Discover Kangaroo Island through its food, people and landscapes on a four-day journey from the eastern Dudley Peninsula to the Island's wild western coastline. Along the way, enjoy local produce, exceptional dining, welcoming cellar doors and unforgettable natural wonders, all at the relaxed pace of Island Life.
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Day one
Millie Mae's Pantry
Here at Mille Mae's Pantry, they strive to offer a welcoming space for all where people can rest, recharge, and connect over delicious food made with fresh local ingredients.
Whether you're craving a perfectly crafted panini, a comforting slice of house-made cake, or a little browse in the shop stocked with artisanal Kangaroo Island products, the Millie Mae's team invites you to join them in the garden or on their cosy deck.
They proudly serve some of the best coffee on the island and are passionate about creating a memorable experience for every guest, so you'll keep coming back for more.False Cape Wines Cellar Door
False Cape Cellar Door offers premium wines and is situated in an idyllic setting, nestled amongst the vineyard and gum trees on the picturesque Willson River, surrounded by native vegetation and only 12 km from Penneshaw and the ferry.
The Cellar Door is made from recycled wood, jetty timbers and limestone sourced throughout South Australia. All hand built by us and the exceptional Freestone Creations.
They aim to give visitors a welcoming and relaxing environment to experience their Authentic Kangaroo Island handcrafted premium wines. Made by award-winning winemaker Greg Follett (Julie's brother) of Lake Breeze Wines.
They offer a delicious lunchtime menu to complement their premium wines, which include platters, homemade pies, kids' menu and various specials depending on the season.
There is a kids nature playground, farm animal viewing, large fenced lawned area, plus a basketball backboard for the older kids. So, sit back, relax and enjoy a deluxe platter, a tasting paddle, glass of wine or a local beer.
The Kangaroo Island vineyard was established by Julie and Jamie Helyar in 1999 with North Facing Slopes, Terra Rosa soils over Limestone, cool climate along with sustainable practices creating the ideal conditions for producing great quality grapes and wine.
Their latest releases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot and Riesling continue to impress, all receiving 94 points from James Halliday Wine Companion 2023.Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery and Cafe
Nestled in the bush, Emu Ridge Cafe is a hidden gem offering a great casual dining experience using our region's local produce. We serve delicious breakfast, lunch, along with award-winning locally roasted barista coffee and in-house cakes.
Emu Ridge Café is perfectly situated for island exploring, just 15 minutes from Kingscote, American River, and Parndana.
Catering to all hungry diners, we provide options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and special dietary requirements. To complement their dining areas, Emu Ridge Cafe offer a fully licensed bar with a good selection of local beer, ciders, spirits, and wine. Food and drinks are also available for takeaway.
Local Art, Craft & Produce
Our Own Natural Products
Tours
KI Ciders Cellar Door: Emu Ridge is the Cellar Door for Kangaroo Island Ciders.
Tasting presentations and sales of the award-winning cider are available.
Cafe
Family-Friendly
Pet-Friendly
Picnic and Kids Play Area
The cafe offers three different dining experiences, plus a picnic and nature play area where you can enjoy their delicious food and drinks.Tirage on Kangaroo Island -
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Day two
Emu Bay Lavender Farm
Emu Bay Lavender is a charming farm gate cafe nestled among picturesque rows of lavender, where they craft a variety of lavender products right on site. The cafe is renowned for its indulgent oversized lavender scones and artisanal handmade ice cream. The cafe serves up a delectable breakfast and lunch menu featuring fresh and flavorful dishes that are sure to delight your taste buds. With a full liquor license, and their cocktail list featuring their own range of Lavender Gin and Limoncello, along with several other stand out local drinks offerings. Join Emu Bay Lavender for a delightful culinary experience surrounded by the beauty and fragrance of lavender fields on Kangaroo Island.Springs Road Kangaroo Island
Springs Road runs East-West across the Northern part of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Spring Road Vineyard was established in 1994 on a small sheep property about 7 kilometres west of Kingscote.
Springs Road Wines is owned and operated by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith from McLaren Vale's Battle of Bosworth Wines.
Wines are 100% estate-grown and hand-made from the low-yielding vines which are now well over 20 years old.
The Springs Road wine label is adapted from Louis Freycinet's 1808 map of Southern Australia, 'Terre Napoléon.'
They make small volumes of Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and a Cabernet Sauvignon/ Shiraz blend.
Their Kangaroo Island wines are available at their cellar door located off Springs Road.The Fig Tree
The Fig Tree is not your traditional restaurant. It is a Mediterranean-inspired feast under the leaves of an ancient fig tree.
Foraged ingredients and local produce complemented by sensational South Australian wines. It is prepared by a passionate chef/owner whose love for this iconic location is expressed on every plate.
Sit back and relax as dappled sunlight dances with the summer breeze, the original dining atmosphere since antiquity. Set beside the white sands and shimmering waters of Snelling Beach, Kangaroo Island.
Bookings are essential for this unforgettable Kangaroo Island experience.The Pick and Shovel
Welcome to the Pick and Shovel, a boutique wine, whiskey, beer and cocktail bar located in the heart of Kingscote.
Come and enjoy the finest produce from across Kangaroo Island, Australia and the world over. The finest meats and cheeses available for bites.
Check out their socials for pictures and the latest. -
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Day three
Seal Bay
Bird flu and what it means for your visit
Seal Bay is open. View the sea lion colony from the boardwalk, with a roaming guide available along the way. Beach access is temporarily paused. No booking is required. Purchase tickets at the Visitor Centre.
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As Kangaroo Island's premier tourist attraction, the award-winning Seal Bay offers visitors an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Set your own pace on the 900 metre (return) wheelchair accessible boardwalk which meanders through the dunes to a number of viewing platforms. Boardwalk tour tickets can be purchased on-site at the Seal Bay Visitor Information centre. The boardwalk tour can be taken at any time while the park is open from 9am with the last entry at 4pm.
Seal Bay is a 45-minute drive from Kingscote.Vivonne Bay General Store
Vivonne Bay General Store and Bottle Shop is located on the beautiful South Coast of Kangaroo Island. They offer the famous KI Whiting Burger, along with other delicious food and coffee in a relaxed and friendly environment within their new dining areas.
The venue also stocks essential supplies such as fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, bread, fishing gear, and fuel. Their entire venue is licensed for customers to enjoy a drink either dine-in or take-away.Flinders Chase National Park
Flinders Chase National Park is essential for any Kangaroo Island adventure. This expansive wilderness features iconic Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and a long-nosed fur seal colony.
Perched on ancient rocky platforms above the sea, Remarkable Rocks’ surreal shapes and golden orange hues offer extraordinary photo opportunities. Admirals Arch at Cape du Couedic is not only an impressive rock arch, weathered over thousands of years, but also home to a colony of long-nosed fur seals.
Entry fees apply. Tickets can be purchased at the new visitor centre, which also houses The Rocks Café where you can enjoy a variety of food and drinks. NPWS staff are available in the park daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Drive carefully at all times, especially at dawn and dusk. Pack enough water and snacks for your visit, and leave no trace to support bushland recovery.Remarkable Rocks
Perched above the sea in Flinders Chase National Park, the impressive Remarkable Rocks form what appear to be a cluster of precariously balanced granite boulders.
This stunning work of nature has been shaped by the erosive forces of wind, sea spray and rain over some 500 million years. The golden orange lichen covering some of the rocks offers visitors wonderful photo opportunities at different times of the day. Interpretation signs share the story of how these intriguing rocks were formed.
There is a viewing platform providing a vantage point for disabled access. The area also provides an excellent vantage point for viewing the photogenic Casuarina Islets.Admirals Arch
Admirals Arch is a natural rock arch created by amazing forces of nature. It's situated within Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island. You can access the boardwalk around the cliff face which leads to a viewing platform overlooking the arch. The arch is sculpted by weathering and erosion from the sea over thousands of years.
To reach the arch there is a purpose-built boardwalk, it’s steep with steps at the end that take you to see the arch itself. If you can’t make it down to the arch, the scenery along the way is still well worth a journey along the boardwalk.
Fur-seals often play among the rocks. These dark brown seals feed at sea but return to land to rest and breed. In summer, each of the large males establishes a territory with a number of females. You can often see Fur-seal pups playing near the rock pools beneath the arch.
There is an interpretive centre at the park with more information, maps and ideas for walking and viewing wildlife nearby.
You can also stay nearby in the heritage lighthouse cottages at Cape de Couedic. These have been beautifully restored with modern facilities.Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Welcome to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a privately-owned conservancy focused on providing habitat for native animals to live in the wild. The 5000 acre Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the western end of Kangaroo Island, between the Kelly Hill Caves Conservation Park and the Flinders Chase National Park. It is bordered by over 100,000 acres of protected wilderness lands and the Great Southern Ocean.
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is pleased to offer you self-contained cabins with truly spectacular wilderness views of the beautiful turquoise waters of Hanson Bay.
They also offer guided nocturnal tours and guided daytime walks of the Sanctuary so you can experience Australian native marsupials up "close and personal".
The Koala Walk is open every day (except Christmas) and is recognised as the best place on Kangaroo Island to see a sustainable population of Koalas in the wild.
The Sanctuary is also a bird watchers paradise - with resident Blue Wrens, Lorikeets, Crimson Rosellas, Black Cockatoos, Bush Stone-Curlews, Crescent Honey-eaters, and Cape Barren Geese.
They are for pre-booked guided tours only. Tours run most days at 10.30 am, 2.30 pm and sunset. See website for details. Please call or text for last-minute availability.Parsons Restaurant
Enjoy the relaxed vibe of Parsons Restaurant, located in the Chapman Building of the Ozone Hotel Kangaroo Island in Kingscote.
Parsons Restaurant offers menus showcasing a variety of dishes, giving guests more opportunities to sample the best of Kangaroo Island produce. Lunch is served bistro style with meals ordered at the counter. The restaurant is perfect for a peaceful family meal or that romantic dinner.
Rest your feet after a day of exploring the island or perhaps before taking a stroll along Kingscote Wharf. Coffee, tea, and other refreshments are available throughout the day, ideal for those seeking a chance to unwind.
Daily specials are displayed at the counter, just ask one of their friendly staff.
A take-away bottle shop is situated next door and offers a selection of fine South Australian wine and spirits. -
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Day four
Cactus Kangaroo IslandClifford's Honey Farm
Clifford's Honey Farm is Dave and Jenny Clifford's family business with three generations currently working at the farm situated at Elsegood Road, Haines, Kangaroo Island.
Dave started with a couple of hives as a hobby in 1973. During the late 1980's when the wool prices dropped, Dave and Jenny diversified their sheep farm by expanding the honey business. They opened the farm gate shop in 1993.
The family runs the honey production business and farm gate.
They are open daily operating their farm gate store and free entry to bee information display room.
Free honey tastings are available.
The online shop is available, and you will find a selection of their quality honey and a range of products they can mail order.
Their facilities also include ramps and disabled access toilets.Kangaroo Island Oysters
KI Oysters is a family-owned and operated oyster farming business situated in the picturesque fishing village of American River on Kangaroo Island. Their oysters are cultivated sustainably within the island's pristine waters, guaranteeing exceptional taste and freshness.
Committed to excellence, KI Oysters seamlessly blends traditional farming techniques with innovative practices, resulting in a premium product that authentically reflects the unique flavors of their local environment.
The farm offers both freshly shucked and whole shell oysters along with fresh and frozen local seafood at their convenient Blue Oyster farm gate shop.Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail
The Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail is the region's leading cultural art attraction, owned and managed through the work of community volunteers.
The trail's sculptures capture the unique story of Kangaroo Island, its natural environment and its community, providing a unique cultural experience for visitors and residents alike.
Located in the heart of the coastal village of Penneshaw, just a few minute's walk from the Penneshaw Jetty, opposite beautiful Hog Bay Beach, The Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail is a fun, free and family-friendly experience offering original artwork in a beautiful native setting.
Come for a wander through the stunning trail, following the contours of the natural environment. Explore the many surprises, scenic lookouts, ancient vegetation and the stunning ravine walls.
Your donation to the trail helps our volunteers grow our trail's art collection.
The trail is 1.5 kms in length; an easy walk but with some steps so is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs.
The trail is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Trail markers with maps are situated within the trail to help you select your route.Penneshaw Pub
The Penneshaw Pub has been the home of beer and cheer for over 100 years and offers uninterrupted ocean views over Backstairs Passage from a cliff-top on the western side of town.
Whether it's a special occasion or a memorable dining experience, the venue is the perfect setting, offering a coastal and countryside atmosphere.
Enjoy their diverse menu of fresh, locally inspired coastal and classic dishes that cater to the whole family. Dine indoors, alfresco, or at the cozy front bar, and if you prefer takeaway, all meals are available to enjoy on the go.
The Penneshaw Pub serves up a vast array of local, Australian, and international wines and have over 100 years of experience pouring the perfect pint.
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Head to their website to make a reservation. -
That's a wrap
Four days travelling from east to west across Kangaroo Island reveals just how closely the Island's food, people and landscapes are connected. From family vineyards and farm gates to fresh seafood, leisurely lunches and wild coastal wonders, each stop offers another insight into the flavours and stories that make this place special. Along the way, it's the conversations with local producers, the changing scenery and the pleasure of slowing down that stay with you. And as you leave the Island behind, you'll take home more than a collection of memorable meals. You'll carry a little of Island Life with you, and perhaps a few reasons to return.
