Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch on a Kangaroo Island tour
The west end of Kangaroo Island holds its two most photographed sights, a cluster of weathered granite boulders and a sea arch with fur seals below. Both sit inside Flinders Chase National Park, a long drive from the ferry. Three tours on our shortlist go there and include park entry.
Where Flinders Chase sits
Flinders Chase National Park covers the far western end of Kangaroo Island. From Penneshaw, where the ferry lands, it is about 2 hours by road, and Kingscote saves only part of that drive.
The distance shapes every tour that goes there. A day trip to the west end is mostly a long loop, with Seal Bay on the south coast as the usual stop on the way out or back.
The park protects a large block of native bush facing the Southern Ocean. Its two headline sights sit a short drive apart near the southwest corner, so tours see both in one visit.
Remarkable Rocks up close
Remarkable Rocks is a cluster of granite boulders perched on a dome of bare rock high above the sea. Wind, rain and salt spray have hollowed them into curved shells and caves you can walk around and partly into.
Orange lichen covers much of the granite and glows in low sun. The photo below looks out to sea through one of the hollows, which is the shot most visitors line up for.
From the car park a boardwalk leads out to the dome, and from there you walk on the rock itself. Give yourself time to circle the boulders, since each side shows a different shape.
The granite gets slippery when wet, and the dome slopes toward a drop to the sea. Wear shoes with real grip and keep children close to you.
Wind at the edge of the island
Nothing stands between the rocks and the Southern Ocean, so wind is the normal state here. Even on a warm day it can feel cold on the dome, and gusts can pull a hat or a phone out of your hand.
Bring a windproof layer whatever the month, and hold your camera with both hands near the edge. Our guide to the best months covers the calmer and the wilder stretches of the year.
Admirals Arch and the fur seals
Admirals Arch is a rock arch at the edge of the sea near Cape du Couedic. A boardwalk winds down the cliff to a viewing platform, and from there you look through the arch toward the open ocean.
Long-nosed fur seals use the rocks below as a resting place, lying in the sun or sliding into the swell. They are a different species from the sea lions at Seal Bay; our guide to nine island animals explains how to tell them apart.
The walk down includes steps, and you climb back up the same way. It is short, but plan for it if anyone in your group struggles with stairs.
The Cape du Couedic lighthouse stands on the headland above the arch. Tours pass it on the way down, and it makes a handy landmark in photos of the coast.
Two days, so the west end is not a dash
See Adelaide & Beyond spreads the island over two days, with Seal Bay, Little Sahara and Stokes Bay alongside both Flinders Chase sights. Park entry is included, and the night is in a shared bell tent. GetYourGuide shows 4.9 from 100+ reviews.
After the bushfires
The Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20 burned most of Flinders Chase. Large parts of the park turned black, and the visitor center and many walks closed.
The bush has been growing back since, and the visitor center and walks have reopened in stages. Not everything may be open on your day, so check what is open before you go.
The regrowth is part of the visit now. Green shoots on blackened trunks show how the bush recovers, and a good guide will point out what has come back.
The fires also hit wildlife hard across the west end, and recovery there is still a slow, patchy process. Some animals you might expect in thick bush are easier to find in the unburnt pockets, which local guides tend to know.
Which tours include the west end
| Tour | Starts from | Length | Park entry | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroo Island Trails | Your accommodation in Kingscote or Penneshaw | 8 hours (Viator) | Included | ~$287 |
| SeaLink day trip | Adelaide Central Bus Station | 16 hours | Included | ~$276 |
| See Adelaide & Beyond | Adelaide city hotels | 2 days | Included | ~$615 |
All three visit Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. What differs is how much travel surrounds the two stops, and how much time you get at each.
From Adelaide in one day, the SeaLink day trip from ~$276 spends most of its 16 hours on the coach and ferry. Our day trip guide walks through those hours.
If you are already on the island, the Kangaroo Island Trails tour from ~$287 collects you from your accommodation and keeps the group to 11 at most. That is the version we would book.
Two days with See Adelaide & Beyond from ~$615 leave more room at each stop, at the highest price on our list. Our page on one day or two weighs the extra night.
Driving there yourself
With a hire car you can reach both sights on your own and stay as long as you like. Park entry is charged, so check how to pay before you set off, since we do not list fees. Our price comparison shows what the tours fold in.
Fill the tank and pack food before you head west. A full return trip from Penneshaw is a long day behind the wheel, and two drivers make it easier. Aim to be off the roads by dusk, when kangaroos and wallabies start crossing in front of cars.