Kangaroo Island + Fleurieu Peninsula - Introduction

Kangaroo Island is 120 km south west of Adelaide and it is accessed by vehicle and passenger ferry from Cape Jervis on the end of the Fleurieu Peninsula. There are also flights from Adelaide to the island.
Kangaroo Island is renowned for its superb wildlife and beautiful, unspoiled scenery.  The Fleurieu Peninsula is a pretty, mainly unspoiled rural area with uncommercialised beaches and pleasant countryside.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is accessed by Sealink ferry from Cape Jervis, a 120 km drive south west of Adelaide, on the end of the Fleurieu Peninsula. The passenger and vehicle ferries run to Penneshaw on the island (about a 40 minute crossing). There are also domestic flights from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island and vehicles can be hired on the island.The main towns on the island are Kingscote, American River, Parndana and Penneshaw.
The island is well known for its wildlife and beautiful, unspoiled scenery.  A growing number of small, local tour operators run nature based trips around the island. In the west of the island is the Flinders Chase National Park www.parks.sa.gov.au/flinderschase stretching all the way down the western coast from Cape Borda to Cape du Couedic. The park has walking trails to suit most abilities, camping and fishing and diving opportunities. Spectacular natural features of the island include Admiral's Arch, Remarkable Rocks (pictured), Kelly Hill Caves and Seal Bay, where you can see a breeding colony of sea lions at close quarters.
As well as more traditional seaside hotels in the towns, there is a growing number of bed and breakfasts. Many country properties in lovely locations are now creating upmarket 'retreat' style accommodation, often combining this with personalised touring.
Late spring and summer are the best times to visit Kangaroo Island.

Fleurieu Peninsula

The Fleurieu Peninsula is just over an hour's drive from central Adelaide.  It is a predominately an unspoiled rural area with a highly attractive coastline.  Cape Jervis on its tip is the departure point for the ferries to Kangaroo Island and Goolwa, where the River Murray finally reaches the sea, is on the peninsula's eastern edge.
Victor Harbor and Port Elliot are the main seaside towns. In the south west of the peninsula is Deep Creek Conservation Park www.parks.sa.gov.au/deepcreek for walking (as pictured), camping, wildlife spotting and wonderful coastal scenery. The Fleurieu has lovely uncommercialised beaches and pleasant countryside, well served by a network of country roads. 
There are plenty of bed and breakfasts, self contained (self catering) cottages and camping parks which also have cabins, particularly around:

Aldinga Beach	Carrickalinga	Christies Beach	Clayton Bay
Goolwa	Port Elliot	Victor Harbor

The adjoining vineyard areas of Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale also have accommodation and of course, cellar door outlets with restaurants - see Adelaide and Nearby
Goolwa is the gateway to the neighbouring Coorong National Park www.parks.sa.gov.au/coorong with its lagoon and labyrinth of waterways, backed by Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.
Various Murray River and Coorong trips (pictured) depart from Goolwa, both day trips and longer cruises - see our section on Cruising