The essential experience.
A detail that changes the visit
Ferry or flight logistics and substantial road distances deserve spare time; wildlife is often active near roads.
For the curious reader
History, landscape and context.
Kangaroo Island (Kaurna: Karta Pintingga, lit. 'Island of the Dead'), known colloquially as KI, is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of Adelaide. Its closest point to the mainland is Snapper Point in Backstairs Passage, which is 13.5 km (8.4 mi) from the Fleurieu Peninsula. Receiving over 200,000 visitors annually, Kangaroo Island is one of Australia's most popular travel destinations, and was ranked as the second-best travel destination globally by Lonely Planet in 2024. The island has several nature reserves to protect the remnants of its natural vegetation and native animals, with the largest and best-known being Flinders Chase National Park at the western end.
Abridged background from Kangaroo Island, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.
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From inspiration to a practical plan
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- Boardwalks and short wildlife stops can be gentle; longer coastal paths and dune walks are more strenuous.
- The consequential detail
- Ferry or flight logistics and substantial road distances deserve spare time; wildlife is often active near roads.
Through the seasons
A place in the world.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthIn pictures.
Kangaroo Island’s sculptural coastal rocks meet habitats supporting its distinctive wildlife.
Follow the connection
Keep exploring.
Explore more places in the same country.
346 · Australia
Ikara and the Flinders Ranges
Folded ranges and a distinctive mountain basin reveal an ancient landscape with continuing Adnyamathanha significance.
334 · Australia
Great Ocean Road Coast
Eroding cliffs, sea stacks and headlands turn the southern ocean coastline into a sequence of geological encounters.
326 · Australia
Greater Blue Mountains
Forested plateaux and deep valleys create a landscape best understood through its sandstone structure and ecological variety.
Useful links and further reading.
Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.
Read · Wikipedia
Kangaroo Island: background reading
Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Visit · Wikivoyage
Find travel information for Kangaroo Island
A clearly labelled search of the community travel guide; check the page’s coverage and the age of practical details.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Books · WorldCat
Find books about Kangaroo Island
Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Photography · Wikimedia Commons
Find photographs of Kangaroo Island
Explore further photographs and their individual credits.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Maps · OpenStreetMap
Explore the local map
Inspect the surrounding area.
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