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.

An update to booking the SeaLink Coach Connection

As part of the recent acquisition of Adelaide Sightseeing by Journey Beyond, the coach service between Adelaide and Cape Jervis (currently operating as the SeaLink Coach Connection) is now operated by Journey Beyond. The process to book the coach connection has now changed.

Customers wishing to book the coach connection can contact Adelaide Sightseeing directly.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1300 769 762

Kangaroo Island ferry bookings will continue to be made with SeaLink as usual.

If you have an existing coach connection booked, your booking remains valid. For any amendments or new bookings, please contact Adelaide Sightseeing using the details above.

When planning your journey, please ensure your coach connection aligns with your selected ferry service.

LinkSA Adelaide to Cape Jervis Connection - Public Coach service

Link SA is a daily public coach service that operates from and to Adelaide and Cape Jervis - Route 1259.
For those who wish to travel to the Cape Jervis terminal via this method can refer to the Link SA website to access the timetable and fare information or call 08 8555 2500 for assistance.

On-island Shuttle Connection - Public Coach service

The Kangaroo Island Shuttle Service is operated by Peninsula Coaches for a daily public coach connection from Penneshaw, American River and Kingscote.

To access the schedule and make bookings, please call 08 8821 2755 or visit their website www.peninsulacoaches.com.au 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 $23 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.

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, American River on Tangara Drive (24 hours) 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.