Regions of Kangaroo Island

Penneshaw is the main town on the Dudley Peninsula, and it is where you’ll disembark from the SeaLink ferry. Many people choose Penneshaw as their base for their Kangaroo Island holiday and SeaLink has a range of accommodations for you to choose from, including the Kangaroo Island Seafront or a range of self-contained holiday homes overlooking the picturesque Hog Bay. Penneshaw is well appointed with cafes, a supermarket, post-office, pub, fuel station and small boat harbour.

You may consider other places to stay around this area such as Baudin Beach, Island Beach, and Antechamber Bay.

An ideal beachside holiday spot only seven minutes from Penneshaw, Baudin Beach provides a quiet holiday location with a beach, a small jetty, and beautiful panoramic views over Eastern Cove towards the American River. The quintessential beach holiday location, Island Beach boasts stunning turquoise waters and rows of spectacular homes. It is well known for local wildlife such as wallabies and goannas and is a famous fishing spot for King George Whiting.

Highlights: Cape Willoughby Lighthouse Tours • Dudley Wines Cellar Door • Art Galleries • Penneshaw Penguin Centre • Penneshaw Markets • Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail in Penneshaw township • Fishing • Antechamber Bay • Camping at Chapman River • False Cape Wines • Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari • Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park • Public Skate Park • Island Beach

For Dudley Peninsula accommodation search for Penneshaw, Island Beach or Cape Willoughby.

American River is a quiet, friendly fishing village nestled on a hillside of native bushland. You have a great selection of accommodation to choose from including the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, Ulonga Seaviews and Kangaroo Island Coastal Units.

American River is a bird-watching paradise and a great place to try local fresh oysters from The Oyster Farm Shop while enjoying the views over Eastern Cove. There is an impressive stretch of coastline around this area including the spectacular Pennington Bay - a photographer’s dream and a very popular place for fishing and surfing. There are plenty of scenic walks around and exploring American River by foot can be a rewarding way to see this region.

Highlights: Fishing & Fishing Charters • Sailing • Pennington Bay • Bird Watching • Clifford’s Honey Farm • Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery • The Oyster Farm Shop • The Deck Cafe • The Boat Shed featuring the rebuild of the historic ship replica Independence

For American River accommodation search for American River.

Kingscote is the commercial hub of Kangaroo Island and home to a number of shops, facilities and nearly half of the Island’s population. There’s a large range of accommodation options available including hotels/motels, bed & breakfasts, holiday homes and a caravan park. Kingscote is situated on Nepean Bay, overlooking a tranquil harbour. It is a special place in South Australia’s colonial history, as just north of Kingscote is the important heritage site, Reeves Point, South Australia’s first European settlement.

Nearby Emu Bay also has a wide selection of coastal holiday homes to choose from, located just 18km from Kingscote. It is a popular holiday spot on the north coast, and boasts a beautiful 4km long white sandy beach with vehicle access as well as safe, clear water for swimming and water activities.

Kingscote Highlights: Shopping • Restaurants • Colonial history • Jetty fishing • Art galleries • Island Beehive • Springs Road Cellar Door • Hope Cottage Museum • Kangaroo Island Spirits • Islander Estate Tasting Room • Bay of Shoals Winery & Cellar Door

Emu Bay Highlights: Safe swimming beach • Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures • Emu Bay Lavender Farm & Cafe • Wildlife • Emu Bay Fishing Charters

For Kingscote and Emu Bay accommodation search for Kingscote, Brownlow, Cygnet River or Emu Bay.

Discover a real sense of space and freedom as you pass by rolling hills and great views. The northern coastline is simply stunning with white sandy beaches, clear waters, hidden coves and spectacular coastal scenery. There are several secluded beaches such as Stokes Bay, Western River Cove and King George Beach, which are a haven for fishing and water sports. King George Beach is a hidden treasure, a small pebble beach tucked away in a delightful cove. At the mouth of Middle River, Snelling Beach is excellent for swimming, surf fishing and great rock fishing at either end of the beach. Stokes Bay has a wonderful walkway through the headland of boulders – a white sandy beach and a beautiful rock pool.

Heading inland you will find the true heart of Kangaroo Island, Parndana. The Heartland was where ex-soldiers were settled and given the task of farming the island’s central plateau. There is a small selection of accommodation in the town, as well as limited services and facilities.

North Coast Highlights: The Rockpool Cafe at Stokes Bay (open seasonally) • Snelling Beach • Stokes Bay • Western River Cove • Water sports • Fishing • Safe swimming beaches

Heartland Highlights: Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum • Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park • Parndana Hotel • Exploring country tracks

For Heartland accommodation search for Parndana.

The South Coast is one of the most popular places on Kangaroo Island – it is rugged, beautiful and home to some of the Island’s favourite attractions, Seal Bay Conservation Park, Little Sahara and Vivonne Bay.

Vivonne Bay is a long, curved sandy beach superb for picnics, beachcombing, surfing and fishing and there’s a good selection of accommodation available here, mainly lodge style or beach house accommodation.

On the South Coast you’ll find a range of action-packed and adventure activities from sandboarding, kayaking, paintball or a guided quad-bike tour through 500 acres of winding bush trails.

Highlights: Seal Bay Conservation Park & Guided Beach Walks • Little Sahara • Sandboarding, Buggy Tours or Electric Bikes • Vivonne Bay & Jetty • Raptor Domain - Birds of Prey & Fang-Tastic • Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action - Quad Bikes and Kayak Hire • Vivonne Bay General Store

For South Coast Accommodation search for Vivonne Bay, D'Estrees Bay and MacGillvray.

If you are looking for some peace and solitude, or some pure indulgence, Western Kangaroo Island is the place to be. The native bushland is home to an abundant amount of wildlife teeming with birds, echidnas, and kangaroos, while koalas doze happily in eucalyptus trees above. You will also see colonies of Long-nosed Fur Seals frolicking in the Southern Ocean.

In this area, you can stay at Western KI Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve which offers camping sites and on-site self-contained cabins.

This region is rich in history, with Cape du Couedic, Cape Borda and Weirs Cove all remnants from the Island’s past. Western Kangaroo Island offers numerous walking and hiking trails that are well worth the effort, including the Weirs Cove, Rocky River and Sandy Creek Hikes, just to name a few. Hanson Bay is a popular surf-fishing area with large Australian salmon often caught along the spectacular beach.

Highlights: Wildlife • Nature • Flinders Chase National Park • Remarkable Rocks • Admirals Arch • Cape du Couedic Lighthouse • Weirs Cove • Surfing • Fishing • Hanson Bay • Guided Tours at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary • Kelly Hill Conservation Park & Caves (currently closed until further notice)

For Western Kangaroo Island accommodation search for Western Kangaroo Island.