Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Arrive at Kingscote airport before 11.00am or catch the 6:45am bus from Adelaide to Cape Jervis and catch the ferry to Kangaroo Island. Please speak to us about what might be the best option for you. A private transfer to your accommodation puts you in a position, time-wise, to complete the first days walk of 12kms (this walk is on even ground and takes about 3 – 4  hours). Today you walk from the visitor’s centre to Rocky River and Snake lagoon through gorgeous eucalypt forest, via swampland and the Platypus pools. Stop for a moment at the rapids and rockpools along the way, and keep an eye out for the stacks of wildlife coming in to take a drink. Expect to see Cape Baron Geese, Wallabies and Kangaroos plus a whole lot more.

Walking: Easy to moderate/ 12km / 3 – 4hrs
Meals: Lunch and two-course dinner
Accommodation: Luxury Cabins at Western Kangaroo Island  Caravan Park with ensuites

From Rocky River, it’s a gentle walk down the river to the Southern Ocean. There’s nothing between here and the Southern Ocean; the wilder the weather, the bigger the show. The views of the massive swells crashing against the cliffs paired with the peacefulness of this splendid remote landscape sets the tone for the rest of the walk. From May to September there’s a chance you’ll see whales. The walk follows the coast both on the cliff tops and on the beach eventually heading in land via Hakea Campground to the other side of Cape de Couedic Peninsula. The walk via Weirs Cove and Cape de Couedic Lighthouse to Admirals Arch is one of the real highlights of the trail.

Walking: Moderate / 18.5km / 5.5 – 6.5hrs / 14km option is available
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch pack and 2-course dinner
Accommodation: Luxury Cabins at Western Kangaroo Island  Caravan Park with ensuites

Today’s walk starts in a thick Mallee Forrest and arrives at Remarkable Rocks about half way through the day, making it one of the best lunch destinations in the country. The granite boulders sculptured by the forces of nature have an artistic, almost surrealist feel to them, that would have made Salvadore Dali proud (if he had created them that is). Sanderson Bay and the remote Sanderson Beach is a very peaceful place to wait for your pick up if you are running early.

Walking: Moderate / 13km / 3.5 – 4.5hrs
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch pack and 2 course dinner
Accommodation: Luxury Cabins at Western Kangaroo Island  Caravan Park with ensuites

Today’s section is one of the best, if not the best. From Sanderson Bay, it’s back to the coast past Cape Young Husband. The coastal views are stupendous before heading off through cooler mallee and tea tree forest. Walk through to stunning Hanson Bay and your accommodation. Hanson Bay is one of the most beautiful places on the island. There’s a very safe bay or an estuary to take a swim, and there are additional beach walks on your doorstep if you feel so inclined. Depending on the time of year, there is likely to be hardly anyone here, so in the evening it’ll feel like having your own private beach.

Walking: Moderate / 11km / 3 – 4hrs
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch pack and 2 course dinner
Accommodation: Cabins at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary with ensuites

Walk out from your accommodation one of 2 ways. Back the way you came in yesterday, along the road and across the South West River on a very ingenious punt-like boat system. Or walk along the beach, over the sand hills and along the river to the same point. The track opens up to large natural grassland, thus the name and an abundance of birdlife. From here we walk around Grassdale Lagoon and then inland to Kelly Hill Caves, through a much taller gumtree forest, before meeting the Burgess Hike. There is a short side-trip here to the old entrance of Kelly Hill Caves. Lookout for the many craters which feed water into the caves below. At Kelly Hill Caves Visitor Centre pass through the iron ‘gate’, to mark the end of the 67km Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.

Walking: Easy to moderate / 11km / 3 – 4hrs
Meals: Breakfast, walkers lunch pack and 2 course dinner
Accommodation: Cabins at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary with ensuites

After breakfast, you will be transferred privately back to either the airport or the passenger ferry terminal, for your ferry journey back to Adelaide.

Meals: Breakfast