Ferry or flight to Kangaroo Island, and which tour fits
Kangaroo Island sits across a strait from the South Australian mainland, so every trip starts with a crossing. Two of the five tours we compare carry you over from Adelaide; the other three begin on the island. How you arrive decides which of them you can book.
Two ways across Backstairs Passage
The water between the mainland and the island is Backstairs Passage, and most visitors cross it on the SeaLink ferry. Boats run from Cape Jervis, at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula, to Penneshaw on the island's east end.
Cape Jervis is about 110 km (70 miles) from Adelaide, roughly two hours by road. The crossing itself takes about 45 minutes, though wind and swell can make it feel longer. Check the current timetable with the ferry company before you plan the day.
The other route is a flight from Adelaide to the small airport near Kingscote, the island's main town. It is a short hop, well under an hour in the air. You skip the drive to Cape Jervis, but you land without a car unless you arrange one.
Tours that carry you over from Adelaide
Without a car, two tours take care of the crossing for you. SeaLink's full day from Adelaide, from ~$276 includes the return coach and ferry, with a local driver-guide on the island. You meet at Adelaide Central Bus Station on Franklin Street at 6:30 am.
That convenience costs time. The day lasts about 16 hours, and a large share of it is spent on the coach and the boat. Our hour-by-hour look at the Adelaide day trip shows where those hours go.
See Adelaide & Beyond's two-day small-group tour, from ~$615, also covers the ferry, with pickup from central Adelaide hotels. Snacks and coffee on the boat are part of the deal. The overnight stay changes the ratio of travel to wildlife a good deal.
Tours that start on the island
Kangaroo Island Trails, our pick, runs a small-group day tour from ~$287 that collects you from your accommodation in Kingscote or Penneshaw. The ferry is not included. You need to be on the island before the tour starts.
The Viator listing highly recommends staying the night before, and that is sound advice. A morning ferry rarely lines up with a pickup, and a delayed boat would leave you watching the minibus go without you.
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary's guided koala walk, from ~$32, meets in the sanctuary car park at Karatta, near the west end. Nobody picks you up, so this one only works if you have a car. Our guide to wild koalas on the island explains why the drive pays off.
The safari boat by the ferry terminal
Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari leaves from Christmas Cove Marina in Penneshaw, a short walk from where the ferry docks. That location makes its 75-minute trip easy to fit around a crossing, either on the afternoon you arrive or before you sail back.
Fill the first or last afternoon
The 75-minute coastal safari starts beside the Penneshaw ferry terminal, so you can step off one boat and onto another. Food and hotel pickup are not included, and the boat is open to the spray.
Leave a sensible gap between the safari and your ferry in case the sea delays either one. Our dolphin cruise or swim guide compares this trip with the operator's longer snorkel outing.
Bring a car, or hire one on the island
The SeaLink ferry carries vehicles, so you can drive your own car or a mainland rental across. Some mainland rental companies do not allow their cars on the island, so read the terms before you book.
Car hire on the island itself is the other option, usually collected in Kingscote or near the ferry in Penneshaw. Distances are bigger than the map suggests. Penneshaw to Flinders Chase National Park is about two hours by road, and many side roads are unsealed.
Kangaroos and wallabies move at dusk, and collisions are common on island roads. Drive slowly after dark, or plan your days so you are back before sunset.
Which tour fits your arrival
| Tour | Crossing included | Starts from | Car needed | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroo Island Trails day tour | No | Your accommodation in Kingscote or Penneshaw | No | ~$287 |
| SeaLink day trip | Yes, coach and ferry | Adelaide Central Bus Station | No | ~$276 |
| See Adelaide & Beyond, two days | Yes | Adelaide CBD hotel pickup | No | ~$615 |
| Ocean Safari, 75 minutes | No | Christmas Cove Marina, Penneshaw | Not if you stay in Penneshaw | ~$62 |
| Hanson Bay koala walk | No | Sanctuary car park, Karatta | Yes | ~$32 |
Prices are per person and differ a little between the two booking sites, so compare both. The tour prices guide sets out what each fare covers.
Putting the trip in the right order
Book the crossing and your first night first, then the tour. Island beds and ferry seats fill early in the summer school holidays and at Easter, and a tour booked before you know your arrival time can leave you stranded.
- Arriving by ferry with a car, every tour that starts on the island works
- Flying in without a car, stay in Kingscote and book Kangaroo Island Trails, which picks you up
- No car and one free day in Adelaide, SeaLink's day trip handles everything
- With two days and no car, take the See Adelaide & Beyond tour
Strong wind can disrupt the crossing in winter. If your tour on the island is fixed, give yourself a spare evening on the island side rather than sailing over on the morning of the tour.
For the trade-off between one long day and an overnight stay, read one day or two on Kangaroo Island. The best time to go covers how the months change the sea and the crowds.