Kangaroo Island: Day Trips and Tours from Adelaide

Kangaroo Island is a nature lover’s dream and is located only a short distance away from mainland Australia.

Home to many native wildlife species including healthy populations of seals, sea lions and penguins, Kangaroo Island is a great place to see indigenous wildlife in its natural habitat.

A Kangaroo Island day trip from Adelaide promises an activity-packed adventure.

With visits to multiple natural areas and wildlife sanctuaries, local producers of honey and Eucalyptus oils, and stops at some of the island's galleries, museums and eateries.

Here's all you need to know about Kangaroo Island, one of the most fascinating destinations for day trips from Adelaide.

Where is Kangaroo Island located?

Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and is located off the shore of the state of South Australia, about 112 kilometers southwest of Adelaide.

From Adelaide to Kangaroo Island by car

You can travel to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide by car along the M2 and B23 with a ferry trip between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. The 210 kilometer road journey and water crossing will take around 3.5 hours.

From Adelaide to Kangaroo Island by ferry

If you plan on hiring a car on the island or joining a guided tour, you can catch one of two ferries from Adelaide. A ferry trip takes roughly 45 minutes.

There is also a fast ferry that runs between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. This trip takes 30 minutes.

From Adelaide to Kangaroo Island by air

National and regional airlines offer flights to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide and other Australian cities. A flight from Adelaide takes 30 minutes.

Guided tour to Kangaroo Island

Full day and multi-day coach, small-group and private tours to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide are available.

A day tour can last as long as 16 hours while multi-day excursions range from overnight tours to 6-day trips that include one or two nights on Kangaroo Island.

Some guided tours collect guests from selected Adelaide hotels and other central meeting points in the city. Other tours depart from the ferry terminal in Adelaide or begin at the Penneshaw ferry terminal on Kangaroo Island.

What is the typical itinerary?

A Kangaroo Island day tour begins with an Adelaide pickup at your hotel or central meeting point. After a ferry crossing the tour will commence with visits to some of the island’s wildlife sanctuaries, conservation areas and top natural landmarks.

Tours include a lunch stop and you may have time to visit a gallery or museum and shop for souvenirs. After a full day circumnavigating the island, you will catch a return ferry and be dropped back off in Adelaide.

What kinds of tours are available?

Several different types of excursions travel to Kangaroo Island. Here are some of the most popular trips from Adelaide:

Full day guided coach tours to Kangaroo Island

On a full day guided coach tour from Adelaide, you are collected from your hotel or a designated meeting point to join your group on a Kangaroo Island tour.

The tour includes Seal Bay Conservation Park, Flinders Chase National Park and Admirals Arch.

There will be time for a guided nature walk as well as a stop for a delicious 2-course meal.

Your tour will end back in Adelaide late in the evening after the return journey.

Full day guided small-group four-wheel-drive tours to Kangaroo Island

A small-group guided tour by four-wheel-drive is perfect for exploring the unspoiled bushlands on Kangaroo Island. With your fellow tour members and an experienced guide, you can visit remote beaches and take bush walks.

After a visit to the Seal Bay Conservation Park for a guided tour, a gourmet picnic lunch paired with some refreshing Australian wines awaits.

The tour ends back at the start point in Adelaide.

Full day private guided tours to Kangaroo Island

Full day private guided tours allow you to tailor your visit to Kangaroo Island.

You are collected from your Adelaide hotel and transferred to the island to spend the day looking for wildlife, exploring the coastal waters or wandering through the galleries, museums, and places of interest.

Kangaroo Island restaurants offer fresh and locally sourced menu items and you will be spoiled for choice when deciding where to have lunch.

After a full day visiting this nature-lovers paradise your guide will drive you back to Adelaide and drop you at your hotel.

Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari from Adelaide

A Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari is a family-friendly boat-based adventure. On this tour, you will travel along the Kangaroo Island coastline in search of marine life including dolphins, seals and sea birds.

2-Day guided tour to Kangaroo Island

A 2-day guided tour from Adelaide gives visitors time to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, observe land and marine wildlife and sample the fresh produce and wines available.

With an overnight stay in Penneshaw, Kingscote or American river, visitors can enjoy the island’s galleries, museums and sculpture trails without sacrificing any sightseeing time.

Multi-day trip to Adelaide plus Kangaroo Island

South Australia is home to the famous Barossa Valley winelands and participants on this multi-day tour will visit some of the area’s finest wineries for tastings. An Adelaide city tour is included in the itinerary as is a 2-day tour of Kangaroo Island.

There is ample time to visit renowned museums that showcase noted Indigenous art and natural history. Breakfast and lunch are included in the package, but dinner is under your own arrangements.

How much does a tour to Kangaroo Island cost?

A Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari costs US$60 per adult and US$40 per child aged 3-12. This price includes a spray jacket and life-vest but excludes the cost of the ferry from Adelaide to Penneshaw where the ocean tour begins.

Full day guided coach tours to Kangaroo Island start at US$220 per person and include entrance fees, an expert local guide and a 2-course lunch.

Full day guided small-group four-wheel-drive tours to Kangaroo Island cost in the region of US$500 per person and include a full day of bush exploration and a gourmet picnic lunch in the company of an expert guide.

Full day private guide tours to Kangaroo Island cost from US$400 per person but require a group of seven to eight people to operate.

Transport and the services of a private local guide are included but all other costs such as entry fees, meals and refreshments are for your own account.

2-Day guided tours to Kangaroo Island start at US$500 for coach tours in a group of no more than 30 people. This price includes all sightseeing, breakfast and lunches and overnight accommodation.

For a more personal small-group overnight experience and four-wheel-drive transport, expect to pay around US$900 per person.

Multi-day trips to Adelaide plus Kangaroo Island cost from US$2,100 per person and include all accommodation, certain activities and entrance fees, and transport by luxury coach. Meals and optional activities are not included in the price.

What will you see and do?

Kangaroo Island is one of Australia’s premier nature-based destinations and you can expect your tour to focus on this aspect of the destination.

The island itself has magnificent coastlines and spectacular geological formations. There are also colonies of large long-nose fur seals and sea lions to be seen.

At Seal Bay you can take a research tour, while at the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary you can join a guided tour to see some of the island’s fascinating wildlife.

There are also marine adventure tours where there is an excellent chance of seeing some of the large wild dolphin pods in the offshore waters.

Kangaroo Island has its own unique creative community and there are plenty of galleries, studios and markets and even a sculpture trail where visitors can view the works of local artists.

There are also several museums that show the island’s cultural, agricultural and maritime history and four lighthouses guide vessels safely through the island’s waters.

When is the best time to visit Kangaroo Island?

Depending on your reason for visiting Kangaroo Island, there are several good times to visit. In the springtime, the weather is mild and wildflowers are abundant.

In summer the beaches are at their best, while in the winter, migrating southern right whales pass by. Winter is also considered the best time to see new-born wallabies, kangaroos and koalas. Penguins begin nesting in the autumn months.

Travel tips

• Remember sunscreen and sun hats.
• Wear closed, comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring along a pair of binoculars.
• Pre-book your optional activities in advance to save time and guarantee your place.