Welcome to Kangaroo Island

No wonder the UK Sunday Telegraph called Kangaroo Island 'one of earth's last unspoilt refuges'.

Here is an island seven times the size of Singapore, literally crawling with wildlife. The koalas aren't being cuddled - they're relaxing at home in native trees. The seals aren't performing - they're lazing beside you on the beach. There are echidnas, platypus, goannas, wallabies and kangaroos. All thriving. All mesmerising.

Half the native bushland on Kangaroo Island remains just as it was when British navigator Matthew Flinders put a name to this untamed wilderness in 1802. And more than one-third of the Island is National or Conservation Park.

But beauty comes in many forms: views from seaside cottages and cliff-top cabins; delicate handcrafted glassware; a day at the races in Kingscote. And, of course, there's the wine and food. Take a drive and collect wine, cheeses, oysters and lobsters and indulge on a secluded beach.

And another thing that's guaranteed: the greeting you'll get from the locals. Tourism Kangaroo Island and its 190 members welcome you to our beautiful home. We look forward to showing you around.

Beach, Pennington Bay - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

- Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

Enjoying the View, Vivonne Bay - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Click for larger image)

A Destination For All Seasons

While some things never change - friendly people, cool breezes, uncrowded beaches and geological wonders - each season brings new life and spectacular changes in landscape colours.

Summer: December - February

As the summer approaches, wildlife retreat to bushland habitat to shelter during the heat of the day. The land is a contrast of golden pastures against summer wild flowers and the new growth of native trees.

Kangaroos and Tammar wallabies are seen predominantly at dawn and dusk.
Little penguins moult all their feathers at the end of the breeding season and can lose up to half their body weight.
New Zealand Fur seals give birth to chocolate-brown pups.
The Australian Sea-lion breeding season begins with pups born from January to June 2006.
Heath goannas lay 10-17 eggs in the warm, stable, humid atmosphere of termite mounds, the perfect incubator.
Koalas, wallabies and kangaroos give birth to tiny young, which are naked and blind.

Autumn: March - May

Pastures begin to green and waterways and catchments begin to flow. Autumn is a time of transition, with some rainfall gradually providing the wildlife with fresh growth to feed on.

Glossy Black cockatoos and Little Penguins begin nesting.
Black swans begin their courtship behaviour of wing-raising, neck-stretching and loud trumpeting.
Fungi start to appear on damp ground and rotting wood.

Winter: June - August

Winter is spectacular with lush green countryside, flowing rivers and abundant wildlife: it's Kangaroo Island at its most appealing. Land mammals, predominantly night, dawn and dusk feeders for most of the year, frequently come out by day.

Koalas emerge from the mother's pouch and begin to ride on her back.
Kangaroo and wallaby joeys start to emerge from the mother's pouch and feed by her side.
Echidnas form 'mating trains' where up to eight males will follow a female for around four weeks.
Waders, on their migration from Siberia, begin to arrive.
Ospreys show off to their mates in spectacular courtship fights.
Southern right whales pass the shores on their migration from Antarctic waters to the Great Australian Bight to calve.

Spring: September - November

Spring is the season of rebirth. It is a wonderful time to see the spectacular array of wild flowers, birds and mammals.

Wildflowers are in abundance. There are approximately 40 endemic floral species found on Kangaroo Island.
Eucalyptus oil is in peak production. One tonne of leaf can produce up to 30 litres of oil.
Cape Barren geese nest on top of the native iris grasses to incubate their eggs.
Platypuses lay two eggs in a burrow up to 20 metres long.