THE HISTORICAL TRIVIA
Looking at a map of Kangaroo Island, you
cannot help but wonder about the coexistent
mix of French and English names given to
locations on the island. Turns out, there’s
history to be told there. In early 1800s, both
Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin met in
Encounter Bay, just off Victor Harbor, while
mapping and charting the areas around
Kangaroo Island. After this meeting they
decided to split the workload, with Nicolas
Baudin mapping most of the South Coast of the
island, and Flinders – the North. That gave the
island it’s unique naming combination, clearly
present to this day.
ZOO WITHOUT FENCES
This is how locals refer to the island, and
rightfully so. The island really is a saturated
microcosm of what you see around the
mainland of Australia. From countless
kangaroos and copious birdlife to shy echidnas
and curious dolphins, the island is swarmed
with wildlife.
ALL ABOARD
For the lovers of marine life, a boat tour
is a must. Spotting bottlenose dolphins
is no challenge around KI, as many pods
permanently live in the area. Their curious
nature brings them straight to the boat where
lucky tourists get to view these mammals’
playful nature up close and personal. Dolphins
also enjoy a bit of a play in the swell coming off
the boat, so it’s not rare that pods will follow
you around the ocean for a few kilometres
before waiving their tails to say goodbye.
Other sea mammals to keep an eye out for
are Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur
seals. They are best spotted closer to shore,
Kelly Hill limestone caves
A dolphin cavorts in the
ferry's wakeHome to an abundance of
marine faunaTHE PERFECT SOUVENIR
FORGET FRIDGE magnets! One of the best things to
bring from KI is actually eatable and doesn’t spoil.
That’s right – it’s honey. The fact is, Kangaroo Island is
home to the most pure strain of Ligurian bees in the
world, that are known for producing premium quality
honey with increased health benefits. The Ligurian
bees are not native to KI though, they came from Italy
in the late eighteen hundreds. However, disease and
cross breeding has since wiped the original bees colony
in Italy, leaving Kangaroo Island to be the only home to
these unique species. Anna, a yoga master, executes a pose whilegazing out over the southern horizonADVENTURESa arooand,“ It is also a perfect place
to enjoy a sunset. ”