct and the granite canyon known as “Devil’s Kitchen”. This lighthouse shines a warning for sailors traversing the treacherous Backstair’s Passage. The headland provides protection from ocean swells for Antechamber Bay. Take a walk on the long white sandy beach or seek our birds on the quiet backwaters of the Chapman River estuary.
End the day in Penneshaw which we can access via a 4WD trail known as Binney’s Track. This runs adjacent to Baudin Conservation Park which provides habitat for a range of wildlife including glossy black-cockatoos, kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas.
Head back to your accommodation to settle in for your final evening in paradise.
DAY FOUR
Depart after breakfast for your private transfer back to the airstrip or ferry terminal for your onward travel. Let us know if you need help arranging charter flights for your group.
That’s it. One of the best adventures you’ve had and right here in Australia. Brilliant.
COST & INCLUSIONS
$4200 AUD per person including all your meals and 5-star, private accommodation at the Ocean View Eco Villas (based on 4 guests – even less if there are more of you). That includes the same exceptional local host and luxury touring vehicle for all your transfers and touring on the island and your own in-house chef so it’s a proper holiday.
This trip pairs brilliantly with a Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip, which can also be done in reverse. Travel between Melbourne or Sydney and Kangaroo Island via private charter to make your travel incredibly safe and convenient.
*If you love the above but would prefer to pair things back a little, there are other places to stay, the option to self cater and to tour in small-groups although with 4 or more travellers private touring is similar in price.
To start planning your Ultimate Kangaroo Island Adventure, get in touch with us now.
