Friendly Fauna and Fantastic Feasts

Penneshaw is a small township on Kangaroo Island, located a short45 minute ferry ride from the mainland port of Cape Jervis. The town overlooks Backstairs Passage, with mainland South Australia just 16 kilometres across the water. The Kangaroo Island Sealink ferries passengers from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw several times each day.

There’s lots to do on Kangaroo Island, and the beautiful beach at Penneshaw, known as Hog Bay, is a great place to begin any holiday. Here you can laze on the sand and enjoy a refreshing dip, while also enjoying the great picnic spots and barbecuing facilities available. It’s a perfect place for families to relax.

Penneshaw is also well-known for its colony of fairy penguins who waddle onto the beach every evening before bedding down in their burrows for the night. Guided tours are run nightly by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and depart just after sunset from the Penguin Interpretative Centre, located just beside the main ferry terminal.

Venture around Kangaroo Island in your hire car

The penguins thrive here because conditions are perfect, with plenty of fish in the clean waters surrounding the island. Tourists are also kept at a safe distance from the penguins with a specially built raised viewing platform above the penguins’ route from the rocks to their cliffside burrows.

There’s plenty of other wildlife to be seen on Kangaroo Island and a rental car will get you where you need to go. Head for Seal Bay where’ll you’ll encounter a seal colony. Here you can watch these magnificent creatures go about their daily lives as they laze on the sand and feed in the water. While you’re here, why not pack a picnic blanket and head for the dunes for a spot of lunch overlooking the ocean.

There’s so much to do on Kangaroo Island. It’s a beautiful destination, rich with wildlife and lush landscape at every turn. Jump in a rental car and go exploring today.

A Quick Guide to Kangaroo Island

Right off the coast, southwest of Adelaide you will find the unspoiled beauty of Kangaroo Island. With more than a third of the island dedicated to nature reserves this is a place where natural splendour is given full reign to flourish. It’s out of the way location means that you won’t be crowded out by other tourists, and your willingness to go off the beaten track will reap rewards aplenty – whether its good food, spectacular natural wonders, local wildlife or total relaxation you’re craving you will find it all here. You wont regret hopping over here.

Seal Smiles

It's easy to guess what Seal Bay is famous for, but even pre-prepared you’re likely to be astounded by the number and variety of seals that call this place home during their season. In addition to the amusing antics of the seal residents you will also enjoy the absolutely spectacular beach and cliff scenery on offer here; white sand, blue waters and lush green foliage combine to make this spot utterly picture perfect. To see sea lions you’re going to want to head to Admiral’s arch – one of Kangaroo Island’s most iconic natural formations, it a truly spectacular open limestone cave fronting on to the surf. The sea lions call it home and you’ll wish you did too once you see its stunning natural beauty.

Vivonne Bay Beach Time

In an area like this there’s no shortage of beautiful beaches, but the best one on the island is generally considered to be Vivonne Bay. A combination of orange soil and white sand makes for spectacular contrast, and combined with the clear blue waters your holiday snaps will be the envy of all. Swim, enjoy the sun and enjoy the deep relaxation that only beaches can bring.

Say Cheese

The lush hills of the island have seen a number of amazing small cheese and dairy producers spring up, and they offer an array of enticements for visitors. Whether you want to learn the art of cheesemaking yourself or simply want to enjoy the very best creations of the local producers you will fine plenty to tempt your palate here.

Deep Dive at Kelly Caves

Kelly Hill Conservation Park is home to an extensive limestone cave system with spectacularly gorgeous formations. Join one of the guided tours on offer and get ready to be truly amazed at what you find. There are a number of caves suitable for all ages and fitness levels, but you want a real challenge, then strap on a head-torch and join one of the more adventurous tours – you will have the opportunity to crawl through smaller caverns to see the deeper, more unspoiled parts of the cave system.

Little Sahara Surfing

The towering white dunes of “Little Sahara” are spectacular to see, but they’re even more fun to ride – hire yourself a board or toboggan and challenge the dunes yourself – you are sure to have an exciting time. There are kid-friendly lower dunes or true daredevils can take on the highest ones.