Australia 17 - Adelaide & South Australia (Chapter)

(Romina) #1
Adel Aide & South Au

Str Ali A

KANGAROO

ISLAND

Adel Aide & South Au

Str Ali A

SLEEPING

Adel Aide & South Au

Str Ali A

KANGAROO

ISLAND

swimming with dolphins, visiting seal colo-
nies and access to remote areas of KI.


Cruising ̈Kangaroo ̈Island ̈ KAYAKING
(%0439  507  018;  www �cruisingkangarooisland�
com; hOct-Apr) Two- to three-hour kayak
paddles around choice KI coastal spots,
from $80 per person.


Alkirna ̈Nocturnal ̈Tours ̈ WILDLIFE
(%08-8553 7464; www �alkirna�com �au; hMar-
Jan) Nightly two-hour, naturalist-led tours
(adult/child $60/40) viewing nocturnal crit-
ters around American River.


Sealink ̈ SIGHTSEEING
(%13 13 01; www �sealink�com �au) The ferry com-
pany runs a range of KI-highlight coach
tours departing Adelaide (one/two days
from $248/516). 4WD tours also available.


4 ̈Sleeping


KI accommodation is expensive, adding in-
sult to your wallet’s injury after the pricey
ferry ride. Self-contained cottages, B&Bs
and beach houses charge from $150 per
night per double (usually two-night mini-
mum stay). There are some great camp
sites around the island though, plus a few
midrange motels. Quality caravan parks and
hostels are scarce. Accommodation booking
services include:


Gateway ̈Visitor ̈
Information ̈Centre ̈ ACCOMMODATIONSERVICES
(%1800  811  080;  www �tourkangarooisland�com �
au/accommodation)


Kangaroo ̈Island ̈Holiday ̈
Accommodation ̈ ACCOMMODATIONSERVICES
(%08  8553  9007; www �kangarooislandholidayac
commodation�com �au)


Sealink ̈ ACCOMMODATIONSERVICES
(%13  13  01;  www �sealink�com �au/kangaroo-island
-accommodation)

88 Information
ThemainGatewayVisitorInformationCentre
(p756)isinPenneshaw�ThereareATMsin
KingscoteandPenneshaw�Kangaroo Island
Hospital(%08-85534200;www�country
healthsa�sa �gov �au;TheEsplanade;h24hr)
isinKingscote�Islandmobilephonereception
ispatchyoutsidethemaintowns(bestwith
Telstra)�TherearesupermarketsatPenneshaw
andKingscote,andageneralstoreatAmerican
River �
Kangaroo Island Pass(www�environment�
sa �gov �au; adult/child/family$68/42/185)
Coversall park and conservationarea entry
fees, and ranger-guidedtoursat Seal Bay, Kelly
Hill Caves,Cape Bordaand Cape Willoughby�
Passesavailableonlineor at most sights�

88 Getting ̈There ̈& ̈Away


AIR
Regional Express(Rex;www�regionalexpress�
com �au)fliesdailybetweenAdelaideandKing-
scote(returnfrom$220)�

BUS
Sealinkoperatesamorningandafternoonbus
servicebetweenAdelaideCentralBusStation
andCapeJervis(returnadult/child$50/26,2¼
hoursoneway)�

FERRY
Sealink(%131301;www�sealink�com �au)oper-
atesacarferrybetweenCapeJervisandPenne-
shawonKI,withatleastthreeferrieseachway
daily(returnadult/childfrom$96/48,bicycles/
motorcycles/cars$22/58/280,45minutes
oneway)�Onedriverisincludedwiththevehicle
price(carsonly,notbikes)�

ALL ̈CREATURES ̈GREAT ̈& ̈ SMALL

You bump into a lot of wildlife on KI (sometimes literally). Kangaroos, wallabies, bandi-
coots and possums come out at night, especially in wilderness areas such as Flinders
Chase National Park. Koalas and the platypus were introduced to Flinders Chase in the
1920s when it was feared they would become extinct on the mainland. Echidnas mooch
around in the undergrowth, while goannas and tiger snakes keep KI suitably scaly.
Of the island’s 267 bird species, several are rare or endangered. One species − the
dwarf emu − has gone the way of the dodo. Glossy black cockatoos may soon follow it
out the door due to habitat depletion.
Offshore, dolphins and southern right whales are often seen cavorting in the waves,
and there are colonies of little penguins, New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions
here too.
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