How to get to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide
There is no more beautiful and secluded place to holiday in Australia than Kangaroo Island. The stunning island off the coast of South Australia is a pristine nature reserve and the perfect getaway for lovers of nature and serenity. Being an island though, getting there is more than a simple drive.
Want to know how to get to Kangaroo Island? The trip there is part of the adventure. Here are your travel options.
The ferry
Catching the ferry is by far the most common and popular way for holiday makers to get to Kangaroo Island. SeaLink operates two ferries, the Sealion 2000 and the Spirit of Kangaroo Island. They both accommodate over three hundred passengers and up 50 cars as well as spaces for trailers and coaches.
Photo Credit : @alicekuersch (via Instagram)
They are both wheelchair accessible with televisions and WiFi on board, making them a comfortable, easy, and exciting way to get to Kangaroo Island. They also both also have dolphin viewing decks to check out the frisky marine mammals and even whales when the time of year is right.
Even though the crossing only takes around 45 minutes, there are still licensed cafes on board to keep you fed.
In the summer months, ferries cross ten times a day while in winter they do five or six crossings. The best accommodation sites on Kangaroo Island, like Emu Bay Holiday Homes, are happy to organise and book your ferry passage for you when you book your stay.
Boat
If you are a private boat owner, it is possible to get to Kangaroo Island yourself. Be aware though, the southern waters of the Backstairs Passage, the strait between the mainland and Kangaroo Island, are notoriously rough and difficult to navigate. Have a look at the list of shipwrecks in the Backstairs Passage on wikipedia.
Boating and sailing around the island, on the other hand, is superb. For all but the most daring boating enthusiasts it is a better option to book trailer space on the ferry. This way you can safely enjoy boating around the island and leave the dangerous crossing to the ferries.
Kangaroo Island: Getting there by plane
Planes are available, leaving from Adelaide, for those less fond of the sea. When going to Kangaroo Island, getting there by plane is naturally a lot quicker than the ferry ride but it comes at a cost. Flights are more expensive than the ferry and you don’t have the option of bringing your own vehicle.
Photo Credit : @fluroman_photograohy (via Instagram)
At 4,405 km², Kangaroo Island is not easily walkable so those who arrive by plane will need to rely on a hire vehicle or private tours. For the differently abled though, it is a good option if you can spare the expense and aren’t planning on driving anyway.
Swim
For the truly intrepid, it is possible to swim across the Backstairs Passage as a way to get to Kangaroo Island. Don’t get too set on it though! Records of successful swims are few and far between. The waters are cold and rough and patrolled by huge great white sharks. The most recent attempt, in 2019, had to be pulled up short less than two kms from the finish thanks to a 4m white shark eyeing up the swimmers. Eek!
Don’t attempt this without a crew and lots and lots of training. It is much better to catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island and have a swim at Emu Bay when you get there instead.
Getting to Kangaroo Island: We can book
When you book with Emu Bay Holiday Homes, we can take care of your ferry travel arrangements, with no extra fee and even a discounted rate. Contact us or book via our website today to find out more.
