One of the most popular excursions from Adelaide is to Kangaroo Island, an important conservation site thanks to its remarkable wildlife and expanses of natural vegetation.
(Photo: SeaLink South Australia / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
While it’s possible to fly directly from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, the large majority of visitors make the journey via a comfortable 45-minute ferry. Once here, they are treated to an abundance of wildlife and natural beauty, including colonies of little penguins, sea lions, unusual rock formations, caves and sand dunes, and, of course, kangaroos. There are a wide number of organised Kangaroo Island tours available that start in Adelaide – and we’ve picked out 5 of the best below.
Kangaroo Island Full Day Experience by Ferry
Get an early morning start to catch the ferry from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island on this jam-packed day tour. On arrival, you’ll travel by coach to visit the sea lion colony at Seal Bay Conservation Park. There’ll also be a chance to walk the boardwalk down to rugged Admirals Arch and the Remarkable Rocks, both in Flinders Chase National Park. You may also be lucky enough to spot a whole host of amazing wild animals, including the unique echidna, wallabies, kangaroos and koalas. A two-course lunch at a restaurant in the Australian bush is also included in the tour price. You’ll return to Adelaide for late evening. From AUS$348 per person.
Kangaroo Island Wine and Dine Day Trip
(Photo: SeaLink South Australia / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Rather than seeking out the island’s natural beauty, this full-day tour focusses on its unique produce, with numerous opportunities for tastings. Try honey-infused ice cream and locally-produced honey, then later on sample some of the island’s alcoholic offerings. This includes a visit to Kangaroo Island Spirits, where gin, liqueurs and vodka are made, plus a tasting session at the acclaimed False Cape Wines. As with the previous tour, a restaurant lunch is provided, but tour guests may want to bring extra cash for dinner before the ferry and coach back to Adelaide. From AUS$348 per person.
Mount Lofty Descent Bike Tour from Adelaide
Experience the natural beauty of the Adelaide region with the wind in your hair on this four-hour downhill bike tour from the summit of Mount Lofty. In the company of an expert guide, you’ll start your bike ride at the highest point of the mountain ranges, where you can marvel at the panoramic views before hopping on your mountain bike and taking off down the hill. Along the way, you’ll make a stop at Cleland Wildlife Park to spot kangaroos and koalas, and stay energised with morning tea. Round-trip transportation by comfortable four-wheel drive vehicle from Adelaide to Mount Lofty is included in the tour price, along with your mountain bike and helmet. From AUS$146 per person.
2-Day Kangaroo Island Adventure Tour with return ferry
(Photo: SeaLink South Australia / Courtesy Viator)
If you like the idea of staying on Kangaroo Island overnight, this two-day tour could be for you. After collection in Adelaide, you’ll be transported to the ferry terminal for your short trip over to the island. Over the course of your two days here, you’ll get to enjoy coastal walks with a national park ranger, behind-the-scenes tours with local producers, and a visit to the Kangaroo Island wildlife sanctuary. Your overnight accommodation will be in a comfortable hotel. The tour price includes all transportation from and to Adelaide, all national park fees, your hotel, and two lunches. From AUS$904 per person.
3-Day Guided Kangaroo Island Wildlife Excursion
For a truly indulgent adventure, you might consider this extended three-day trip to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide. Over the course of the tour, you’ll get to enjoy a huge assortment of activities. Highlights will include taking a scenic coastal drive to Pennington Bay on the island’s south coast, tucking into lunch at one of the island’s most breathtaking beaches, cooling down in the turquoise waters, weaving our way through a labyrinth of caves and emerging at Stokes Bay, visiting Kangaroo Island’s first cellar-door microbrewery, and embarking on a nocturnal wildlife-spotting adventure. Included in the tour price are all activities and experience, two nights swag camping with facilities, and breakfasts, lunches and dinners on both of your first two days. On day three, you’ll be returned to Adelaide for mid-morning. From AUS$891 per person.