If you enjoy beautiful beaches, great wine, bush walks, bird watching and wildlife spotting, charming cafes, quaint art galleries and spectacular scenery - Kangaroo Island should be number one on your camping bucket list.
Kangaroo Island has an abundance of campgrounds, caravan parks and glamping options to choose from. The tranquility of camping, often with only the company of a Tammar wallaby quietly hopping past in the undergrowth, is truly magical. Immersed in stunning scenery and up close and personal with native wildlife, you'll soon appreciate why camping on KI, really is like nothing else.
The island has a mix of privately owned caravan parks, council-run campsites and national parks, perfect for you to pull up your van or pop up a tent. Due to its remoteness, Kangaroo Island has a fragile ecosystem and it is important that you use the designated options for camping to ensure the island's flora, fauna and wildlife remains protected.
Ready to start planning? We have you covered with all the information you need to plan your camping adventure.
1. Plan ahead and make reservations
Kangaroo Island is a popular destination for camping, especially during peak seasons. Make sure to plan your trip well in advance, reserve your camping spot and book your ferry travel to avoid disappointment.
2. Bring your pets with you
Kangaroo Island’s council camping grounds are pet friendly. If you are visiting with your dog or cat make sure to notify the Council with your details. For more information, visit the Council website.
3. Be kind to wildlife and the environment
Kangaroo Island boasts a diverse range of extraordinary wildlife, such as kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and koalas. While exploring the Island, you might have the chance to encounter these amazing creatures. It can be tempting to get close to them, but remember that they are wild animals, so it's important to give them their space and avoid feeding them.
KI is also home to several conservation parks and protected areas aimed at preserving its unique ecosystems. To help maintain the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, make sure to stick to designated trails, follow signs, and dispose of waste properly. When you visit, take only photographs and leave only footprints, so that future generations can also enjoy the Island's wonders.
4. Pack essentials and be prepared for the elements
The weather is quite unpredictable on the Island, with unexpected shifts and gusty winds. Make sure to pack the essentials such as a durable tent, warm sleeping bags, waterproof clothing and dependable camping equipment. Remember to bring enough food and water as there are limited shops on the Island. It's also a good idea to have a first aid kit and emergency supplies on hand, just in case.
5. Get involved with Citizen Science
Don't just visit the Island, be part of it's recovery from the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. Download the Passport to Recovery app and participate in a range of data collection and conservation projects. You'll be rewarded with points that can be redeemed for discounts at local businesses. It's a win-win!
Council Campgrounds
Kangaroo Island Council has 7 camping grounds spread around the island. Fees apply for each location and can be made onsite via a self-registration booth or Electronic ticket machine using coins or credit/debit cards.
Vivonne Bay
About 45 minutes from Kingscote is the stunningly beautiful Vivonne Bay. It has a mix of powered and unpowered sites available as well as spots for caravans. The campground has a picnic area, BBQ area, playground for the kids, toilets and direct beach access. Showers are available for a gold coin donation.
The sweeping shoreline, crystal clear water and regenerated bushland make this a beautiful spot for camping… and whatever you do, make sure you stop by the Vivonne Bay General Store for their famous whiting burger while you’re there!
American River
American River Campground is just twenty minutes’ drive from the ferry terminal. If you’re into boating, fishing or sailing, American River has a boat ramp and small jetty. There is also a café, a post office that sells basic groceries and KI Oysters – you’ll be slurping down a dozen oysters or tucking into a seafood platter in no time!
The campground features both powered and unpowered sites, caravan sites, toilets and coin-operated showers as well as BBQ area and playground nearby.
National & Conservation Park Campgrounds
You are really spoilt for choice when caravanning and camping in the National and Conservation Parks on the island – choose from secluded bush campsites or isolated spots with spectacular ocean views.
Antechamber Bay and Chapman River
Located within Lashmar Conservation Park on the Dudley Peninsula. Set amongst coastal bushland and alongside the river – this campground is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking and birdwatching. Little Superb Fairy-wrens with their brilliant-coloured plumage provide hours of entertainment, often seen flitting about the campground in small groups.
Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park
Features four beachside camping areas within the protected park at D’Estrees Bay, and another site at Murray Lagoon. These campsites are a nature lovers paradise, with birdwatching, fishing, wild surf, reefs and impressive coastlines abundant. This secluded location is ideal for those that want to disconnect. With only a few campsites available at any one time, you’ll be waking up to gorgeous ocean views mostly to yourself.
Flinders Chase National Park
Although Flinders Chase National Park was widely affected by the 2019-20 bushfires, camping is still available at Harvey’s Return and West Bay. The park, located on the island’s far west coast, is the closest you will get to be completely immersed in the wild environment. With rugged cliffs, shipwrecks, historic sites, hiking trails and spectacular views – you’ll feel a million miles away from the modern world.
These campsites must be pre-booked online. Visit Parks SA to book and find out further information.
Caravan Parks
There are a few privately run caravan parks on KI, each with their own unique features and facilities.
Seafront Holiday Park
Just two minutes from the ferry terminal, the Seafront Holiday Park is a great base for exploring the Eastern end of the island. Perfect for families, you are just minutes from local cafes (hello coffee fix!) and shops, a skate park, playground and the Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail. The sandy white beach, Hog Bay, is just steps away, meaning you’ll be soothed to sleep by the sounds of the ocean.
Keep an eye out for the “locals” – fluffy little Tammar wallabies - as you relax by the communal fire pits and spacious BBQ area.
Western Kangaroo Island Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve
Bouncing back from being damaged in the 2019-20 bushfires, Western KI Caravan Park is the perfect stay when exploring Flinders Chase National Park and the western end of the Island. The park features large sites, new camp kitchen, a small playground and modern laundry and bathroom facilities. The highlight of this park is the wildlife – at dawn or dusk you could see anything from koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, goannas to a large variety of birdlife.
Discovery Lagoon Caravan and Camping Grounds
Discovery Lagoon is a spacious and peaceful park situated in five acres of natural bushland. The park is run using solar power and has a comfortable camp kitchen, amenities block with hot showers and abundant wildlife. A short five-minute drive will take you to Emu Bay, one of only two beaches on the island you can drive on – with four-and-a-half kilometres of clean white sand and pristine blue ocean safe for swimming.
Glamping
If a little luxury is more your thing, there are a range of glamping options on KI. All you’ll need to pack is your clothes and perhaps your favourite bottle of wine to enjoy after a long day out exploring the island.
Seafront Holiday Park
Overlooking the beautiful Hog Bay in Penneshaw, the Seafront Holiday Park is a great base for your Kangaroo Island holiday. Wake up to the sounds of the ocean in your Eco-Luxury Tent, beautifully styled and equipped with everything you could want. Enjoy a fresh coffee in the morning from your private deck, taking in the view.
The park is a short walk to local cafes and a supermarket, and features a BBQ area, communal fire pit, paths to the beach and is set amongst native bushland. Other accommodation options here include powered sites for your caravan, Oceanview Villas, Eco-Family Tents and Bell Tents.
Wandering Souls Bell Tents
Wandering Souls provides pop-up glamping experiences across KI in their gorgeously styled 5m Bell Tents. Simply choose your tent, pick your location, and they will pitch the tent prior to your arrival, make your bed with 1000 thread count sheets, provide a powerpack to charge your devices and pack it all down after you’ve left. What more could you ask for?
