Getting to Kangaroo Island

• To avoid disappointment, it is best to book your ferry travel well in advance of when you would like to travel. Periodically throughout the year and within certain time periods during the day, our ferries can be at capacity. For flexibility, consider booking your ferry travel on non-peak departures or consider spending an extra night to make the most of your visit to Kangaroo Island.
• It is best to book your ferry travel prior to your accommodation on the island.
• It is important to consider purchasing travel insurance for your visit to Kangaroo Island. On occasion we may experience disruptions to ferry services for a variety of circumstances including inclement weather.
• If you are unable to secure vehicle space for your preferred travel dates, consider hiring a car on the Island in Penneshaw or at Kingscote.
• Be sure to arrive 30 mins prior to your ferry departure to give you enough time to check in and load your vehicle.
• Remember, SeaLink staff can always assist with any queries or more complex bookings. Simply call our friendly team on 13 13 01

Enjoy a leisurely 1.5-hour drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis through the Fleurieu Peninsula, along South Road. We recommend that you arrive at least half an hour prior to departure, so please allow approximately two hours or more to arrive and check in. The island is popular so make sure you pre-book all your services such as ferry, touring, and accommodation through SeaLink.

The Kangaroo Island Public Coach service, currently operated by SeaLink between Adelaide and Cape Jervis, is undergoing a change in provider. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport has contracted LinkSA to deliver this service from 1 October 2023. For travel post 1 October 2023, please visit the LinkSA website to access the timetable and fare information or call 08 8555 2500 for assistance.

Safe, secure day and longer-term car parking options are available at Cape Jervis right near the SeaLink Terminal. The car park opens prior to the first ferry departure and is locked after the last departure arrives from Penneshaw. The cost is $21 per day and you can book a spot when arranging your ferry travel or at the terminal on check-in. Unsecured time-restricted car parking is also available. For more information call our Sales Centre on 13 13 01.

Please note: Due to the new marine infrastructure works at Cape Jervis, the capacity of the secure car-parking is significantly reduced. Pre-booking your spot prior to arrival is strongly recommended. Public car-parking space is also restricted.

There is no public transport on Kangaroo Island, nor are there any Taxi services, or Uber. Please remember to plan your days accordingly!

SeaLink operates a twice-a-day shuttle bus service between Penneshaw and Kingscote (via American River), to connect to morning and evening ferry services. To book, phone 13 13 01 or email [email protected]. We can also arrange personal or group transfers.

Local companies also offer transfers, including:

• Kangaroo Island Transfers
  0427 887 575
  www.kitransfers.com.au
• KI 24/7 Bus Charters
  0473 672 139
  www.KI247buscharters.com.au

Budget Rent-a-Car operate on the island, see 'Car Hire' below.

Kangaroo Island is widely accessible by conventional vehicles and is well serviced with an extensive bituminised road network.

We urge caution on all island roads, especially the unsealed ones. Kangaroo Island residents are some of the warmest and most hospitable people you will meet anywhere but, not unreasonably they take a very dim view of people driving on their roads at excessively high speed.

Please also remember that in Australia, we drive on the left-hand side of the road and if you find that you are travelling at a slower speed than vehicles behind you, it is courtesy to pull to the left-hand side of the road, when safe and practicable, to allow these vehicles to overtake you.

Also, please be wary that native animals on Kangaroo Island (as they do in many regional areas of Australia), come out early in the morning (dawn), at sunset (dusk) and during the night and they tend to congregate at the sides of the road. These animals have not been to a road safety school, so please take care. We recommend that you do not drive between the hours of dusk to dawn and if you do, please be extremely cautious.

Do I need a 4WD on Kangaroo Island?

2WD vehicles are perfectly fine to use on Kangaroo Island however some visitors prefer the confidence of an AWD or 4WD vehicle when travelling on unsealed roads.

Fuel is available on Kangaroo Island at Penneshaw (24 hours), Kingscote (24 hours), Parndana and Vivonne Bay.

Please note, if you are departing Kangaroo Island on late ferry service, the nearest open petrol station will be at Aldinga, 64km north of Cape Jervis, enroute to Adelaide. You may need to top up your petrol tank prior to leaving the island.

If you do not have your own car to take on the ferry, SeaLink can arrange a rental car in Adelaide or be waiting for you on arrival at the Penneshaw ferry terminal on Kangaroo Island or at the Kingscote airport.

SeaLink recommends Budget Kangaroo Island when booking a rental car on Kangaroo Island.