There is a lot more than just Kangaroos on Kangaroo Island

Constituting the third largest island in Australia (behind Melville Island and Tasmania), Kangaroo Island is a truly remarkable place that can be found in the pleasant waters off the south-central coast of Australia.  It is a remarkable place full of natural beauty and brilliant activities that is only some 13 kilometers (8 miles) off the coast of South Australia’s FleurieuPeninsula, a short ferry ride that is most certainly well worth undertaking.

A unique characteristic of Kangaroo Island is the fact that approximately half of the island has never been cleared for development, but rather preserves the natural habitats which have been found there since time immemorial. It is no surprise, as a result, that Kangaroo Island is absolutely swarming with nature reserves and protected wildlife areas—amongst which it is definitely worth pointing out the Flinders Chase National Park, the Seal Bay Conservation Park, the Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area and the Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area (among others).

Kangaroo Island is most certainly big enough to offer visitors several days’ worth of activities and fun, and the scenic views which pop-up around every corner are absolutely guaranteed to take people’s breath away. One thing that has given the island a significant reputation is the fantastic rock formations which crop up here and there across the island, such as those forming atop the cliffs at FlindersChaseNational Park. These unique rock formations are just one example (and a darn good one at that) of the awe-inspiring natural beauty which abounds throughout the island.

Of course, the rocks aren’t only wonderful to behold from the surface; visitors are also recommended to get down beneath the surface and explore KangarooIsland’s spectacular cave systems. Take a trip down into the Kelly Hill Caves or one of the island’s other cave systems: you can participate in an ordinary tour, or if you’re of the more daring sort you can arrange for an adventure cave tour for reduced groups of people.

Another marvelous activity on Kangaroo Island is to simply behold the nightly waddling of the local penguins as they make their way from their ocean prowling waters to their rocky sleep spots on the coastline. There is a Penguin Centre located in the town of Kingscote (the largest population center on the island) which schedules regular tours to do just this, and which also includes a stop by the center’s aquarium which is teeming with exotic marine species.

For another fun getaway on Kangaroo Island, and a good place to catch a glimpse of the animals that give this place its name, visitors may head out to experience the massive sand dunes of Little Sahara, the island’s desert landscape. With 4x4 tours and the opportunity to do a little dune-boarding as well, an outing into this stunning desert will give you yet another perspective on the natural beauty and uniqueness of Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island also is distinguished as being the only place on earth where you can find a pure strain of Ligurian bees (from the Liguriaprovince of Italy), having originally been imported to the island in the late 1800s and remaining free from cross-breeding due to the remoteness of the island.  This little factoid may seem absolutely irrelevant, at least until you experience pure Ligurian honey for the first time—then you’ll really understand the significance of this peculiar phenomenon.  The locations on the island, such as the Cliffords Honey Farm, offer visitors the opportunity to get a taste of this magnificent honey, but a little too, and once again enjoy the brilliant natural surrounds.

Lastly, the island’s several lighthouses offer visitors a fun and enjoyable outing experience.  The CapeWilloughby lighthouse dates all the way back to the 1850s and is the oldest in the state of South Australia, clearly well worth a trip; the CapeBorda lighthouse, also built in the 1850s, draws a good crowd of visitors on a regular basis as well.  Pretty much all of the island’s lighthouses, even these very old ones, are still functional on KangarooIsland.

There are many different KangarooIsland accommodation options to be chosen from, ranging from bare-bones backpacker digs to upscale resorts and retreats.  Most options are typical hotel/motel establishments, nothing too fancy and yet not too rustic; when surrounded by such a wonderful natural setting, it’s just not necessary!