Vivid sapphire waters glistening in the sun, clear blue skies and a blanket of eucalyptus trees sprawled across the vibrant green rolling hills. These were the wonderful vistas that welcomed me as I approached Kangaroo Island. A Kangaroo Island weekend break is the perfect getaway for anyone in or around Adelaide, who is looking for a tranquil weekend break destination.

Kangaroo Island Weekend Break

Getting to Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is located two hours south of Adelaide, and there are only two ways to reach Kangaroo Island. You can either you can fly into Kingscote from Adelaide, or you can take the Kangaroo Island Sealink ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. For my visit we drove from Adelaide to Cape Jervis and took a car over on the Sealink Ferry. The price for a return ferry starts at $196 for a car and $98 per passenger, and takes just over 45 minutes.

Accommodation on a Kangaroo Island Weekend Break

There are plenty of places to stay on Kangaroo Island from luxury hotels and resorts, to small inns, guest houses, and house rentals. For our stay we rented a three bedroom house nestled on the side of a hill, just five minutes outside of Penneshaw, with breathtaking sea views. The property that we stayed in was called Sunset Rendezvous and prices start at $220 per night.

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We stayed for three nights over a weekend. The property had quite a quirky feel to it, with all rooms decorated completely differently, yet tastefully. The main living space is a split level room with high ceilings and panoramic views over the countryside and coastline. It also had a cosy wood burner, and doors which opened out to an alfresco dining area. There is also a second living area which is more of a games room with comfy sofas, pool table and a piano.

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Top Things to do on Kangaroo Island

Flinders Chase National Park

Located at the far end of Kangaroo Island, about 130 km from Penneshaw is the Flinders Chase National Park. When entering the park you are required to stop at the visitors centre to pay the entry to the park, this was $11pp. The park is extremely big, and you could easily spend a couple of days just exploring the park alone. However, for a quick visit there are a couple of must-see places such as Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks. Admirals Arch is located at the most south-westerly point of the Island, and is an impressive arch which has been carved into the rock by thousands of years of erosion. Kangaroo Island is known for its eclectic collection of wildlife, and the costal area which surrounds Admirals arch is home to a huge colony of New Zealand Fur Seals, which are found throughout southern Australia and New Zealand. Remarkable Rocks are located about 20 minutes drive from Admirals Arch, and were created after millions of years of wind, rain and waves eroding these giant granite boulders. They are impressive at any time of the day, but in the light of the early morning and at dusk they glow a burning orange in the light.

Kangaroo Island Spirits

For anyone who loves gin, vodka and liqueurs, Kangaroo Island Spirits should definitely be on your to do list for a Kangaroo Island weekend break. Kangaroo Island Spirits (KIS) is located about 10 minutes outside the islands capital, Kingscote. KIS produce five varieties of gin, four vodkas and seven Different liqueurs. Located behind the owners’ house, their cellar door is a small rustic building where you are more than welcome to try all of their handmade products, or just enjoy a coffee and soak up the atmosphere. If any of their products take your fancy, which I’m sure they will, you can purchase all their products on site and also on their website.

Hanson Bay

Not far from the Flinders Chase National Park, on the southern coast of the island, is the idyllic Hanson Bay. Whether you’re a beach lover, or you just enjoy a leisurely walk with stunning scenery, it’s harder to find a place on Kangaroo Island as beautiful as Hanson Bay. Hanson Bay is one place that should definitely not be missed while enjoying your Kangaroo Island weekend break.

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Bay of Shoals Wines

In my mind a weekend break is not complete without sampling some delicious wines, especially while in South Australia. There are a number of wineries on Kangaroo Island, but the one which I had been recommended to visit was Bay of Shoals Wines. Bay of Shoals Wines is, as you might expect, located in the Bay of Shoals, just minutes from Kingscote. For a small Island vineyard, Bay of Shoals Wines produces a huge range of wines. Unfortunately, not all of their wines were on their tasting menu, they only had about 12 wines available to taste. I didn’t sample all of the wines on their list, I just started with a few which I would normally try, and then sampled some which I wouldn’t usually go for. After I had finished my tasting session I did think that they had chosen a very good sample from their overall range. I am a big Shiraz lover, and I would highly recommend their full-bodied Hill Reserve Shiraz. I would also advise you not to miss their Riesling, something I wouldn’t normally go for, but a very pleasant surprise.

Would I Return to Kangaroo Island?

Absolutely yes! Kangaroo Island is the perfect destination for a peaceful weekend break if you live in, or are staying in the Adelaide region. I loved the quietness of the Island, the excitement of spotting the local wildlife everywhere you go, and also the non-commercialised setting. If you want to discover a true Australia, and want to get up close and personal to the indigenous species of the Island, then I’m sure you will love a Kangaroo Island weekend break as much as I did.