Kangaroo Island Virtual Tour

As parts of Kangaroo Island start opening up to explore following the covid-19 lockdown, get a taste for what’s on offer with our virtual tour of the island.

Step off the ferry from the mainland and explore Kangaroo Island with our virtual tour! This incredible island is a popular trip for travellers to Adelaide, offering extraordinary wildlife experiences and stunning natural scenery.

Australia’s third largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island, Kangaroo Island was settled in 1836. Aborigines once inhabited the island but appear to have left once it separated from the mainland around 10,000 years ago. It is home to some of Australia’s best-known animals including its namesake, the kangaroo, as well as wallabies, possums and echidnas. Koalas and platypus populations were introduced to the island where they have thrived.

Unfortunately, Kangaroo Island suffered the worst fires of its history earlier this year. Approximately a third of the island was burnt, including the famous Flinders Chase National Park. The island is recovering from the significant damage, but Flinders Chase remains closed and sadly some of the locations in our virtual tour won’t look the same now. Australian environment is adapted to and relies on fire for rejuvenation, and recovery will come slowly.

There are still plenty of reasons to visit Kangaroo Island, so get your virtual tickets ready and join us as we cross the waters from Cape Jervis to explore the island!

• Remarkable Rocks

  One of the most recognisable landmarks of Kangaroo Island are the aptly named Remarkable Rocks. These incredible granite boulders have been shaped by 500 million years of salty winds, rough seas and beating rain into the strange and unique forms we see today. Many of the rocks are covered by a bright orange lichen which adds to their extraordinary appearance, especially at sunrise and sunset when the colours are set off by the changing sky. Wander between the rocks and soak up the astonishing views of the surrounding cliffs and beaches.

  Unfortunately, the Remarkable Rocks were impacted by the 2020 bushfires, damaging much of the vegetation that surround the area. The extreme temperatures of the fires even cracked parts of the granite. While the scenery might not look like this right now, it will regenerate and recover in time.

• Admirals Arch

  Not far from the Remarkable Rocks is another unusual rock formation – Admiral’s Arch. Here the constant erosion from the pounding waves and weather have created a natural bridge through which we can peer through to the ocean. Follow the boardwalk to take in the sweeping ocean views, down to the viewing platform to admire the arch. On the way, you will probably spot some of the brown fur seals that call the area home. The fur seals hangout on the rocks below when they aren’t swimming in search of food. If you are lucky you might even spot some pups!

  While the Flinders Chase National Park where the Admirals Arch is located suffered extensive damage during the fires of 2020, incredibly the boardwalks here and the nearby lighthouse cottages were saved by the remarkable work of the firefighters. The vegetation that was saved is some of the only remaining in the park.

• Seal Bay

  Step onto the sands of Seal Bay for an unforgettable experience observing Australian sea lions in their natural habitat. Here you can admire the local inhabitants as they laze about on the sand or surf and play in the water. Home to the third largest colony in Australia, Seal Bay offers guided tours to take you down to the beach and wander amongst the marine mammals for amazing wildlife photo opportunities.

  Australian sealions are endemic to Australia and can be found all along the southern coast and islands from Western Australia to New South Wales. They prefer to make their home on sandy beaches and sheltered areas, where they can rest when they aren’t fishing for food out at sea. It’s easy to spot the difference between male and female sealions. Males can be up to twice the size of females and are usually dark brown with yellow areas around their neck and head, while females are smaller and lighter coloured with a creamy underbelly. Hopefully, you may even see some sealion pups!

• Little Sahara

  Thrill seekers will love our next stop at Little Sahara, where you can sandboard or toboggan down the naturally formed inland sand dunes for an awesome adrenaline rush. The sand dunes cover an area of two square kilometres, close to Vivonne Bay, and are constantly shifting and changing thanks to the ocean winds and erosion. Even if you aren’t keen on throwing yourself down a sandy hill, you can admire the impressive nature of this strange desert landscape on the island.

• Vivonne Bay

  Just down the road from Little Sahara sits one of Kangaroo Island’s, and Australia’s, top beaches. Vivonne Bay boasts a peaceful beach of turquoise waters and snow-white sand where you can laze about without worrying about being disturbed. Meander down the small jetty where boats head out for crayfishing and get some amazing photos of this peaceful spot or go for a swim in the refreshing waters of the Southern Ocean.

Related article: Why You Should Visit Kangaroo Island in Winter