FAQ'S

Getting to Kangaroo Island is just the start of your adventure. Catch the ferry from Cape Jervis with SeaLink Kangaroo Island, or flights are available with Qantas from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport. Check out our dedicated page about Getting to Kangaroo Island.

If you are looking for picture-perfect landscapes, seasonal produce and ample wildlife-spotting opportunities, make the island a top holiday destination all year-round. As each season has its appeal, come more than once to experience all the highlights! You will find our guide to all of the seasons to help you plan the time of the year to visit.

The Island has so many Kangaroo Island accommodation options, every one of our Island Stays is unique. Plan what you will be doing, then look to where you might be best situated. It is highly recommended to book your ferry travel prior to booking your accommodation.

You can see SOME of it in a day, but we recommend longer so that you receive a better experience. Most guests who visit for Kangaroo Island day trip leave disappointed that they did not allow more time. If one day is all you have available, we will do the best to give you a memorable experience.

Our advice in this instance is to take a tour, that way you are relying on a local to show you all the icons as well as places of interest only a local can show you, and impart some of their knowledge and passion.

There is no traditional public transport or taxi/rideshare network on Kangaroo Island. Without your own vehicle, the best way to explore is by hiring a car or joining a guided tour with a local guide.

A shuttle bus meets the morning and evening ferry, travelling return from Kingscote twice per day. To book this service, visit: Peninsula Coaches

Absolutely! There's nothing we love better than sleeping under the stars on our beautiful island. Check out our essential Kangaroo Island Camping and Caravan Tips.

Many of Kangaroo Island's main roads are well-maintained and suitable for 2WD vehicles, making it accessible for a wide range of travelers. For those seeking more remote and rugged adventures on unsealed roads, a 2WD vehicle can still be used. However, it's essential to approach these routes cautiously and be prepared for varying road conditions.

Wildlife Caution: Kangaroo Island is renowned for its abundant wildlife. Keep an eye out for animals crossing roads, particularly at dawn and dusk. Drive cautiously and adhere to speed limits to protect both the animals and yourself.

There are six RAA Charge stations on Kangaroo Island, located in Penneshaw, Kingscote, and the Kangaroo Island Airport. To find their locations, visit: RAA Charge Station Locator

Elec­tric vehi­cle charg­ers are avail­able at the Flinders Chase Nation­al Park Vis­i­tor Cen­tre. Please note they are solar reliant, and there may be peri­ods of outages.

If required, 24 hour petrol is available at Kingscote, Penneshaw, American River and Western KI Caravan Park. Fuel is also available from Parndana and Vivonne Bay.

Yes, there is petrol available in the major towns including Penneshaw, Kingscote, American River, Parndana and Vivonne Bay.

Supermarkets are located in Penneshaw, Kingscote and Parndana. Local stores also have general supplies in Vivonne Bay and American River.

Telstra coverage is widely available across the Island; however, other carriers drop in and out, or have no reception. There is limited Optus, Vodafone and Telstra GSM digital coverage available from Kingscote to Penneshaw and adjacent areas. Visitors are advised to contact their mobile supplier for updated information. Public telephones are located at various locations around the island. It is advisable to download maps and resources if planning adventures to the western end of the island, where there is little to no mobile reception.

Kangaroo Island has medical, pharmacy and emergency services available, and a small hospital located in the main township of Kingscote.

As the Island is regional and travel distances can be significant, visitors are encouraged to bring any regular medications with them, plan ahead, and call 000 in an emergency.

Absolutely - the island has strict quarantine restrictions.

Kangaroo Island’s remoteness and isolation has created a special eco-environment, owing to its isolation from the mainland. The island has suffered less from the impact of European settlement and retains more than half of its native vegetation - a vast area of some 2,250 square kilometres.

What you cannot bring to Kangaroo Island:

• Bees, bee handling equipment and honey products
• Rabbits and foxes
• Unwashed or dirty potatoes
• Decalred weeds

Help us Keep Kangaroo Island Special and reading more about what items you cannot bring to the island.

Yes you can - however there are a few steps involved in this. Please read our guide: Travelling with pets on Kangaroo Island.

Rabbits and foxes are strictly prohibited on Kangaroo Island due to biosecurity reasons.

Cats taken to Kangaroo Island must be de-sexed and micro-chipped as required by KI Council. Read more about this here; Kangaroo Island Council Animal Management

It is important to note that all pets are not permitted into National or Conservation Parks on Kangaroo Island due to the wildlife in the area (assistance dogs are an exclusion). This also includes leaving your pet in the vehicle. Consider leaving them with a carer for the day.

For Kangaroo Island Bushfire Safer Place Maps:

KI Kingscote Bushfire Safer Place map

KI Penneshaw Bushfire Safer Place map

Bushfire Last Resort Refuges Locations:

Kangaroo Island Bushfire Last Resort Refuges map

You can obtain further information on the CFS website

Kangaroo Island is 4,416 square kilometers in size. Think 6 times larger than Singapore. It is approximately 155 kilometers long and 55 kilometers wide and is separated from the mainland by a 15 kilometer stretch of ocean called Backstairs Passage. It is deceivingly big, and there is quite a bit of distance between locations, so be prepared to stay longer than you think.

Summer - December to February

Average summer temperatures are 24°C (75°F) maximum and 14°C (57°F) minimum.

Autumn - March to May

Average autumn temperatures are 20°C (68°F) maximum and 13°C (55°F) minimum

Winter - June to August

Average winter temperatures are 15°C (59°F) maximum and 8°C (47°F) minimum

Spring - September to November

Average spring temperatures are 19°C (66°F) maximum and 11°C (52°F) minimum

Rain Water – Generally rainwater is safe to drink. If the rainwater is clear, has little taste or smell and is from a well-maintained system, it is probably and unlikely to cause illness for most users. If concerned, distilling the water before consumption can be achieved by bringing the rainwater to the boil.

Mains Water – SA Water provides reticulated water within the bounds of Middle River Water Supply that supplies the townships of Parndana and Kingscote. Also, from the Penneshaw Desalination Plant on Dudley Peninsula which supplies Penneshaw township. The combined systems supply water to around the half of the Kangaroo Island population.

According to the last Census in 2021, Kangaroo Island has a population of 4,894 people.