Kangaroo Island 3 Day Itinerary: How to spend 3 EPIC days on Kangaroo Island
3 June 2022
This 3 day Kangaroo Island itinerary is based on the best experiences we had on the island.
Kangaroo Island was on my bucket list for almost a decade. For this reason, we spent 10 days on the island exploring it all during our van-life trip around Australia.
This itinerary covers all the best things we did on the island, such as swimming with the Dolphins with KI Marine Adventures, cuddling a koala at KI Wildlife Park, and watching the sunset with the seals in Flinders Chase National Park.
Read on to find out how to spend 3 days exploring Kangaroo Island!
Contents
Our Kangaroo Island 3 day itinerary
Day 1: Explore the west of Kangaroo Island: Penneshaw to American River
Prospect Hill
We caught the 9am Sealink Ferry and arrived on Kangaroo Island by 9.45am. The first thing we did was head straight to Prospect Hill.
If you want to stretch your legs first, you could walk the Sculpture Trail which is very close to the ferry. However, this is best done at dawn or dusk because the wallabies will join you on the trail then! So we’d recommend waiting until just before sunset, like we did.
Prospect Hill has 500 steps to the top, but the views are worth it and it’s the perfect way to see the island for the first time. Also, it’s one of the many frees thing to do in Kangaroo Island.
From the top, you’ll notice what’s so special about Kangaroo Island: pristine untouched natural landscapes. You’ll also be able to see your next stop: Pennington Bay.
Pennington Bay
Pennington Bay is absolutely stunning. It’s a short ~1km dirt road, but don’t let that put you off. It isn’t too bad. You just need to take it slow if you aren’t in a 4WD because it’s worth every penny. Take a stroll or dip on the beach, or read a book if you have one, and enjoy the view.
Then get back in the car for this Kangaroo Island self-drive itinerary.
Continue to American Bay and stop into The Oyster Farm Shop for a seafood platter for lunch. KI is known for its seafood, and this is one of the best places to get it.
Dudley Wines
Backtrack to Penneshaw and head to Dudley Wines for a wine tasting to really get yourself into holiday mode in the afternoon! It’s one of the best views you’ll ever have at a winery in Australia. Pack some playing cards, or practice your golf swing with their on-site “practice golf range”. Charlie enjoyed the wine so much that he finished it before I could even take this picture!
Optional: If you find you want to explore another winery, head over to False Cape Wines for another tasting. This place is super chic.
Penneshaw Beach
Head on back to Penneshaw beach for an afternoon stroll on the beach to the dome at Frenchmans Rock and take in the views of the mainland. Then, right before sunset, walk along the sculpture trail to see the wallabies out and about. Super cute!
Optional: you can also do a night-time penguin tour with Penneshaw Penguin Centre.
Day 2: Swim with the dolphins and cuddle the koalas!
This is by far our favourite day of our 3 day Kangaroo Island Itinerary. Prepare for one of the best dolphin swims you’re ever going to have in your life!
Whether you do a 3-day or 5-day itinerary on Kangaroo Island, this is our number one recommendation. We have swum with dolphins in New Zealand, Tanzania, and other parts of Australia, but this was by far the best dolphin experience we’ve ever had with KI Marine Adventures.
Book in for the early morning tour to make the most of your day. Regardless of the time though, you are pretty much guaranteed to not only see the Dolphins, but also experience them enjoying themselves along the tour that Andrew at KI Marine Adventures provides. We did not expect to see Dolphins coming so close to the boat and physically waving hello at us! They were honestly so happy to see us!
Make sure you ask Andrew why he made his tour the way that he did, and you will be so glad you joined it. Every single passenger on our tour gave it a 10/10!
For lunch: Cactus or Cafe Scrumptious
Afterwards, if you feel like an amazing coffee and (dare I say) Australia’s best squid salad for lunch, head to Cactus. I’ve been searching for a squid salad this good my entire whole life.
Alternatively, if you feel like one of the best pizza’s in South Australia, head over to Café Scrumptious!
KI Spirits
From here, get your gin-cap on because KI spirits is a MUST do on your Kangaroo Island itinerary. The time is now!
The mulberry gin is amazing, but you can even do cocktail classes if you wish (we kinda wish we did). We took some of the gin back to the mainland because you can’t leave KI without doing so if you’re a gin lover.
After your gin, get read to cuddle a koala!
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park koala cuddle
In the afternoon, head over to Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to cuddle a koala and have the marmosets literally run all over you. They have particular times for these experiences in the afternoon, so check them out here when you plan your KI trip. We did the 10.45am koala cuddle followed by the 11am marmoset experience, but they also have a few options in the afternoon so you won’t miss out.
From here, you can call it a day well spent and head back to your accommodation. We stayed at Ecopia Retreat which was super close.
Optional: If you want to get a final beach stroll in, head to Stokes Bay. It’s one of the more unique beaches on Kangaroo Island because you have to walk through this cool rock archway to get to it.
Day 3: Seal Bay to Flinders Chase National Park
Seal Bay Conversation Park
Continue this Kangaroo Island self-drive itinerary by making your way to Seal Bay Conservation Park. This truly unique experience is a guided tour along a beach populated with seals! Around May, new pups are born so if you are around during that time you might be able to see some seal pups.
We did not do this experience because we recently swam with seal pups in Port Lincoln. However, everyone says this is one of the must-do’s on KI.
Vivonne Bay
Continue onto Vivionne Bay for what is known to be KI’s most famous beach. It’s another free thing you can do on Kangaroo Island. It’s truly magical and is rated one of South Australia’s most beautiful beaches. (We spent two days here).
Optional: if you are looking for a more of an adventurous activity, check out KI Outdoor Action. They have quad bike tours, kayaking, sandboarding, and are rated the #1 TripAdvisor experience in Australia!
For lunch, stop into Vivionne Bay general store for one of KIs most famous meals – the whiting burger! It’s pretty freaking delicious.
Hanson Bay Beach
Stop off at Hanson Bay for a quick beach stroll. This spot will make you feel like you have Kangaroo Island all to yourself.
Flinders Chase National Park
Continue on to Flinders Chase National Park a few hours before sunset. If you have time walk to the Platypus Waterhole (as you might be able to spot a platypus). We went to Hanson Bay instead because the Platypus Waterhole was closed at the time we went due to the bushfires of 2020.
From there, continue to the Remarkables and Admirals Arch for sunset.
Admirals Arch is not to be missed for sunset. It looked pretty poor in the photos we saw online, but I think the photos have to be taken at the right time. Because it was one of the best places we’ve ever watched a sunset! (There are loads of seals just hanging around the area too.)
Where to stay on Kangaroo Island
We stayed in different spots as we were on the island for 10 days. For this 3-day itinerary on Kangaroo Island, below are our recommendations.
Camping on Kangaroo Island
Stay on a registered wildlife sanctuary!
If you’re looking for something a bit more luxury, we’d highly recommend staying at this gay-friendly registered wildlife sanctuary on Kangaroo Island: Ecopia Retreat. The scenery, the surrounds, and the retreat is one of the most epic stays we’ve ever had in Australia. You’ll likely see wallabies and wildlife from the window, and not only that, but Yaely and Robbie are such amazing LGBT+ allies and some of the nicest humans you’ll ever meet.
If you only have a 3-days to explore the island and are considering this luxury eco-retreat experience, we’d totally recommend swiping through the below post we made about Ecopia, and having a read of our caption by clicking the image. It is honestly the perfect place to stay on the island if you want somewhere to call home. Yaely and Robbie will absolutely take care of you, just like they took care of us.
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FAQs about your Kangaroo Island itinerary
Here are the most frequently asked questions we get for a Kangaroo Island self-drive itinerary.
What is Kangaroo Island known for?
Kangaroo Island is known for its abundance of wildlife and incredibly pristine natural landscapes.
What animals can be found on Kangaroo Island?
The animals that can be found on Kangaroo Island include: kangaroos, wallabies, penguins, echidnas, wombats, koalas, sea lions, seals, dolphins and many more animals.
Quokkas are not native to Kangaroo Island, but they have been introduced at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. Rottnest Island is the main destination you will find the quokka in its natural habitat.
Where can I see koalas on Kangaroo Island?
You are more likely to see koalas on the island at these four spots:
- Western KI Caravan Park – the koala was grunting all night in the tree next to our van.
- KI Wildlife Park – you can cuddle a koala here for $40.
- Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary – currently closed but very protective of the koalas.
- Ecopia Retreat – a luxury eco-retreat that has koalas around the property. One was grunting in the tree behind our villa the morning we left.
Do koalas on Kangaroo Island have chlamydia?
No. The koalas on Kangaroo Island are free of chlamydia, but yes, this is somehow is a common question people ask.
Can you see seals on Kangaroo Island?
Yes, you can see seals on Kangaroo Island. Here are the three spots you can see them:
- Seal Bay Conservation Park, dedicated to kangaroo island long-nosed fur seal. They lay on the sand here, and you can walk super close to them with a guided tour.
- Admirals Arch – you’ll find them lazing about on the rocks as you walk the ramp to Admiral’s Arch. This best time to visit is before sunset.
- KI Marine Adventures – this is a dolphin swim tour, but along the tour you’ll spot some seals along KI’s coastline.
Can you swim with sea lions on Kangaroo Island?
You can swim with the sea lions on Kangaroo Island, but we’d recommend swimming with the sea lions in Port Lincoln instead with Calypso Charters.
Are there dingoes on Kangaroo Island?
Dingoes are not native to Kangaroo Island. Puppy dingoes have been introduced to KI Wildlife Park, however this isn’t their natural home.
What is the size of Kangaroo Island?
Kangaroo Island is roughly the same size as Bali, or Long Island (New York). It covers over 4,500 square kilometres. Some people incorrectly think that Kangaroo island is a similar size to Singapore. That’s incorrect, as Kangaroo island is 7x bigger than Singapore!
Is Kangaroo Island the biggest island in Australia?
No. It is the third largest island in Australia. Tasmania is the biggest island in Australia, followed by Melville Island in the Northern Territory.
How many km is Kangaroo Island?
Kangaroo island has roughly 1,600km worth of road to drive from east to west on the Island. You can drive from one end to the other of Kangaroo island in roughly 2 hours.
What is the largest town on Kangaroo Island?
Kingscote is the biggest town on Kangaroo Island. It’s the islands main business and commercial hub, and has lots of activities, wineries, distilleries and beaches nearby to enjoy. You will explore this town during our 3-day Kangaroo Island Itinerary.
Who lives on Kangaroo Island?
What’s crazy is that Bali has a population of 4.2 million people, whereas Kangaroo Island has the population of 4,700. That’s how untouched and pristine the island is.
How long is the ferry to Kangaroo Island?
Does Kangaroo Island have taxis?
There are no taxis or uber on Kangaroo Island. You must bring your own vehicle across with the ferry, or hire a vehicle once you are on the island.
We took our van.
Can you swim on Kangaroo Island?
You can absolutely swim on KI. Home to some of South Australia’s best beaches, here’s some of Kangaroo Island’s best swimming beaches:
- Vivionne Bay
- Pennington Bay
- Hanson Bay
- Stokes Bay and Rockpools
Can you free camp on Kangaroo Island?
There are no designated free camp spots on Kangaroo Island. The campsites are relatively cheap however, e.g. Flinders Chase National Park was only $30per night, and it had koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and a short but lovely nature walk on site.
What is the best time to visit Kangaroo Island?
March to May is known to be the best time to visit Kangaroo Island. It’s less busy, and the days are usually still warm while the nights are cool. It is still the season to pack in all your adventures too, like swimming with Dolphins with KI Marine adventures.
Is Kangaroo Island worth visiting?
It is absolutely worth visiting Kangaroo Island. The wildlife, the nature, the solitude, the tours, and the food all make Kangaroo island such an enjoyable destination to visit.
Is there internet on Kangaroo Island?
There is internet on Kangaroo Island. You will have more access to internet if you are with Telstra.
See map of Telstra service on Kangaroo Island.
How many days should I spend on Kangaroo Island?
We’d recommend spending 3 days minimum on Kangaroo Island, which is why we’ve created this Kangaroo Island 3-day itinerary above.
What are the free things to do on Kangaroo Island?
If you’re looking for free things to do on Kangaroo Island, here’s a quick list:
- Climb Prospect Hill
- Stoll along Pennington Bay
- Walk and swim along Vivionne Bay Jetty
- Visit Stokes Bay
- Self-drive on Emu Bay
- Watch the sunset at Admiral Arch
- Search for Penguins after sunset at Emu Bay
- Walk the sculpture trail in Penneshaw at dawn or dusk to see wallabies
- Sit under the Dome on Penneshaw beach
What next?
If you love island life, check out our 3 favourite islands in Queensland for some inspiration for your next island adventure.
Otherwise, if you are heading back to Adelaide, check out Australia’s very first nude beach before hitting the best gay bars and clubs for a boogie!
Until next time,
Michael and Charlie
Greɑt article, totally what I wanted to find.