Reach Kangaroo Island via Ferry! Here you can find incredible landscapes, rich Austrlian culture and of course, a thriving home for Kangaroos, Koalas and Seals.
We'll experience the natural wonders of Remarkable Rocks, watch playful Australian Sea Lions and New Zealand fur seals in their natural habitat and enjoy some the freshest air in the world while exploring Flinders Chase National Park.
Days
- 1 day
Group size
- 2 to 48
Start / finish
- Adelaide / Adelaide, or Penneshaw / Penneshaw
- Adelaide, at the end of a 16 hour day
Return
- Adelaide, at the end of a 16 hour day
Transport
- A coach with an experienced guide, and the ferry across to Kangaroo Island. Hotel pick-up and drop-off, all transport and the ferry pass are included. From Adelaide it is a 16 hour day, with time to rest on the ferry and between stops.
Meals
- A two course lunch, main and dessert, at the Vivonne Bay Bistro on the island's south coast.
Route
Included experiences
- Seal Bay Conservation Park — a guided beach walk among Australian sea lions, led by a Parks officer
- Remarkable Rocks — granite boulders weathered into strange shapes on a dome above the sea
- Admirals Arch — a sea-carved arch below Cape du Couedic, with long-nosed fur seals below it
- Flinders Chase National Park — bush regenerating after the 2020 fires, with echidnas, wallabies and koalas
- Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park — hand-feeding kangaroos and wallabies, and a keeper talk on the koalas
- Vivonne Bay — lunch on the south coast
- Optional — holding a koala for a photo, at extra cost
Pictures / Videos
Itinerary
Welcome to Kangaroo Island!
Your tour will include the following:
1. Seal Bay Conservation Park (beach walk amongst the Australian sea lions) Seal Bay is the home of the Australian sea lion and the third largest breeding colony in Australia. You will have the opportunity to see these creatures close-up, swimming in the surf or basking in the sand. Seal Bay is a conservation park and you will be taken down onto the beach by a Parks Interpretative Officer. Take your camera with you, as this is a unique opportunity to walk on the beach with these animals.
2. Vivonne Bay Bistro (lunch) Enjoy a delicious two course lunch (main and dessert) at Vivonne Bay Bistro, located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island.
3. Flinders Chase National Park Spend the afternoon in the Flinders Chase National Park, which was devastated by the worst fire to ever hit the island in January 2020. You’ll see that the regeneration of the native bush occurs so quickly after the event and there will be many opportunities to take photos. As you travel through the park, keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles, and koalas.
4. Remarkable Rocks Remarkable Rocks are a cluster of granite boulders, sculpted by the weather and perched on a granite dome rising steeply from the ocean. You can take a walk around these huge rocks that have been carved into many different weird and wonderful shapes by the wind and the ocean spray over many centuries. Please be very careful and do not go beyond the ‘Danger’ signs. Winds can be very strong and the rocks are slippery when wet.
5. Admirals Arch A steep, but short walk from Cape du Couedic lighthouse is a spectacular natural Arch formed by erosion from the pounding sea. This area is the breeding ground of a colony of Long-nosed Fur Seals. You will see them frolicking in the water and on the rocks under the Arch. Please take care when walking down to the Arch as the winds can be very strong and the path slippery. Please do not leave the pathway. 6. Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (guided tour to see kangaroos and koalas) The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park is located in the heartland of Kangaroo Island. Here you will be taken on a short guided tour to walk amongst kangaroos and wallabies where you’ll have the opportunity to hand feed them. You’ll also get up close to the Kangaroo Island koalas while listening to the keeper talk about the cuddly mammals. There is a photo opportunity to hold a koala for an additional cost.
6. Your last visit of the day is to the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to feed some kangaroos and get up close to the Kangaroo Island Koalas while listening to the Keeper talk about the cuddly mammals. There is also a possibility that you will see more kangaroos and wallabies on your return to Penneshaw for your return ferry and coach transfer back to Adelaide.
From Adelaide, this tour is a 16 hour day that includes travel to and from Kangaroo Island. You do get time to rest during your ferry transfers & coach travel between attractions. Or, if you have the time to spare, why not consider staying overnight on Kangaroo Island or going over the day before your tour!
Reviews
4.8
Based on 310 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 310 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the knowledgeable and friendly guides, the spectacular natural sights including Seal Bay's sea lions, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, and the opportunity to interact with wildlife such as kangaroos and koalas. The wildlife encounters stand out most often as highlights, particularly feeding kangaroos and holding koalas at the sanctuary, though some express concern about animal welfare in captivity. The most common caveat is that the tour involves a very long day with substantial travel time to and from Adelaide, typically departing around 6:00 to 6:45 am and returning after 10:00 pm, which many acknowledge as necessary given the island's distance but nonetheless find tiring, and several suggest the two-day option would be preferable for a less rushed experience.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Amazing experience, although a long day”
Five of us travelled together, three generations spanning 23 to 81, and the island was spectacular - genuinely a must-see. The day ran to the advertised itinerary: Seal Bay for the sea lions, Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, Admiral's Arch where the views and fur seals were my favourite part, and the wildlife park for koalas and kangaroo feeding. The two-course lunch was tasty and filling. Do go in knowing it is a huge day from Adelaide, away at 6:30am and home after 10:30pm, so an overnight on the island is worth considering if you have the time. Driving ourselves to the Cape Jervis ferry instead of taking the coach saved us $70 each, got us back a little sooner and let us stop for dinner. It is a big island, so you do rack up coach hours, broken up by four or five well-spaced stops. Our coach was almost full at around 50 people, which we thought was too many given how tight the timing is at each stop: slow loading, queues for the toilets and for tea and coffee at lunch, and latecomers that put pressure on the end of the day. Brad, our guide, was still excellent - passionate, full of interesting detail and relaxed in manner. The walking is not strenuous, but there are flights of stairs down to Admiral's Arch that could be tricky for anyone less mobile, especially with a coach to get back to on time. Long day, big group, but a rewarding one with great wildlife.
“Beautiful Trip with Great Guides”
A lovely trip and the guides were terrific - we picked up plenty of interesting things along the way. The reason I have given four stars rather than five is the timing. The final stop at the wildlife park felt rushed at only about 30 minutes, and the time allowed at each stop did not quite match the description. We also lost a bit of time dropping off passengers who were staying on the island. Lunch was good: chicken salad with bread, then coffee, tea and cake. A rushed finish aside, we really enjoyed the day and would happily recommend it.
“Highly Recommend Visiting Kangaroo Island”
A thoroughly enjoyable day. Our host and guide Jo-anne knew a huge amount and really gave us an appreciation of Kangaroo Island. The one-day version makes for a very long day, so pack some snacks, but it is well worth it. The coach and ferry transfers all ran reliably and efficiently.
“Exceptional customer service”
A wonderful full-day trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island with Joanne as our guide. Watching the seals sunning themselves on the beach, lounging on the rock platforms and splashing about in the shallows was a real highlight, and we saw plenty of other beautiful spots and took stacks of photos before finishing the day feeding the kangaroos. Jayne, Peter and the coach drivers deserve a special mention for going well beyond anything we could have asked after we accidentally left a phone behind. Their kindness and honesty were exceptional and we were enormously grateful. A memorable day made better by staff who clearly care - highly recommended to anyone visiting the island.
“A long day but worth it”
A long day but worth it. We enjoyed the sights and driver Dave's commentary was great, and seeing kangaroos and a koala in the wild was a treat. Seal Bay really needed smaller groups - there were 35 of us and most of the group missed the commentary. Lunch let us down badly - a heap of lettuce, three slices of chicken, bread and mass-produced cake slices, eaten in a soulless barn. Meeting the joey was fabulous, and the wildlife park stop was good for the kids.
“KI”
It rained, apparently for the first time in six months, and the day was still fantastic. Dani, our guide on the island, was friendly and very knowledgeable, and feeding the Kangaroo Island kangaroos was easily the highlight. Recommended, rain and all.
“Day Tour of Kangaroo Island - A jam packed but enjoyable…”
If you are short on time, this day trip is a great way to see a stunning corner of South Australia, though it is intense - a very early departure from the Adelaide CBD to catch the morning ferry, with the ferry tickets included in the price. On the island you get reasonably close to the Australian fur seal colony at Seal Bay, plus the spectacular Remarkable Rocks, the landscapes at Admirals Arch and a stop at a native wildlife sanctuary. Our guide was a touch gruff but knew a great deal about both First Nations and post-contact history as well as the plants and animals. A two-course lunch is included, but breakfast and dinner are not, so bring a bit of food and something to drink for the early run down and the late one home. There are refreshments on the ferry and we also stopped at the Penneshaw IGA to grab something for dinner. All up, good value for money.
“Unforgettable day trip to Kangaroo Island”
Other than the long coach legs to and from the ferry, a fabulous tour. The stops were all good, and the sanctuary was the highlight for us - cuddling a koala, photos up close and feeding the kangaroos. Our guide Hamish was fantastic and knew so much about the island and its animals. Great day.
“Perfect day out.”
An excellent day out. It is a long one, but you see and do a great deal. Well organised, with really friendly and helpful staff, and a lovely lunch too. Feeding the kangaroos and cuddling a koala was my highlight, though holding the koala cost extra.
“A full day you won’t forget”
It is a long day, but a very worthwhile way to see the island's highlights. Our driver-guide was wonderful: friendly, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the place. The scenery is spectacular, and getting up close to kangaroos and koalas beat glimpsing them from the road. We were exhausted by the time we got back to the hotel, but very glad we went.
“Worth the Long Day”
I loved this experience, even though it makes for a very long day. The drive down and the ferry crossing were both lovely, and coming from California, with its own dry Mediterranean climate, the landscape reminded me of home in early August. Our guide Dani was excellent - she took us to beautiful places and showed us plenty of wildlife and rock formations, and her own stories of growing up on the island were a delight. The only sour note was the coach from Cape Jervis back to my Adelaide hotel. I had not realised there are two Chancellor hotels, one on Currie Street, the other on Hindley Street, which was mine, and when I asked the driver which stop was mine so I would not miss it, he was rude and condescending, snapping that he had already told me three times.
“Must-see and Majestic”
An unforgettable day on an island full of surprises. Everyone involved was professional and punctual, from making the booking with the parent company through to our incredible guide and driver Dani, whose love for her island makes you appreciate it even more. A long day, and a majestic one. My heartfelt thanks, Dani.
“Late bus arrival caused stress before we even left Adelaide.”
The island tour itself was very good, with a knowledgeable driver-guide, and lunch was nice. It makes for a very long day, though worth doing. The start was stressful, however: we had been told to assemble at Adelaide's bus depot for a strict 6:45 departure and the driver did not turn up until 7am, with nobody there to ask whether we were even in the right place or if the tour was still running. We reached the ferry terminal with only ten minutes to spare, so we were lucky nothing held us up on the way.
“Excellent”
A long day, though well worth making. All three bus drivers were very knowledgeable and the island itself is fantastic. Definitely a five out of five experience.
“Day Tour Kangaroi Island”
A great day trip out of Adelaide. Yes, it is a long day, but you get a good overview of the main attractions and it never felt rushed, which was down to our guide Hamish. He gave clear instructions about what to expect at each stop and had a vast knowledge of the island and especially its wildlife. Well done Hamish and Sealink.
“Long, but great day out”
A fabulous day that was well worth the early start. The island scenery is fantastic - Remarkable Rocks was a favourite, as was the wildlife, the sea lions and fur seals above all. Oddly, we never spotted a single wild kangaroo on Kangaroo Island, but there were plenty at the wildlife sanctuary and you can feed them. A long, tiring day, but well worth it.
“Great for the family”
Jo Anne was amazing and so knowledgeable, sharing the story of the land, the people, how the island was settled and what is happening in the community now. It was a great experience for our five-year-old too, with plenty of core memories made.
“Kangaroo Island day trip..could be a little better.”
Our driver-guide knew the history of Kangaroo Island inside out and had a great sense of humour. We covered a lot of ground, so at times it did feel a little rushed. Lunch was disappointing, and there was no dinner stop either - just a visit to the local supermarket, despite being told by email that there would be time for dinner. When I rang Sealink to confirm my hotel pick-up they could not find my booking and it took about 20 minutes to sort out. Kangaroo Island is spectacular, but the tour needs to tidy up a few things before it is a ten out of ten.
“Worth doing particularly if you are short on time”
Be prepared for a huge day out, because it is a lot of ground to cover in one. Kangaroo Island is well worth a visit and everywhere we were taken was interesting. You do not get long at each place, but that is to be expected if it is all going to fit in. I loved the wildlife centre, and if you get the chance to hold a koala, take it.
“Excellent way to clear a bucket list item”
You transfer from Adelaide on the Sealink Connect coach, cross by ferry to Penneshaw, then join the one-day coach tour of the island. Will, our driver and host on the island, kept us entertained and informed with local stories. After the seal colony came an excellent lunch, then Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, and finally a wildlife encounter. With the return ferry and coach we were not back in Adelaide until about 11pm, so it is a long day - if you have the time, the two-day option and a night on the island would be worth it. Do not underestimate the 18km crossing either; I suspect it can get very rough. A lot of fun overall.
“Day in nature”
Will is a great guide with plenty of interesting information through the day - he even helped us with a shop at the IGA when it was getting late for the kids' dinner.
“An action packed informative day”
One of the very best tours I have taken. I joined at Cape Jervis rather than Adelaide, and from the moment we boarded until we were back at the ferry nine hours later, our driver and guide Joanne gave us stories and commentary on the island's social, Aboriginal and settler histories along with its ecology, geology and geography, all with real depth of knowledge. We saw wonderful sights, ate well and were entertained by her sense of humour. Truly an informative, action-packed day.
“Kangaroo island is a must see!”
A wonderful day packed with sightseeing and new experiences. Richard, our bus driver, was a highlight in himself - he shared so much of his knowledge about Kangaroo Island and really topped off the day. Amazing experience.
“Great 1 day experience”
The coach picked us up from the hotel bang on time, and the drivers on both sides of the water were friendly and informative. They fit a great deal into one day. You can pay to hold a koala, but you get to go into the enclosure either way, and we fed kangaroos and saw plenty of wild sea lions. All the ferry tickets are provided and there are plenty of rest stops. With a 6.30am departure and a return after 10.30pm, it is a long day. A very professional outfit.
“absolutely amazing as a solo backpacker!”
Absolutely amazing. It is a long day but so worth it. Our guide was really funny and kept us entertained on the longer drives. I would recommend it to solo backpackers in particular, because you meet people very easily and then have the whole day to get to know both them and this awesome island.
“Kangaroo Island Tour”
A great tour, though most of the day is spent travelling. I would rather they trimmed a couple of the sights and gave us longer at the ones that are left.
“Nice Kangaroo Island Tour”
Enjoyable overall - a well-structured programme, beautiful scenery and interesting stops, and most of the day left a positive impression. A few things could be better, though. The operator did not reply to private messages, which made it hard to sort out details in advance. Lunch was quite modest, just a chicken salad and a small dessert, which felt insufficient for such a long tour. Too little time was also given to the final stop at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, where I would have liked longer to walk around and watch the animals. To my mind it would make more sense to drop the formal lunch, hand out simple sandwiches on the coach and give that time to the park instead.
“Must do Adelaide adventure”
A wonderful day, with so many animals seen in the wild. Amazing scenery, and Hamish was a terrific guide. Cuddling a koala was the highlight. A long day, but worth it, and definitely recommended.
“Interesting, amazing and fun!”
A wonderful day, full of variety and amazing scenery. Hamish, our guide, did a great job of explaining island life, the animals and all manner of facts. There is plenty to see, and plenty of road, but every kilometre earns its keep. It is a well-structured trip, there are all sorts of memories to capture, and it is very easy to join from Adelaide.
“A long day of travel”
Know what you are signing up for. There is plenty of coach travel, an hour on the ferry in each direction, and the stops on the island are typically only 45 minutes each. Jo, the island driver, was professional and full of information. Other than the Seal Bay sea lions, we saw very little wildlife from the bus. You do get close to island kangaroos and koalas at the sanctuary, but to me that is a zoo and so it feels like cheating. Lunch is a light salad, so pack snacks - this really is a very long day.
“Super recommend.”
The walk was fascinating, and having sea lions only a few metres off in the wild is wonderful. It is a big island and we got across quite a range of landscapes, with stunning rock formations. Very well organised, and the lunch was quite delicious.
“Wild life and great bus drivers. Make it an enjoyable experience”
Long day, but worth every minute. A fantastic trip, a great time and good food too - just go in knowing it eats the whole day. I would recommend it completely.
“Must-Do”
Kangaroo Island was a blast and everything was so well organised. Getting among the kangaroos and koalas was a real adventure, and a memory I will hang on to.
“Well organised except pick up and drop off”
Picked up half an hour after the time we were told to be there, and the drop-off called at other hotels when we had not been offered that. A very long day, but some special sights.
“Long day worth it”
A good tour and a long day, with Dani an excellent guide. My only gripe was the lack of detail about the transfer from coach to ferry and across to Kangaroo Island, and about what to expect on arrival - nobody told us the guide would be waiting on the island for us to check in with.
An early coach pick-up with 50 passengers, a long run to the ferry and a 45 minute crossing. A good tour, stopping at Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, Admiral's Arch and the Raptor Domain Wildlife Park. There are long stretches on the coach, but our guide Garry was very entertaining, and a good lunch was provided. There was no time for a coffee stop, though there were a couple of places for toilet breaks. We spotted kangaroos while driving, and holding a koala at the wildlife park was the highlight. Would recommend.
“Remarkable trip to Kangaroo Island”
Early start, comfortable coach to the ferry, then an island coach whose driver-guide took over with excellent commentary. Remarkable Rocks, the beach for sea life, a wildlife sanctuary and a tasty lunch. Long day, well worth it; snooze on the coach after the ferry.
“Unforgettable Day Exploring Kangaroo Island’s Wildlife”
A very well-organised round trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, with smooth and punctual transport in both directions. On the island we saw wildlife like nowhere else - kangaroos, wallabies and seals - along with majestic scenery. The animal sanctuary was the real standout and one we will remember forever.
“Great way to see the highlights of Kangaroo Island”
Good choice if time is short — you cover the island's highlights in one go. A very long day but not a tiring one, with a well-organised, informative driver-guide.
“Best day ever”
A perfect day out. Picked up at the bus stop, about an hour and a half to the ferry, then a smooth 45-minute crossing with a small cafe on board. On the island we met Jo-anne, a guide who lives there and seemed to know everything — she barely stopped talking all day, and I hope her voice recovered. Stops were long enough to look around and take photos. Seeing the animals so close was special; the sea lions were adorable and feeding the kangaroos was my trip highlight. Friendly group on the bus too.
“Excellent tour but expect long day”
Would recommend overall, about 8 out of 10. The tour of the island was fast-paced without feeling rushed, and our bus driver Scott was amazing and informative, full of knowledge about the island's history and about living there himself. The wildlife was great: sea lions at Seal Bay, and he pulled over for a wild koala, plus kangaroos and Cape Barren geese. Lunch was good, with falafel salad followed by cheesecake as the vegetarian option, and Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch were both superb. The ferry was fairly smooth both ways, although the number of sick bags provided suggested that is not always the case. On the downside, we were away from Adelaide Central Bus Station at 06:45 and not back until 22:15, so expect a long day and bring music or an audiobook for the return. The wildlife park also left me uneasy: the animals were well cared for and the staff friendly, but the enclosures were small and they sell koala holds, which to me puts profit ahead of welfare.
“Great experience and worth the long day!”
One for nature and wildlife lovers. Charge your camera before you go — there's no chance to do it on the road, and you'll want to make the most of the photo stops.
“Excellent day”
An extraordinary day with loads of animals — kangaroos, koalas, eagles, dolphins, sea lions, even a wombat and a distant whale. Superbly organised, and thanks to our island guide.
“WORTH IT”
Lovely guide, amazing places. We had to move quickly to fit it all in, but well worth it.
“Kangaroo Island spectacle”
A lovely day on SeaLink's Kangaroo Island tour. Guide Hamish knew the island inside out and gave great commentary on the bus, including the terrible fires five years ago and their effect on the wildlife. We saw sea lions with their pups, met koalas and kangaroos, and as a geologist I loved the granite and limestone formations. Lunch was delicious and a good chance to chat with others.
“A solid overview of kangaroo island”
Well worth it if you're short on time but want to cover the iconic parts of the island. Be warned, it's a very long day out of Adelaide. We loved all of it — even the kangaroo and koala stop, which as Australian residents we weren't fussed about, turned out to be good fun. The two-course lunch was a nice surprise and the whole day ran smoothly. Our local guides were knowledgeable and friendly.
“Must do if you are in the Adelaide area”
Fantastic long day trip. Great views and wildlife — more animals in the wild would have been nice, though the wildlife centre made up for that. Guides, lunch and scheduling all excellent.
“So grateful for this Kangaroo Island experience”
Kangaroo Island was spectacular. Breathtaking scenery, and if you love animals you'll adore the encounters. It is a long day, but you take in plenty of the highlights and every pickup and drop-off ran smoothly and on time. Lunch was excellent and our guide Jo-Ann knew her stuff. Highly recommended.
“Long day but worth it.”
Long day but worth it. The sea lions and the wildlife stop were the highlights; Remarkable Rocks I'd skip, but Admirals Arch was incredible.
“Fantastic day!”
A good way to spend a single day on the island — lovely scenery and wildlife, and a very knowledgeable driver.
“KI day tour from Adelaide”
We booked a little nervously given it's billed as a 16-hour day from Adelaide — ours came in at 17, but never mind. A coach takes you to the ferry terminal with commentary along the way, the crossing is about 45 minutes, and you join your tour on the other side. Our island guide Danni was expert, professional and friendly, and the day ran like clockwork despite the packed schedule. A beautiful corner of the world and we felt lucky to spend a day in it. Happy to recommend, especially if you get Danni.
“Kangaroo Island in a day!”
A smart ferry ride, seals more than once, a delicious lunch, striking coastal rock formations, feeding kangaroos and patting koalas. It felt like good value and about as much of Kangaroo Island as you can see from Adelaide without it becoming overwhelming. Ideal if you want to visit but can't stay on the island. Thanks to Chris for the safe driving and for pointing out the wildlife and scenery on the way.
“Very enjoyable experience”
Really enjoyable trip with a guide who was knowledgeable on all sorts of topics. If anything I'd have picked the two-day version — the island is huge and there's far more to see.
“Amazing tour of South Australia and learning about the…”
Check the forecast and pack a proper jacket — it can be windy and bitterly cold. Our guide was great fun; I've forgotten his name, but his son-in-law surfs the dangerous end of the island, so hopefully the company knows who I mean. Even the two-hour drive from Adelaide to the ferry port was one of the best parts of my whole Australian trip — I spotted plenty of kangaroos beside the highway and the odd wild emu. On the island you get sea lions, wallabies, kangaroos and koalas; feeding the kangaroos, holding a koala and seeing the wallabies were the highlights. If you go in autumn, bring that jacket: the wind near the sea lion beach and the lighthouse was the strongest I've felt anywhere and froze my ears.
“Fast packed day!”
Our guide Jo was fantastic and handled the bus and the day with humour and ease. The route doubled back on itself a fair bit — I wondered if there was a tidier way round. Lunch was good and the sights were the highlights, but the wildlife sanctuary felt rushed: they didn't wait for people using the toilet and I had no time to buy a drink. In hindsight I'd have stayed a day on the island instead of such a long, rushed day, but plenty is squeezed in for a single day and Jo kept it fun.
“Kangaroo Island amazement”
Very well organised. Wonderful wildlife at Seal Bay, stunning formations at Admirals Arch, plus adorable koalas and kangaroos. A long day but thoroughly worthwhile, with a special mention for Will, our driver, guide and wildlife educator, whose calm, laid-back manner made it enjoyable. Thanks Will and SeaLink.
Brilliant stops for photos — sea lions, fur seals, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Sixteen hours on a bus makes for a long day, but it's worth it, and Chris is a terrific driver-guide.
“Worth a trip”
A full day packed with things to see. We only had one day for the island, so this suited us perfectly. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Adelaide, with all transport and entry fees in the price. Worth it for the sea lions and the views alone.
“Great Experience in Kangaroo Island”
Booked through Viator for Easter 2025; the tour itself is run by SeaLink. It leaves Central Bus Station at 6:45am with free CBD hotel pickups, but when I rang about a pickup from Hindley Street — ten minutes' walk away — I was told 6:05am, so I declined and walked. The driver later said that hotel is normally done at 6:30am, so I'm not sure why I was quoted so early. That aside, a great day. Most of it is spent being moved around: 1.5 hours to Cape Jervis, 45 minutes on the ferry, on the island by about 10am. Seal Bay first, with seals lounging on the beach and sometimes wandering close by — 30 minutes felt about right, though another 15 wouldn't have hurt. Then a pre-arranged lunch (dietary needs catered for) of chicken salad and cheesecake, tasty and just enough, with an hour's break. Remarkable Rocks came after a 45-minute drive; it rained on and off all day but they were still astonishing up close, like a dragon's jaw. Admirals Arch is ten minutes on and the arch and scenery are nature at its best, though the wind nearly blew me over and I'm 90kg. Another 45 minutes to the wildlife park for kangaroo feeding, little penguins and koala patting, about 45 minutes there, then home. Four main stops for all that travelling — some people stayed overnight instead, which also looks sensible. SeaLink were complete professionals and everything ran to time. Special thanks to our island driver-guide Will, full of knowledge, always smiling and happy to accommodate requests, and to Steven and Dave on the Adelaide run. Recommended for families with limited time who still want to fit the island in.
“One day tour of KI from Adelaide”
We did SeaLink's one-day island tour with pickup and drop-off in Adelaide. Our driver-guide Chris was wonderful — he got us around the island safely and on schedule, and his passion for the place came through in the commentary. We saw plenty of wildlife and loved finishing at the sanctuary, feeding kangaroos and meeting koalas. It was a highlight of our time in Australia; we'd only have wanted more time and hope to come back.
“Great “Taste of Kangaroo Island””
Very well organised and bang on time. Chris, our guide, was professional and knew the island well. It's a jam-packed, long day — we'd ideally have given the island two or three days, but our schedule didn't allow it, so this was a great sample. Recommended if time is short and you want to see plenty.
“Day Trip to Kangaroo Island”
A fantastic day trip, well coordinated from start to finish, so a long day of bus and ferry felt easy. Garry, our island guide, was engaging, informative and funny. Incredible scenery, wildlife to see and pet, and a delicious lunch — he made the day memorable.
“Excellent.”
Saw most of the popular sites, though a bus tour means limited time at each. A good taste of what I'll look forward to next time on Kangaroo Island.
“Amazing!”
Chris, our driver and guide, was brilliant: knowledgeable, friendly, good at keeping us to time and a safe driver. A great experience, though I wish I could have done the two-day, one-night tour.
“Great day visit to kangaroo island”
Fabulous day, and our guide Hamish was interesting and knowledgeable. The island is beautiful — I only wish we'd had longer with the animals at the sanctuary.
Excellent service from SeaLink throughout, all to time with no hanging about. Jo-Anne was a great guide with impeccable knowledge. A fantastic day — we'd thought about staying overnight but didn't need to, as the day covered everything.
“Loved the Kangaroo Island in a Day Tour”
The day tour was amazing. An early 6:30am start and back at 10:35pm, with plenty packed in. The SeaLink ferry to Penneshaw takes about an hour; pack your own breakfast or snacks, as a sandwich onboard is $10.50 and drinks aren't cheap either. Dave, our island driver-guide, was knowledgeable and funny, and we appreciated him flagging where the public toilets were. Seal Bay was fantastic, with most of the seals stretched out on the beach on a warm 30-degree day. We paused briefly at the lighthouse, then on to the superb Admirals Arch and the curious Remarkable Rocks. Our favourite was the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park — koala cuddles for a fee, little penguins, meerkats, marmosets, koalas feeding in the trees, and hand-feeding the kangaroos. Lunch was at Vivonne Bay Lodge, where staff looked after dietary requirements. Highly recommended, and thanks to our Adelaide drivers, to Dave, and to the Seal Bay and Wildlife Park staff.
“Kangoroo island”
Worth it 100%. Sea lions and seals, and Remarkable Rocks that look like a genius sculptor's work but are pure nature. Koalas, kangaroos and wallabies you can feed and pet — amazing. A long trip, but totally worth it, and a friendly guide.
“Great day on Kangaroo Island”
Great day with Chris, a very knowledgeable driver-guide. Enjoyed his commentary, and he made sure we saw everything included plus a few extras. Recommended, especially as a one-day visit.
“A must to learn about climate and wildlife”
Long day, but worth it. We joined the SeaLink coach in Adelaide at 6:20am for the two-hour drive to Cape Jervis and the ferry over. Everyone from reservations to both drivers was well informed and clearly proud of their work and their country. A must-do trip.
“Amazing Experience”
A fun option if your time in Adelaide is short — you see the island's best-known spots, with seals, kangaroos and koalas up close, and we even petted a koala. The downside is the length; most of the day is spent on the bus. The guide's commentary makes it bearable, or you can nap between stops. The landscape was stunning enough that I'd return in my own time.
“Exciting day on Kangaroo Island”
We did the day trip from Adelaide before our Great Ocean Road drive and it was brilliant. Well organised, and our island driver-guide was informative and funny. A good mix of experiences, including a beach walk at Seal Bay Conservation Park with an expert guide — getting that close to the sea lions was wonderful. Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks were spectacular, with more fur seals playing in the water. Lunch sat right in the bush, and our driver spotted wild koalas in the trees behind the restaurant; five trips to Australia and I'd never seen one, so that was a highlight. In the afternoon my grandson and I did the koala experience at the sanctuary with Elsa — a privilege, as handling a captive koala is rare now, and the extra charge was very reasonable. Long day, but I'd recommend it unreservedly.
“Great time and super experienced guide!”
Our guide Scott was hugely knowledgeable, funny and friendly. Breathtaking scenery and plenty of great photo spots. Recommended for anyone wanting the essentials of Kangaroo Island.
“Great experience- strongly recommended”
Well organised day tour — out of Adelaide CBD at 6:30am, back by 10:30pm. A long day but well structured and packed with sightseeing. Our guide Dani took great care of us and was extremely knowledgeable.
“Day trip with many experiences”
A long day, definitely worth it. Sea lions up close, kangaroos relaxed enough for selfies, and it's not crowded everywhere. We patted koalas and later saw them in the wild, and the rock formations were great. Take plenty of water — and the “two-course lunch” needs renaming: a triangle of toast and a packaged muffin.
“A long but excellent day”
A very well organised trip from Adelaide. It covered all the major sites I wanted to see on kangaroo island and seemed the best option and value. Was pleasantly surprised with the sea lions visit - incredible to see so many in their natural habitat.
The kangaroos and koalas are in the wildlife park and you only see them for a short amount of time (our stay here was less than an hour including other animals) so if that is your main reason for going beware you don’t get there until late in the day (approx 17:00) and it’s a pretty swift visit. We were told the koalas and kangaroos are rescues / orphans.
“Easy way to see the stunning highlights”
Great way to see the highlights without having to worry about driving or decision making. Also our guide Hamish gave just the right level of commentary and background information. Very informative and enjoyable, plus beautiful scenery and up close with various wild and captive animals.
“Easy way to see the stunning highlights”
Great way to see the highlights without having to worry about driving or decision making. Also our guide Hamish gave just the right level of commentary and background information. Very informative and enjoyable, plus beautiful scenery and up close with various wild and captive animals.
“Best 1 day tour ever!”
The whole island is amazing — the best one-day trip I've done. Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch were the highlights, though I loved all of it. Well organised, with a great island driver-guide and good drivers to and from Adelaide. Highly recommend.
“Kangaroo island”
Great tour, tour guide was very informative. You get to see the seals and feed the kangaroos. Bring a jacket as it can get cold if windy
“All day Kangaroo Island Tour”
A lot packed into one day, but the best way to see Kangaroo Island. Bus pickup, 1.5 hours to the ferry, then another coach on the island for the sights. Lunch, ferry tickets and Adelaide transfers are included. Well worth it — my elderly mum thoroughly enjoyed it. One gripe: please turn down the bus air conditioning. The guides were all fantastic.
Long day, but lovely, and good not to have to drive. Great value, with an organised, informative driver who left time for the views.
“Awesome day”
An amazing (very long) day with many awe-inspiring sights -- from wild koala and sea lions -- and unique sensations such as petting and feeding a live kangaroo and smelling tea-tree-laden sea air! Dave also provided lots of interesting facts about the wildlife, history of the island and the blue gum tree plantations.
“A wonderful Australian experience.”
We simply couldn't go to Adelaide without a visit to Kangaroo Island and we were so glad we did. Holding a koala (extra charge), feeding the kangaroos (and seeing many in the wild on the way to the island), beautiful vistas, entertaining tour guide, relaxing ferry ride. . .it was all wonderful. Lunch was delicious. Buy some eucalyptus oil from the island!
“A long but enjoyable day”
What a long day but so much packed into it and beautiful scenery.
We were picked up in a bus form a nearby hotel to our accommodation - the bus was only a mini bus so we were very cramped and tight with knees hard against the seat and other having to sit on the wheel hub, so this was not very comfortable at all...
Arrived at the bus depot and then transferred into a larger bus, much more comfortable but there was no toilet on the bus...
Driven to the boat terminal through beautiful Adelaide Hill senary, enough time for a toilet stop before boarding the boat.
A boat ride for 30 + minutes and then on KI and meet with another big bus with no toliet on board.
The driver gave commentary for most of the trip which was very interesting and informative.
First stop was the seals - sold as a walk on the beach with the seals - but could only go with the ranger and it was only a few steps on the beach, so possibly worded wrong and misleading - but still it was good to see them up close.
We then stopped at the Parndana township and the local pub for the meal of fish and chips and strudel which was very nice.
We then boarded the bus and went to the wildlife park - being Australians we didn't think it would be as exciting but pleasantly surprised, what a lot of animals there was .. KI kangaroos, pelicans, koalas, dingos, birds..
We then made our way to Admirals arch, a walk down and steps involved (a workout) but you have 1/2 hour here to explore so no need to rush but well worth that workout. The onto the remarkable rocks, WOW amazing...
Then the trip back to the boat terminal and meet on the other side with the bus and dropped back where out journey started 16 hours before.
There were toilet stops along the way and the driver told us which attraction had toilet stops and which didn't - so no need to worry re that..
I suggest you pack a drink and if inclined some snacks for the bus trip.
An enjoyable day seeing the island animals and scenery
“2024 Adelaide”
Australian island that should not be missed if in Adelaide.. This very long but worth the experience,, Seal bay was one of the highlights as well as wildlife refuge where they have saved so many Koalas and Kangaroos!!
“Memorable Day Trip”
It was a long day but so worth it (if you don’t have longer to spend on Kangaroo Island). We saw sea lions and seals in their natural environment which was amazing. Remarkable Rocks were, well named! We also saw other Australian animals up close at the animal sanctuary and a few from the bus too. Lunch was good and it was incredible to see how much nature is recovering after the bush fires in early 2020.
“Visit to Kangaroo Island”
A good day at Kangaroo Island. Saw some amazing sights to include Remarkable Rocks and Seal Bay. Spent time with kangaroos and koalas. 2 course lunch was very good. We did pack a lot into the day and felt sometimes a bit rushed. Also group size was quite large but overall would recommend. Might consider a 2 day trip.
“Loved holding a koala”
Good day, loved the sea lions and admirals arch but not long enough at the wildlife park. Beach views were lovely and lunch was good
“KI in a Day”
When in Adelaide, why not take a trip to the Island or KI as the locals call it. Get up close [30 metres is close enough] with the locals [the wildlife of course]. See unique rock formations which are as old as time immemorial [Elephant Rock, Cathedral Cove] and of course sample the cuisine after the days activities washed down with excellent wine from local vineyards. A long day beginning at 8.30am and returning about 10.30pm, but one that will remain in your memory and photo album for sometime to come.
“Great trip with amazing views and wildlife”
As others have said, this is a very long day but well worth it!! This is a perfect trip for someone that doesn’t have time to spend a night or two on the island. The guides were all great, very informative. The timing at each stop worked well, never felt rushed or that there were long waits. The cafe for lunch was able to accommodate several dietary restrictions and it was delicious! I would highly recommend this trip, just plan for a nap on the way home!
“Great Guide”
We did not take the bus from Adelaide for this tour. Instead, we drove ourselves to Cape Jervis and opted not to drive across to KI, which we feel was the right choice for us after calculating the costly ferry fees, and considering the amount of travelling needed across the island.
With Sealink, we were met by our wonderful guide, Scott, who amazingly drove us all over the island to the attractions while keeping up a running commentary throughout the entire day. He told many stories about the history of the island and how the bush fires devastated the island, and its recovery process. At the end of the day, through him, our experience at KI was so much more enriched than if we had driven ourselves in. I'd also like to commend the Sealink ferry captains for expert navigation through very choppy waters. The day we returned to Cape Jervis was particularly windy and choppy, but the ferry was skillfully and safely navigated to reduce all our discomfort.
KI itself is much much bigger than I had thought but all the sights were ruggedly beautiful and untouched. There was more travelling in the coach than I'd have liked and I was thankful we opted to stay a night on the island and return to Cape Jervis the next day. I can't imagine how tiring it would have been to travel back to Adelaide on the same day, particularly since the ferry was delayed by an hour that evening.
All in all, I'd day booking with Sealink took the hassle and worry away from driving ourselves across unfamiliar territory. They are very experienced so you'll be in good hands.
“Long day that was great”
Had a fantastic day. Scenery was breathtaking. Lunch was delicious. Our driver/ tour guide was exceptional . Seal bay , fantastic. Rock formations were remarkable. Loved Admirals Arch. Final destination was the wildlife sanctuary before boarding the ferry
“An almost perfect excursion!”
This was such a fun day!
Most reviews talk about how much sitting on a bus there is and how it’s a long day but honestly, it only felt like a long day right at the end. There was so much to see and Hamish, our guide/bus driver, kept us entertained with lots of information on the history of the island and future plans as well as pointing out bits and pieces on the drives.
I was so excited to see the seals at Seal Bay and it really didn’t disappoint! It was a dream come true. I really love how respectful the guide was towards the seals. We didn’t spend a long time there and we had to keep our distance. I think this is so important. I loved that she told us if a baby seal comes to us we need to essentially ignore them so they think we are boring so they don’t become tame at all. Keeping wild animals wild and respecting them like this was so refreshing.
Remarkable Rocks felt like a whole other planet and was so interesting to explore. It really reminds you how incredible Mother Nature is and how wonderful our natural world is.
Admirals Arch was stunning AND got to see more seals! Including one that just woke up from a nap and then used a rock as a waterslide to go rolling around in the waves.
The only reason I didn’t give a 5 star rating was that the last stop at the “Wildlife Park” was really just a zoo. And it was heartbreaking. It was dreary, birds alone in cages with minimal foliage, exotic animals that are so far from native, it was a really depressing end to a great day. I feel like a place like Kangaroo Island doesn’t need a zoo when the island itself is so gorgeous and it’s always so much more amazing seeing animals in the wild and not caged. I would have been happier had the day ended after Admirals Arch.
Aside from that our lunch stop after Seal Bay was really lovely. The ladies serving us did an amazing job and catered to a variety of dietary needs. My boyfriend and I opted to sit outside and it was gorgeous.
I loved Kangaroo Island so much that I plan on coming back and staying on the island to drive around some more!
Our ferry back to Adelaide was delayed and that’s something to keep in mind. The weather impacts this tour so be open minded and understanding. The staff don’t have control over this and do what they can. We were given a hot drink voucher to use while we waited for our ferry. They didn’t need to do that, but it’s very appreciated that they did. I would recommend this tour and this company to my friends and family but I would suggest they don’t participate in the last stop, the ‘wildlife park/zoo’.
One thing I would suggest is bringing snacks or a small meal for the end of the day. Lunch will be tasty and filling but by the time you’re heading back it’ll be about 7:30pm and you won’t be back in Adelaide until 10:30 (weather dependent of course). They do offer for you to call ahead to the pub and you can collect a meal from there before getting on the ferry or head into their local IGA to tide you over.
“A long, long day to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide”
Lets start with saying that a day tour to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide is a very long day and includes a lot of sitting on a bus. It takes some time to get to the harbor, but also the distance on Kangaroo Island are pretty long. So that means even more sitting on a bus. I have to admit, the scenery is beautiful. no questions about that. Just keep in mind that it is a very long day. The first stop is at Seal Bay where a ranger takes you to the beach to have a look at some seals, but you will probably spot more seals in the dunes or the walkways. It is nice to see them close although you still have to keep your distance. Admiral's Arch is the next stop. This is another place where you can spot some seals. and have a good view at the arch and the water beyond. There is also a nice locally prepared lunch and dessert. Remarkable Rock is a nice place for a stop, but basically it is a rock. The last stop of the day is the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, where they have the typical Australian animals. During the day the driver will keep and eye out for wild animals. Mainly koalas. We managed to find/see 2 on that day.
The question in the end is, is it all worth it. It is a long day, an expensive trip and yo sit the most time on a bus (or the ferry). I think in the end we would have liked more time at the different stops. Looking back we might have done it a little differently and take a hotel on the island to be able to explore it a but more in the end
“Stunning views and wildlife, get to KI”
After the trip from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, we took the pretty quick and easy ferry across to KI. From there Scott our tour guide was amazing. He was so knowledgeable and was able to throw in good amounts of humour too. He helped make a really good day even better. The places we stopped were great. We saw loads of seals at Seal Bay and Admiral Arch and the Remarkable Rocks were so much bigger than anticipated. Lunch was also really nice and served by some really nice people. Amazing views all day, we got lucky with some good weather with patches of rain that passed really quickly. Definitely one of my favourite day tours in Australia. Book it.
“A great day out”
Jo was an excellent guide who is so knowledgeable and made the trip so enjoyable.
It was a long day out but worth every minute to see so many sights of the Island.
“Brilliant Day Thanks”
Great driver/guide, long day but saw loads with plenty of variety without feeling rushed comfortable coach. Crew in crossing relaxed an friendly.
“Great experience, comfortable travel arrangements and transfers”
The different experiences throughout the day were great, with a very informative 'local guide taking us for the ride. It was a privilege to see true beauty and dedication by locals to ensure the conservation of their grand island and its native inhabitants.
“Highly recommend!!”
This was an amazing day trip!! It’s very long, but you definitely get to see a lot on the island. Our guide Dani was incredible and gave us so much information about Kangaroo Island and pointed out what we could see while driving. Since there was a lot of driving on the trip, it could have felt like it was wasted time being on the coach, but Dani made sure it wasn’t and she was great at making use of all the time we had throughout the day.
“Interesting but long day.”
Interesting tour with passionate, interesting, guide. But a very long day of more than 12 hours round trip from Adelaide CBD.
“Long Day-Great Day”
This was an amazing day. First, to be honest, it's a long day with the bus and ferry ride to get to Kangaroo Island, but once you're there it's all worth it. To see sea lions on the beach in the wild is amazing. Admiral's arch and the fur seal colony is quite an experiece. We saw Koalas and kangaroos in the wild. The remarkable rocks are well, remarkable. We enjoyed our lunch break and the break was needed for the rest of our day. Our guide worked hard to keep us on schedule which is important to have time to enjoy the last stop at the animal park. By the time we were on the ferry back we were tired but elated as all we had seen.
“Interesting day out”
I'm visiting Australia from Italy. A full day of lovely scenery and wildlife, very enjoyable, and one I'd recommend to other visitors to South Australia.
“Tour was great but I starved”
delicious but a chicken salad only lasts for so long.
I have extensive dietary requirements and was concerned about what meal options were available for around dinner time. It was a long day. After booking I called the Sealink office to ask about food for the afternoon/evening. I was told there was a cafe at the Wildlife centre and also a cafe with basic food at the ferry terminal. I called the Wildlife centre to see if they would have something I could eat. They confirmed what options were at the cafe, which was fine. I could at least have hot chips. That would do me. I knew I’d have little to no chance with the ferry terminal cafe.
However, on the day of our tour, by the time we arrived at the Wildlife centre the cafe was not open. This was understandable due to it being later in the afternoon. I don’t expect any cafe to be open at that time. Thankfully our wonderful tour guide, Jo, allowed us to quickly stop at the IGA on our way to the ferry terminal. I was able to get a banana to eat but this was all I had to eat after lunch. As expected, the ferry terminal had nothing for me to eat.
By the time we got back into Adelaide City it was 11:30pm. We were tired and exhausted and there was no way I was going to venture out to find something to eat at that time. I went without a decent meal from lunch time until the following day. I later called the Sealink office to express my disappointment in the advice they had given me but they were not willing to talk to me about it over the phone. All feedback is via email apparently.
In terms of comfort throughout the day:
Bus from Adelaide to ferry - 10/10 - so comfy!
Tour bus - 8/10 - no complaints
Bus from ferry back to Adelaide - 4/10 - suspension was shot. You could feel every bump in the road for the whole 1.5hr trip back
Despite the issues with starving, all in all it was a lovely day.
“Perfect day tour to see the entire island!”
Amazing tour, though be prepared for a LONG day. Total travel time from Adelaide Central Bus Station to when the tour starts is about 3 hours and return from last tour stop back to Adelaide is about 4 hours. Even though we were on the bus for a majority of the tour, our tour guide, Will, kept us entertained the whole time and pointed out must-see spots along the way. We saw LOTS of sea lions in two different locations and got amazing photos. It's a little windy at some of the stops, so I recommend bringing an extra layer, especially during the winter months. Overall great tour, and would 100% do it again!
“A Must Visit in South Australia.”
Great tour except more time should be given for Admiral's Arch. Lunch was lousy.
Guide Gary was super!
“Fantasic Day Trip - Long but well worth it! Highly Recommend”
My mother and I went on a day trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island with Sealink, our tour guide from the Island was a local guy Adam and hands down the best guide you could ask for. He was so knowledgeable and really made our trip. We loved it so much much we are definitely going back and going to spend longer next time because we just loved it that much. Whilst it was a long day, we had perfect weather in mid September and the ride over wasn't at all troublesome for my mum who gets seasick. Weather was perfect and we honestly had nothing but good comments for the whole day. Both the drivers who took us on our coaches to and from Adelaide where great and we felt very safe travelling back late at night.
“Amazing day tour.”
A must if you only have one day on Kangaroo Island. Ours covered Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, the wildlife park and Admirals Arch. A 16-hour day, but worth it, and the ferry and coaches were comfortable.
“Great Day out. People were first class. More stops would…”
I nearly ended up on the wine tour by mistake — thanks to Carl and Ross for sorting me out quickly, and to Peter for the driving. Shame the arch was shut for maintenance, and we lost over an hour to island roadworks and traffic lights, which eats into a tour day. Still a cracking day, and lovely food.
“Long day !”
A very long day — 16-plus hours, most of it on bus or ferry. We saw everything advertised, but the stops felt rushed and short. Hard to fit it all in, so an overnight on the island would suit better.
“Guide extraordinaire”
Beautiful scenery and close-up encounters with the island's native wildlife. Adam was an enthusiastic guide who enjoyed the day as much as we did.
“Wonderful driver-guide”
Our local island guide shared her passion for the place — history, wildlife, daily life. Downside: every stop felt rushed. I'd have skipped the wildlife park for longer at Remarkable Rocks.
“Many Animals and knowledgeable driver.”
A long day, but worth it: away from Adelaide at 7.15am, back around 10pm. The 1.5-hour drive to the ferry turned up kangaroos, wallabies and birds, and the 45-minute crossing was flat calm, so the motion sickness tablet we'd been advised to take wasn't needed. Boarding on the island was quick — use the loo on the ferry or before the bus. Roadworks cost us time and shortened a few stops, which isn't the operator's fault. The sights are spread right along the island, so there's plenty of driving, but we saw everything we hoped to and were back at the ferry by 7pm. We'd do it again in a heartbeat, and lunch at Vivonne was delicious.
“Amazing Kangaroo Island”
Good driving and commentary from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and although the sea was rough we barely felt the crossing. On the island our driver-guide Hamish was knowledgeable and good fun. Seal Bay gave us Australian sea lions up close, then Remarkable Rocks, which live up to the name, and on past Cape du Couedic lighthouse to Admirals Arch and the long-nosed fur seals. We finished at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park feeding and patting kangaroos before the ferry and bus home. A big day of wonderful sights, and Hamish made it unforgettable.
“A well-conducted visit to a magnificent site but the last…”
A lovely visit, though the chatty guide hit a language barrier. A French option one day, maybe an app.
“Fun day on Kangaroo island”
Good trip. Gary our guide was excellent, and the wildlife sanctuary was one of the better ones we've seen in Australia. The SeaLink bus in Adelaide was a bit chaotic at the start, but the rest of the long day ran smoothly.
“AMAZING Kangaroo Island Day Trip”
A seamless Kangaroo Island trip booked through Sealink. The woman who changed our pick-up and pointed us to the nearest parkade was helpful and efficient. The air-conditioned coach left on time and the driver explained what to expect on the run to Cape Jervis, and the ferry departed punctually — there's a cafe on board, though snacks are worth packing. The crossing was smooth. At Seal Bay Conservation Park we got close to the seals and the guide explained the dangers to them and to us if their habitat isn't respected. Lunch was included: a functional bistro with pleasant staff, an ample, tasty warm chicken salad and cheesecake, tea and coffee provided and cold drinks for sale. Remarkable Rocks is one of the loveliest places anywhere and there was plenty of time for photos; Admirals Arch has boardwalks right down to the bottom. Last stop was the wildlife conservation park — koalas, penguins, chickens, echidna, parrots and, best of all, kangaroos feeding from our hands. Dolphins chased the ferry home. Our driver Will knew the local plants and animals inside out, answered every question and stopped for photos at the island's best spots. Very well organised, and we saw far more in a day than we could have managed alone.
“Great value for money”
Not cheap, but great value given how much is packed in — things you couldn't do on your own. Dave, our driver to and from Adelaide, was helpful and obliging. Lunch was a tasty chicken salad and cheesecake, and we were glad of the snacks we'd packed for our teenagers, as there's little chance to buy food earlier. Kevin, the island driver, was informative but monotone, and unhelpful when we asked if our party of five could sit together at lunch; the venue staff sorted it out and were lovely.
This looked the best way to see Kangaroo Island from Adelaide. A long day with a fair drive each end, but good hours on the island. We only had 30 minutes at the wildlife park — not enough.
“Long day but worth every minute”
First of all for people complaining that a lot of the day is spent on the coach travelling, I'm not sure how people expected anything else other than the tour guides using fairy dust to transport us all to the different places. This is only a 1 day trip and these places are far away... it takes 2 hours to get down to the ferry on the coach and another half hour or so on the ferry to the island. Then you drive right aroud the island stopping at various points.
Yes it is a long day but on the drives we saw lots and lots of kangaroos in the wild as well as camels and great island scenery.
Kangaroo island itself is amazing we were slightly in awe of the people that get to live there.
You get to walk on the beach with seals, view the amazing Admirals Arch & Remarkable Rocks, then get to feed Kangaroos and see lots of other animals at the sanctuary.
I would suggest staying awake for the drive down to view the wild Kangaroos and scenery and maybe save the napping for the way back as you will be ready for it!
“What a great Island”
The island is amazing, but the transfers weren't. There was no communication at all — most tours confirm details the day before, and nobody contacted us about our hotel pick-up, so we made our own way to the general meeting point (others did too; not far, but a poor start). Our ticket said check in at 6.15 and board at 6.30 for a 6.45 departure, yet there was nobody at the desk and the coach didn't turn up until nearly 7am. On the way back to the CBD the driver made several stops unrelated to the tour, including a postal pick-up, which stretched an already long trip. Once on the island, though, the day is superb. Kangaroo Island blew me away — the community, the history, and seeing it recover from the devastating bushfires. More people should know about it. I wish I'd known about the 2-day tour, as we'd happily have stayed overnight. Huge thanks to Adam, our guide and a local, for the jokes, the knowledge and the effort he put in for everyone. Our ferry docked 20 minutes late, which nearly cost us the beach visit to the seals, but Adam got us there anyway — and thanks for the great white stories too. The two-course meal was lovely and genuinely fresh, using a small business hit by the fires: chicken salad, cheesecake, and tea, coffee or water included. Friendly, happy staff. One of our favourite tours, and we'd come back to see the rest of the island. Tip: on the island coach, take a seat on the left-hand side, as most of the commentary points that way.
“Great but very long day out”
Excellent driver and commentary, hotel transfers included. A lunch choice and a dinner stop would be nice — it's a very long day.
“Recomendable”
Recommended if you love animals in a natural setting — I didn't enjoy the koala sanctuary, with penned animals and children shouting at them. The arch and animal park were the best stops, and Will was a friendly, knowledgeable guide.
“The pick up was terrible”
Hamish, our ranger, was wonderful and knew every species on the island. Our hotel driver came an hour late, then dropped his keys down a hole, so we missed the first ferry — and his attitude was poor. The weather meant an earlier ferry back.
“Long day full of adventure”
Loved the sea lions, Admirals Arch and holding a koala. Dave drove and knew his stuff; well organised, lunch delicious. A very long day though — next time I'd stay overnight and spread it out.
“Whirlwind tour of KI”
An incredible day, though only a taste of the island. It starts before dawn at Adelaide Central Bus Station — toilets there — with a 90-minute run to the port, where there's 15 or 20 minutes before the ferry, plus food, coffee, souvenirs and toilets. The crossing is about an hour and the tour coach is waiting as you step off; they wait for everyone. Having the bus, ferry and tour all run by the one company makes it easy. It's a quick lap of the island but never felt like a sprint, and the pacing was manageable. Our guide Dave knew the island's history, people, economy and nature, and was good company. You see seals at one of the national parks, stop for a prepaid tourist-geared lunch that's more cafeteria than local restaurant, take in lookouts, two coastal rock formations and the lighthouse, and finish at an animal sanctuary feeding kangaroos and wallabies. The return legs take about as long, so yes, the day is very long, though the five hours of travelling are restful. The main drawbacks: no time at local businesses, wineries, distilleries or off-road places, and when the driver points out something small by the roadside only the people on that side — sometimes only the driver — can see it. The ferry sells island drinks for the trip back, and the port has plenty of time and souvenirs: wine, beer, gin, eucalyptus, cosmetics and the usual tat.
“Great experience”
A great day tour. Our guide was an island local: knowledgeable, funny and quick to keep us moving. Recommended.
A great day, especially the seals and sea lions. Long, with a lot of coach time, but Peter on the hotel transfers was friendly and professional even with late guests, and Joanne, our island guide, had wonderful commentary and stories.
“Worth a visit”
All as promised, plenty worth seeing, but a very long day and night — better split over two, with an overnight in McLaren Vale or on the island. Kevin added a local touch; Phil's humour was the best bit.
“Great tour”
Great day, well planned, and you can just sit back. Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch felt a little rushed, and I felt for the slower walkers as there's a walk to both. There are easier alternatives at Seal Bay and the Arch, but do the Arch if you can — it's stunning. No toilets on board.
“This day was amazing - full of beautiful sites and fun…”
We squeezed Kangaroo Island into a packed itinerary with this one-day trip, knowing it's really a place for longer. Every site was wonderful and the selection felt carefully chosen, and Garry gave us plenty of information on the way to each one. A few things to weigh up first: time at each stop is limited, though you wouldn't want to skip any, and the tight schedule means being back on the bus on time; the best views involve plenty of walking down hills and steps, then back up them — safe, with handrails, but it can be strenuous; and it is a very long day. With only one day, you'll still be amazed how much you get to see.
“A fantastic tour”
A great way to get a feel for this lovely island. Gary our driver was a mine of information and made the day. A big one — we'll be back to spend longer at some spots.
“Recommend this tour!”
Great tour, from the hotel pick-up to a calm ferry crossing. If Gary is your island driver you're in luck — funny and full of information, but be on time or you'll get some attention. Less time at the wildlife park and more at Remarkable Rocks would be better; that was the highlight. Lunch was yummy and well organised, and Seal Bay a wonder. Better than driving yourself unless you're staying overnight.
“A trip not to miss”
Brilliant trip. Very early start and very long day so if you have time do the 2 day tour. Our driver and guide Hemish was excellent. He was very informative and a good driver. The whole trip was so well organised, you felt in safe hands. The tour was jammed pack with experiences and sightseeing. Amazing Rock formations and stunning scenery. Sea lions, kangaroos and koala bears. It included lunch which was very good.
I would highly recommend this trip!
“A fantastic day”
Fantastic!!! Collected at our Adelaide hotel on time by the coach and taken to KI ferry to spend the night at Seafront Hotel. Breakfast at The Kiosk was beautiful. The coach then picked us up for a great day to explore the island. Our bus driver was Hamish and he gave a wonderful commentary throughout the day. We learnt so much about the area. Loved the places that we stopped to visit, especially Seal Bay. Beautiful lunch at Vivonne Bay. It was well worth the huge drive to see Remarkable Rocks and Admiral Arch, just amazing geography. Got to pat the koalas and kangaroos at the wildlife sanctuary. A fantastic day and well recommended. The whole tour and transfers were extremely well organised.
“Wonderful day trip to Kangaroo Island”
A wonderful day on Kangaroo Island with Hamish, who's full of local history and knowledge — we all learnt something. Seal Bay and Admirals Arch were spectacular, and the wildlife sanctuary got us up close to the animals.
“Exceptional Day Visit to Kangaroo Island”
I really enjoyed the day visit to Kangaroo Island. I took the bus from Adelaide, then the ferry and another tour bus when we arrived at Penneshaw. Sure, it was a bit rushed and you do spend a lot of the time travelling but that's to be expected if you're not staying on the Island. Our driver and guide was Hamish and he was a true fount of knowledge on the nature, origins and history of Kangaroo Island. The scenery and views at Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch were spectacular; and we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to see sea lions, seals, wallabies and koalas in their natural habitat (although some are not native to the island). So yes, it is a long day but it's a very worthwhile one and perfectly designed for a single day visit.
“Hit and miss”
Great experience going to kangaroo lsland and across the ferry, good sightseeing and places to see, but the schedule is a little tight but very interesting and worth doing, gifts and merchandise are dearer, but if you want this that's fine,all in all a good day.
“Amazing Trip”
Good trip and experience. Love the sea lion and amazed with the nature creation. Only disappointment is we only have 30 mins at the wildlife park. Scott our tour leader cum driver is funny and knowledgeable. Try to avoid Dec, really hot!
“Exhausting Day, but Worth It”
Okay, first of all, if you go to Kangaroo Island, plan on staying at least one night. I couldn't because of timing, and I still had fun, but it was exhausting and there's a lot to see. The bus driver from Adelaide was great with lots of info, which kept the two hour trip down manageable. The crossing was fine and very professional. The tour on KI with Gary was awesome, but again, there's so much to see, you spend a lot of time driving. Then, at 7, you get back on the boat, I was at the hotel by 10:30. That's 6:30 am to 10:30 pm! That's a long day. Still it was worth it because I had no other choice, but if you can plan ahead, I'd try to stay there longer.
“Fantastic tour”
Just a fantastic experience! The tour is 10 out of 5. Adam was super-friendly and knowledgeable. The weather was a bit windy and rainy at the beginning but became much better after the ferry. My advice - have a jacket with you. The tour is worth every single dollar.
“Just what we needed and had time for”
This tour is perfect if you only have one day like we did. Crammed in the headline sights in a full day which gives you a taste of the island. Dave, our driver/guide, was super knowledgable about KI so made the journeys between sights interesting and he was very generous with his time with us and our daughter (11).
“Worth it!!!”
I have to say that this trip was such a great experience and worth the price. You will see all its promised! Sea lions are absolutely fabulous , koalas sanctuary also!
I am really glad for that experience.
Also big thanks to the bus driver !
“Excellent for those with limited time!”
Good itinerary for one day - saw key sites (Seal Bay, Admiral's arch, remarkable rocks, Koalas). Enough time at each of these locations. Lunch was ok too
“A very long day, but worth it if you only have a day!”
This absolutely hits the highlights which are amazing! It's a very long day (6.30am pick up and 10pm drop off with most of that being travel time!) so if you can spare another day or two I really think it would be much better to stay on the island for a bit! But we only had a day, so we did this and it was awesome.
“Amazing guided tour”
We did the single day guided tour which ended up being one of the highlights of our honeymoon. We were very lucky to have had a warm, sunny day which made the trip even more memorable.
We were staying in Adelaide city, so it was an early (6:30am) start. We were picked up in the city by a large coach and driven down to Cape Jervis which was air-conditioned and the seats were comfortable. The trip from the city to Cape Jervis is roughly 2hrs, once we arrived we were ushered into the SeaLink Ferry Terminal and the staff there were helpful providing our tickets and some directions on where to find our guide once we arrived at Penneshaw. The ferry trip over to Kangaroo Island takes approx 50min.
Back on dry land at Penneshaw, we were greeted by our guide Kate and ushered into a smaller tour bus with about 18 others. The island is quite large, so there is a fair amount of driving to be done to get to each location, but Kate was very knowledgeable and provided the group with some incredible facts, stories and history of Kangaroo Island while we were on the road. Kate was very easy to get along with and really made the trip enjoyable.
Our first stop was Seal Bay, we were taken by Park Rangers down a hill onto a viewing platform and then down some stairs onto the sand to see sea lions in their natural habitat. Again we were quite lucky with the weather as there were a lot of seals out on the beach sunning themselves which was a great photo opportunity. The Rangers provided some great information about the seals and their conservation efforts.
Our next stop was the Parndana Hotel for lunch, we had the chicken schnitzel which was delicious!
Next was the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park where we were able to see a large range of Australian animals as well as hand feed KI Kangaroos, a species endemic to the island.
Our next stop was Admiral's Arch within the Flinders Chase National park, this was a short walk down a boardwalk to an amazing rock arch formation with plenty of seals playing in the water and sunning themselves on the rocky surfaces below. Fantastic photo opportunities with great views here.
Our final stop was Remarkable Rocks, still within the national park. Again another incredible rock formation on the cliffs above the water. Although quite windy at the time, the weather was fantastic and we were able to get some incredible photos at this location.
“A must to visit when in SA”
This absolutely hits the highlights which are amazing! It's a very long day (6.30am pick up and 10pm drop off with most of that being travel time!) so if you can spare another day or two I really think it would be much better to stay on the island for a bit! But we only had a day, so we did this and it was awesome.
“A must to visit when in SA”
16 hours, too big a day,glad we planned to fly back ,15 min instead of 3 hours.
Very good guide, knowledable, polite, careing,informative.
Would take 2 to 3 days to cover what we did and saw in one day with a professional local tour guide. Certain areas were also only accessible to tour operators, so self drivers would miss out. Overall a very enjoyable experience and the smooth transitions from pickup by limos from hotel to our coach at 6am transfer to ferry and from airport to hotel at 6pm was timely and totally hassle free. Definitely need to wear jeans and wind jacket.
“A nice day”
Could recommend this trip. Well organised and a very pleasant driver, Kevin, who told good stories with a good sense of humour during all the day. The only minor issue is the group size of 50 person, however it was alright anyway
“Day tour of Kangaroo Island”
A good tour covering the main highlights of the Island. We saw kangaroos, koalas, sea lions and seals, as well as the remarkable rocks. Only downside was the time restraints and the need to move on quickly. Enjoyable trip and Mon was an excellent driver/guide, very funny as well as knowledgeable
“Kangkaroo Island Day Tour”
The Seal Bay, remarkable rock, and Admiral Arch are fantastic. Only have a glimpse of the lighthouse.
“Fantastic Island to visit”
The transport arrangements were smooth including return. Our coach driver was knowledgeable and funny bloke. Definitely you need to wear rain jacket as some places, it was windy. Despite the cloudy day, it was great to see the seals (fur & non-fur) in their natural habitat closely. Saw the Koalas at Hudson Bay. While over there, honey tasting was marvellous. Lot of different flavours and the staff were very helpful and welcoming. Nice lunch before heading to the remarkable rocks and arch. Nice dinner at local Pizza place.
“Fabulous Day with our Guide, Scott”
Fabulous one day tour of Kangaroo Island - long day but well worth it. Our guide, Scott was so informative, lots of information about Kangaroo Island, it's history including first nations, the first settlers and the devasting fire in 2019. Lots of local anecdotes which made the history come to life. Lots of time on the coach but necessary as we didn't have the time to have an overnight on the island.
“Long day but worth it!”
We were picked up at the Adelaide Hilton at 615 and had a very nice 100 minute ride to the shuttle to KI. Upon KI arrival we boarded the bus and saw all the sites! Magnificent in its remoteness, beauty and dedication in preserving the environment. Great driver Vanessa who was truly enjoyable in her narrative, and quite skilled in her herding techniques as everyone had to be aboard to make the next stop...no small fete and the crowd was generally obedient. She also has a keen eagles eye for roadside critters like Echidnas and a wallaby Koala stop was tremendous!
“Amazing”
What a wonderful experience. A vey long day but well worth it. Hamish our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his island. If you are limited for time this is the way to see it. Be warned it will make you want to come back and spend more time exploring this beautiful place.
“Great tour, long day”
A great tour and Scott (our guide) was extremely knowledgeable and informative. There was quite a bit to see and jam packed into the one day, it made for an extremely long day. Next time will look to stay a couple of days on the island instead
“Within a day we saw almost everything we wanted to see in Austra”
We booked the trip only a day before our flight to Australia. To the last moment we did not believe it can be so good organized. Next day after arrival, at 6:30, a bus picked us up to the Harbor Victor. Of course it was a time pressure to see as much as possible. But we very lucky: we saw kangaroo, koala, echidna, seals, emu. We saw amazing Remarkable Rocks half of billion years old. We enjoyed by Admirals arch and lighthouse. We saw very lazy seals, mamas with babies and very terrible papa on top of his territory. We even tried a local honey ale during the lunch. Nice. Thanks a lot to organizers. Mike
“Rushed but still excellent”
To be honest, you really need two days to appreciate the beauty of kangaroo island. However, for this like us, who don’t have the luxury of time, one day was all we had. It was rushed. For some people that’s fine, but we like to take our time. So to be honest we should have just scheduled an extra day in for it.
“Our adventure started the minute we were picked up by taxi in Go”
We spent a breathtaking day exploring the wonderful delights of Emu Ridge, Seal Bay, Raptor Domain & Ki Wildlife Park! Even the stop off above Penneshaw for a welcome fish & chip supper! Wish we’d done the two day !!
“nice trip”
Nice trip which starts early in the morning.
Large group, only lunch is provided - so better put some extra food in your rucksack
We had some mixed weather, should be even nicer in sunshine mode.
“Great Long Day.”
Early rise ensured pick-up from Hotel in Adelaide.
Pre departure information meant we were prepared for possible postponement of trip : bad weather forecast!
However, despite cancellation alert, trip proceeded and we had a wild, windy and wet trip across the waters to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.
Staff on board were attentive to the needs of all.
Directions were forthcoming and once underway, all was efficient.
Pick up by Coach driver on K.I. was quick and all keenly boarded.
Coach driver Dave was great, with wonderful descriptions of life, activity and all that goes on on the Island. He was fantastic: really ensuring that our day was full of all possibilities despite the inclement weather forecast.
Skies cleared for a sunny afternoon and so many wonderful sights and scenes were experienced it was a memorable day.
The final treat on K.I. was a koala crossing the road in front of the Coach: a chance to view the bush fire-scarred male who posed for photos on the ground; then he climbed a shrub to sit and pose for more!
A long day; long drive "home" to the Hotel, was rewarded by seeing a wallaby jumping in the long grass and shrubs beside the road on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
“Beautiful and looong day trip”
Wonderful day with fabulous weather. Great tour guide. Beautiful scenery and stories. So many things to see - some places seemed a bit rushed. Highly recommended.
“Enjoyable and lengthy trip”
Was a very enjoyable experience, despite the length, and seeing the seals was something to cross off the bucket list.
“Amazing Kangaroo Island Day Tour”
The Kangaroo Island in a day tour from Adelaide was amazing. The drive through the countryside from Adelaide to the ferry port was beautiful and we saw dolphins and a whale on the ferry trip. Dave gave us a warm welcome on the island and was an amazing tour guide throughout the day, keeping us entertained with information and great vibes on the coach. We hit all the highlights of Kangaroo Island with the wildlife park being a particular highlight feeding kangaroos and being able to stroke the koalas. Very nice 2 course lunch and smooth running throughout the entire itinerary from start to finish. My best day in South Australia by far!
“Great day out”
My wife & her parent came on this tour & the four of us absolutely loved it. We stayed on island & where picked up by shuttle bus & taken to our coach where we joined the tour, our guide Vanessa was fantastic, a wealth of local knowledge & extremely competent behind the wheel. For us the tour was perfect, we were short on time & we where shown the highlights it is an absolutely beautiful place, should have stayed a week.
“Outstanding and Wonderful”
Yes the day is long and you have to travel on a coach a lot but uf you are shocked by that you haven't read the description. Pick up was on time, coach and ferry crossing very comfortable as was the rest of the travel. As you are dealing with nature nothing is guaranteed but we saw Sea Lions, koalas, seals and kangaroos up close and in their habitat. We also spotted eagles, other birds and a wallaby with a death wish! This is not a zoo trip don't expect a show or to hold them. We also went to the Remarkable rocks and Admirals Arch , both breathtaking. Lunch was great and or guide/ driver , Garry, was suppurb, very knowledable, entertaining and funny. A terrific experience.
“The Kangaroo Island tour was amazing. A big day with lots to see”
Two thumbs up - Kangaroo Island
“All day long kangaroo island excursion.”
5. It was a long day but It was what I expected. A biggest bang for your buck long day hitting many of the interests on kangaroo island. The guide was exceptional.
“Amazing place”
If you put a side Adelaide pick up and drop off lack of any courtesy, then the trip is great. We were left standing at 6:40 in the morning at a bus stop for 40 minutes with outside temperature of 6 degrees... at the drop of We were left a block away with out an explanation either.
The island trip though was full of great animals sightings We saw seals, koalas, echidnas and various birds. Remarkable rocks is a breathtaking place, the only problem with the number of busses arriving at the same time it does not feel like the spiritual place it is - more like a market :( It is still an impressive place and definitely worth visiting
A separate mention to our guide and bus driver Vanessa - she was brilliant! Knowledgeable, lovely, very professional and absolute pleasure to be around. If you booking the trip maybe ask for her if possible. She obviously cares about the island and it comes across very naturally
“Kangaroo Island”
Kangaroo Island is an amazing place to visit. It is diverse and everything about it - the animals & scenery, I loved it all. The only places of interest to me that we didn't visit was the Honey Farm and the Eucalyptus Distillery. If I had chose the 2 day tour that would have been included.
Hamish our Tour Guide & Driver was excellent, he is so knowledgeable about the Island and very passionate in preserving it's native and natural wonders. Kangaroo Island was the highlight of my 2 week tour.
“Great day”
This was a magnificent tour, great to see so much of the island in a day. But it is a really really long day (around 16hrs) with a lot of time spent on the bus. It the sites were worth it if you’re time poor and cannot spend more than a day visiting. Our tour guide was lovely and very funny, keep the mood high even when tiredness was setting in.
“Amazing day trip with fantastic tour guide”
We had an absolutely brilliant tour of Kangaroo Island. As we only had a few days in Adelaide we chose the one day tour to really just get a taste of the island and get an idea of what's there, with a view to maybe coming back in the future for a longer trip. From the minute we were picked up in Adelaide CBD we were well looked after by the Sealink staff. However, our driver and tour guide for the day - Dani - was just incredible. She was remarkably knowledgeable about the island, was friendly and professional, and took amazing care of us all as we went around the various activities. They really pack in the sight seeing on the day trip and I think it's great value for money, there is plenty to see and the tour on the bus makes it really interesting and engaging. I would highly recommend! And we'll definitely be back to Kangaroo Island for a longer stay!
“Was a very good trip, however pretty long, the seals were a cool”
Was a very good trip, however pretty long
“Well coordinated tour and a wonderful experience”
We had a pleasant tour of the island with the very nice commentary from our tour guide cum bus driver. The bus ride was comfortable and there was enough time to enjoy the sights and scenery of Kangaroo Island. Lunch was good and served quickly by friendly staff. The ferry ride to and from the island was pleasant but I recommend to take sea sick medication if you suffer from motion sickness. It was a long day which started from hotel pickup at 6:10 am and we got back to our hotel at 10pm. Tiring but worth it.
“If you are visiting South Australia you should consider Kangaroo”
Driver and guide in one she show grate knowledge and presented very well. As a local person her stories make trip to Kangaroo Island special and one to remember
“Amazing place”
Beautiful Island. Day trip long but fun and lots to see. Sea Lions and Seals were amazing. We were very close to Sea Lions. Bus trip fun and not boring. Saw Kuolas in trees and Kangaroos. Wish we could have stayed for days. We only saw a part of the Island but it was amazing. Rock formation on water was fun to walk around.
“Kangaroo Island day tour”
Great tour from start to finish. We were pick up on time from our hotel and shuttle to Cape Jarvis by driver Robin. Did the crossing to Kangaroo Island which was lovely. Meet on Kangaroo Island by driver Mark which I must say is Perfect guide and driver. We had plenty of time to see the sights and Admirals Arch is spectacular. Lovely lunch at did the crossing again and Con was our shuttle driverback to our hotel. I cannot praise the drivers enough so I highly recommend this tour.
“ Seamless and enjoyable day”
Our first driver was friendly but mostly silent on the long drive down to Cape Jervis which was disappointing as I wanted to learn about SA and Adelaide. He only mentioned the name of things if someone specifically asked. Then kind of just dropped us at the ferry and didn’t really explain how to get our tickets. Our next driver at KI was amazing. Gary was friendly, funny, warm, and knowledgeable. We sometimes had a hard time hearing him from the back of the bus but we got most of it. Would’ve liked to stop at the visitor centre but I gathered it was still being rebuilt. The seals were so cute and the kangaroos were so friendly and had their paws resting on my hands whilst they ate out of it like my puppy. Was so sweet. Have also never seen koalas this close. Usually at zoos they are higher up but this enclosure was very good for up close viewing.
Lunch was okay. Delicious chicken with salad and a cheesecake. Would’ve been nice to have a quick dinner but understand there is no time. The ferry cafe was stocked well enough.
“A long but great day!”
Being in Adelaide, we decided to jump on a tour to get onto KI. An amazing place with many aspects to look at. The pickup was all good and near out CBD accommodation. Normally I would have hired a car and dome this myself (with friends). The bus trip was more relaxing, the driver was very knowledgeable and threw in some good old dry humour along the way! In fact, there was heaps more, so really a couple of days may be even better! Do your self a favour and get over to KI!
“Scenic day on Kangaroo Island”
Is the one-day trip to Kangaroo Island worth the high price? Maybe. But after coming to Australia from so far away I want to see as much as possible. The tour with SeaLink was very efficiently run beginning from the early morning pick-up until being dropped off after 10 pm at night. Our guide Marc was great. He explained everything and told us all about the island and its history. The stop at Seal Bay was wonderful as was the koala viewing and visits to the "remarkable rocks" and "Admirals Arch"- different seal colony there. Lots of time spent on the bus but Kangaroo Island is large and a long drive from Adelaide. Only gripe is that we were given just 30 minutes at the remarkable rocks and also 30 minutes at Admirals Arch. The walk from the bus to each site takes a minimum of 10 minutes (more for those with mobility problems) leaving little time to enjoy each place to the fullest. Overall I am glad I took the trip as the sites were very enjoyable and quite photogenic.
“Kangaroo tour”
Had an awesome day, awesome guided tour around 4 different places, seal bay, birds of prey, wildlife park, emu emporium, a must do, things for the kids to do, u can even get to cuddle a koala, feed the kangaroos,
“Kangaroo island experience”
Loved being able to feed kangaroos. Loved the comfortable coach seat . Every thing was on time, no delay.
Garry was very good tour guide, really enjoyed the information given by him during the trip.
“Regeneration of a wonderful island”
What a great reintroduction to Kangaroo Island. I had been there more than twenty years ago but wanted to see it after the fires. The island is ready for tourists and actually looking at the regeneration is a highlight. Of course the natural beauty of the coast line and the fauna is a major aspect and you be intrigued as to how the fires actually had a positive impact. The tour is long at 16 hours but really you don't realise it until the coach trip in the large coach that you realise it but you just drop off to sleep. All parts of the tour is highly professional. The guide, Hamish, was superb and you can tell he likes his job and Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is a must visit even if it is for one day
“Great Day Out”
This trip was one of the highlights of our whole holiday. We travelled all over the island, stopping regularly to see seals, koalas, kangaroos & some spectacular scenery. The coach was really comfy & air conditioned & water was provided. Lunch was lovely - chicken / sausages with salad & bread plus a dessert.Would definitely recommend taking a hat & some sun cream! It was a really long day, but well worth it.
“Kangaroo island experience”
had perfect one day trip to Kangaroo Island with local guide. we explored the area and had lot of fun. The island is lovely to visit with kids.
“Ticked a lot of boxes for our Oz trip”
Ticked a lot of boxes with this trip. Saw wild and rescued kangaroos, koalas and many other creatures. Our coach driver Hamish was outstanding. Downside was long periods on the coach but was enhanced by the informative commentary from our driver. Great lunch too.
“Ticked a lot of boxes for our Oz trip”
Ticked a lot of boxes with this trip. Saw wild and rescued kangaroos, koalas and many other creatures. Our coach driver Hamish was outstanding. Downside was long periods on the coach but was enhanced by the informative commentary from our driver. Great lunch too.
“Great day out from Adelaide, but sadly since we went has been af”
we pre-booked with Viator, and took the morning flight to the island, returning by the ferry in the evening. Its a long day, getting picked up from our hotel at 07.40, and finally getting back around 22.00. The island was fantastic - great coastline, lots to see and much wildlife, especially the sealions at Seal Bay. The tour around the island was by coach, with about 20-30 people on the tour. Due to the numbers there is no flexibility to stop other than the designated places on the tour. Places worth seeing include the Eucalyptus oil store, the Remarkable Rocks, Admiral's Arch, the Brothers islands and the general scenery. We also saw koalas at Hansons Bay wildlife centre. The ferry left just before sunset, and took anout 90minutes, and then a coach takes you back to the hotel; the time on the coach dependent on how many different hotels the driver has to stop at to let people off
“Kangaroo Island Experience Day Trip by Coach and Ferry with…”
A very enjoyable if long day — away at 7am, back in Adelaide at 10.30pm — covering a good cross-section of the island. Excellent coach, and the driver, a lifelong islander, shared a wonderful amount of information over 375km. Two letdowns: the Seal Bay beach walk didn't happen for lack of time, leaving about 20 minutes for seal photos, with staff keen to shut the shop at 5pm sharp, which disappointed the overseas visitors; and we saw no kangaroos, presumably staying in the shade on a warm, sunny day. Still memorable in my 85 years. Adventure before dementia — just do it.
“Excellent natural environment”
A day on the island with Sealink. They picked our group up from Adelaide Bus Station around 6.30 and drove south through McLaren Vale to the ferry, then a large coach took us to Seal Bay and the koala sanctuary, home to 55,000 koalas. Lunch was included and perfectly adequate. Remarkable Rocks, a long-nosed seal colony and several rugged coastal lookouts followed, and the visitors centre has plenty of island souvenirs. I was driven to the airport at the end while most took the ferry, reaching the mainland about 7pm. A long day, though I was glad I went.
“Very nice excursion”
Pricey at first glance but worth every cent. A big day — out about 6am, back around 10.30pm. Kind guide, excellent meal, exceptional scenery, plus koalas and kangaroos.
A good tour — sea lions on the beach walk, koalas with young, fine views and a good lunch. A wonderful day.
“A beautiful day on Kangaroo Island”
Sea Bay and Hanson Bay underwhelmed; Remarkable Rocks and the arch with its sea lions made the day.
“Much appreciated!”
The tour was great. Had an awesome time, great sights and was everything I expected. The bus driver was really knowledgeable and helpful.
“Our tour guide was knowledgeable and informative.”
It was a long day kept interesting with frequent stops. Lunch was well organised and amazing - complements to the establishment. A really enjoyable experience and highly recommended.
“Best tour of our life! ”
Tom was on time picking us up at our Adelaide hotel - in an appropriate tour bus! (Quite a contrast to the Great Ocean Road vehicle). At Penneshaw, Alby was our local guide. He was excellent at providing full interpretive talks on flora, fauna, birds, and regional history. We appreciated that he assisted the staff at Seal Bay Conservation Park to enforce distances between tourists and the animals. The buffet lunch was delicious, with a varied offering.
“Amazing place”
Beautiful Island. Day trip long but fun and lots to see. Sea Lions and Seals were amazing. We were very close to Sea Lions. Bus trip fun and not boring. Saw Kuolas in trees and Kangaroos. Wish we could have stayed for days. We only saw a part of the Island but it was amazing. Rock formation on water was fun to walk around.
“Exceptional”
A one-day round trip from Adelaide and back, and it is a huge day, but worth it. Collected bang on 6.20am, then down to the Cape Jervis ferry for the 45-minute crossing, dozing while the driver pointed out kangaroos. The coaches on the island were well organised and our guide Garry knew his stuff and kept us to time: Seal Bay, Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks, koalas, and a two-course lunch at Vivonne Bay. Home at 10.30pm. The island is far bigger than we expected, so a guide helps, though two days would be better if you can.
“A very good tour!”
A long one day tour, but if you don't have two days to spare, then this tour gives you all the highlights. We were picked up at our hotel on time and dropped back off at the hotel doors. It is nice that the tour operator works together with the ferry operator and a local restaurant to make everything run smoothly. The ferry trip was very comfortable. The buffet lunch was very good. Tour guide Ian was very informative and friendly. I would recommend this tour if you need to fit Kangaroo Island into one day. It worked for us.
“Had been an awesome trip!”
Getting close to the nature and wildlife, really love the experience. But the boat ride from Adelaide to the island can be quite bumpy with the strong winds... be prepared to come with thicker jackets/hoodies!
“Our experience was amazing ”
Our tour guide was really really good . His name is Timmi , it was really refreshing to have a tour guide who had so much information to give us and his passion for the Australian outback was very evident. The food was amazing and so was the accomodation.. would highly recommend to others. Thankyou
“What an excellent day!!”
We did the ferry crossing the scenery was amazing and we saw lots of wildlife on the way by our guide was very knowledgeable Remarkable rocks were amazing, saw lots of awake koalas on the koala walk. Free lunch excellent would definitely recommend tour.
“Worth it!!!”
I have to say that this trip was such a great experience and worth the price. You will see all its promised! Sea lions are absolutely fabulous , koalas sanctuary also!
I am really glad for that experience.
Also big thanks to the bus driver !
“Tour guides were fantastic!”
Very informative about Adelaide to the ferry. Saw some 'roo too! K Island was a blast! A must see! the remarkable rocks are just that...Remarkable. The Sea Lions are big ham actors.
“Kangaroo Island is a really wonderful place to visit.”
Unlike any places we have visited before. Kangaroos run free. Seals swim and cavort in their own private pools Your tour includes a ferry ride to the island. Our guide on the island was a resident and she was very informative and proud of her home. We only took a day tour. Wish we could have stayed longer.
“An absolutely fabulous trip!”
Our guide was absolutely great and so knowledgeable. This tour should be on top of one's Adelaide itinerary.
“Highly recommend the tour.”
Thoroughly enjoyed the tour around Kangaroo Island, our guide Greg, who is a local, was very knowledgeable about the island and what it has to offer.
“Beautiful Kangaroo Island!!”
Pick up was perfectly on time, the driver on the Island was also the guide. He was really well prepared and nice. Lunch was good, with various choices. We did the return cruise and it fits perfectly in a day, although we wish we could have more time on the beautiful Kangaroo Island.
“Beautiful place to spend some time!”
Really good tour such a beautiful place to spend some time, tour guides were great and very informative well catered for throughout the day.
“Excellent tour guides!”
Great trip, very well organised. Lunch was fantastic. Kangaroo Is is an amazing place all will enjoy.
“Good trip!!”
Good trip but very long day. If we were to go again I would use the fly-fly option.
“Amazing flora and fauna!”
This tour was ... visiting a little piece of unspoiled ecology on earth. Amazing flora and fauna! We watched sea lions roaming around, koalas in their natural habitat and kangaroos jumping around. ... all.against the backdrop of the majesty of the surf and the soothing sounds of the ocean
“A very interesting but long day out.”
Being whisked from one fascinating sight to another with only short periods to take in the beautiful scenery and wildlife was tiring but enjoyable.
“This tour was amazing!!”
You got to see many different beautiful places. The tour was well organized and we had a great guide.
“Well worth the money.”
A great trip but a long day, very tiring. Guide on Kangaroo island brilliant. Saw some brilliant creatures.
“Great trip!!”
Efficiently planned. Took the snorkel option saw a lot of fish and coral.
Tired after a long day. Lunch was ok!
“Top notch tour!”
It makes a long day but worth every minute. The sights are wonderful and were made even more impressive by our guide who was knowledgable beyond belief about the island, its' creatures, flora, and fauna. Lunch was pedestrian fare but what do you expect in the middle of nowhere? It was hot and filling and that's enough to fuel anyone. Highly recommend!
“An completely must do trip!!”
Absolutely Fabulous day at a very special place. Guide was an island native and very knowledgeable.
“We had a wonderful full and interesting full day!!”
We chose to fly over in the morning rather than go by ferry. A little extra cost butt well worth it as it was a later start to the day. We were also able to spend time at the eucalyptus centre which is not possible if you start the day by ferry due to lack of time. Our guide was excellent and the only disappointing aspect was the wildlife park where there was very little wildlife out during the day but did see 1 or 2 kangaroos All in all we'd certainly recommend this day visit to Kangaroo Island.
“KI is absolutely stunning!!”
It's an untouched little gem bursting with Australian wildlife, we saw an abundance of echidnas lost count after 30, koalas, sea lions, seals, tammar wallabies, kangaroo island kangaroos and wedge-tailed eagles, all roaming about in their natural habitat. It was a fantastic jam-packed day, our local guide Danni was brilliant! It's the best day trip I've had the pleasure of going on, it's a long day, but definitely worth it.
“Wouldn't do it again but wouldn't have missed it”
16 hours is a long time, mostly in the bus. Very good driver, entertaining. Seal bay alone worth the time, once. If you can stretch the budget the fly in and out worth considering.
“Highly recommended!!”
Well organised day and once on the island we were lucky to have a guide who had only lived there for 12 years so his enthusiasm for the land and its animals was fresh and exciting. Nice that we were frequently off the coach and seeing the great variety of landscape and creatures that live on and around the island. There was just a bit of a hiccup at the end, when we wanted to get some supper: this was best available at the ferry port, as thhere wasn't really time for any of the other options. Highly recommended and well worth signing up for a long day out.
“Scenic day on Kangaroo Island”
Is the one-day trip to Kangaroo Island worth the high price? Maybe. But after coming to Australia from so far away I want to see as much as possible. The tour with SeaLink was very efficiently run beginning from the early morning pick-up until being dropped off after 10 pm at night. Our guide Marc was great. He explained everything and told us all about the island and its history. The stop at Seal Bay was wonderful as was the koala viewing and visits to the "remarkable rocks" and "Admirals Arch"- different seal colony there. Lots of time spent on the bus but Kangaroo Island is large and a long drive from Adelaide. Only gripe is that we were given just 30 minutes at the remarkable rocks and also 30 minutes at Admirals Arch. The walk from the bus to each site takes a minimum of 10 minutes (more for those with mobility problems) leaving little time to enjoy each place to the fullest. Overall I am glad I took the trip as the sites were very enjoyable and quite photogenic.
“Glad I took the tour!”
Very long day but scenery and points of interest well worth the early start and late finish. Driver Greg worth a special mention, very informative and great at his job.
“Overall this was an excellent tour with first rate driver/guides”
The lunch stop was a bit rushed mainly because certain guests repeatedly ignored strict " back on coach times" despite adequate reminders by the guide who, in my view showed remarkable patience and would have been supported by the majority of diligent guests if he had reprimanded those offenders! The Kangaroo Island experience was memorable and I have no hesitation recommending the experience.
“ This is a very tiring and interesting day!”
It involves a lot of driving between places of interest and you get back to your hotel very late if you opt for the return ferry. You do get to see koalas and Australian sea lions close up and New Zealand fur seals and their young on the rocks, the lunch stop provides appetizing food in a pleasant environment and the guide tries to point our other wildlife of interest, but do be prepared to spend a lot of time on the coach.
“Very well organised!”
An experience of a lifetime for those visiting Australia for the first time. Very well organised and a thrill to see koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat.
“Long day, but well worth it”
Sights were amazing, driver/tour guide was great, even lunch was far better than I expected especially as I have a gluten intolerance and a dairy allergy. Overall, an fabulous day. I would highly recommend taking a flight back though, as day was long and tiring and so the extra cost was well worth it!
“Great way to get a high level overview of the highlights.”
KI is a beautiful island, largely unspoiled. Island population is only 4000 people with agriculture and tourism being major businesses. We enjoyed all the stops average 30-45 min each. Tour includes transportation fees including pick up in Adelaide or Glenelg and a nice lunch of chicken, sausage, an all you can eat salad bar, and dessert. Our business driver Glen grew up on KI in a farming family. He was an excellent narrator and efficient at keeping track of our pack of 40 tourists perhaps former life as a sheep herder helped. Keep in mind that a lot of time is spent on the bus and ferry and the ride is pretty rough. This is understandable due to the location and size of the island. If you have motion sickness, you should either take precaution or spend more time for a leisurely trip. I was fine, but my traveling friend was thoroughly ill at the end of the day and spent several minutes heaving in the loo.
“The ferry can be rough!”
It was a long and busy day, but we saw many cool things. Great tour, had a lot of fun and it was well organized. If you have the budget, do the plane to save some time.
“ We really enjoyed the day!”
Daniel did a fantastic job and was always upbeat and friendly and certainly knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the day, wish we could have spent one night on the island. However, we just did not have the time or the money to do more.
“This is a long day, but well worth it! ”
Plan for a rest day afterwards. We particularly loved the seals, being able to get up close to them on the beach was quite amazing. The commentary was awesome, everything you need to know about the island, animals and vegetation. Take a jacket...it was much colder than in the city and we got caught out in our shorts and T shirts.
“I really enjoyed being able to see so much in one day.”
Hanson's and Admiral's Arch were high points for me. It was very hot in late February. Even though they had water available on the side of the coach, only tiny cups were provided. I felt dehydrated all day. If we had been given larger cups or bottles to refill, that could have been avoided. The guide, Mr Wilson, was fantastic and interesting to listen to.
“This could have been a great tour exempt for the long travel.”
The tour guide was very good and did his best to keep us entertained and to the schedule, we saw many animals sea lions, koalas, kangaroos from the distance even an echidna. many of the places were quite spectacular and provide opportunities for great pictures. If you don't mind been on a Bus for a long day then you will enjoy the tour.
“Fantastic tour!”
It didn't even feel like it was 16 hours long we could sleep on the bus from and to Adelaide. Great local driver/guide - knowledgeable, kind and very attentive to people's needs. Enough time spent at each site to watch wildlife in their natural habitat I saw 9 koalas in the wild... Wow!. As we are not big walkers or swimmers and were keen on seeing the most interesting sites of KI, we found this tour an ideal alternative to self-drive, specially considering the exorbitant prices of the ferry for cars and people.
“Wonderful tour”
We saw so many animals that were spectacular. The seals at Seal Bay were awesome. Just walking around everywhere. You can't get close to them to pet, but close enough to take wonderful pictures. Our tour guide, Jackqueline was great too. She told us so much information. Also saw the fur seals from New Zealand that were laying around on the rocks. Saw kangaroos from a distance. You won't be disappointed, so sign up to take this tour. Just so much fun.
“The tour was great!!!”
Knowledgeable tour guide who was one of the original settlers on the island. The views were fantastic. We saw a lot of seals, rock wallabies, coupe koalas. No kangaroos as they are largely nocturnal although we did see some on the ride to the island. It is a long day if you take the bus option. Looking back, it may have been worth it to fly one of the legs. I was disappointed that we did not see any penguins as I must have misread the review as that is only for the stay over as again, they came out after we left for the ferry back to Adelaide.
“The day tour was amazing!!!”
So much to see and do. Seal cove was incredible. Such amazing scenery. Well organized . Only let down was the food.
Overall would definitely recommend the trip!
“We enjoyed the day”
Interesting to see the seals and sea lions. Beautiful scenic interludes. However, this is a very very long day! I liked it but one must be prepared for how long one must travel to get this one in one day.
“Definitely worth the effort and time.”
It was a long day as i choose to cruise instead of fly but you would get to see a lot on the island, sea lions, koalas, seals, remarkable rocks and admiral arch.
“It was a long day but the tour was really good. ”
The guide was great. All the stops were interesting even though we were dodging rain showers all day.
“Wonderful tour!”
Wonderful tour with a great driver/guide who was a local from the island. We saw seals, kangaroos and koalas! I would recommend bringing some snacks since the lunch was a bit boring.
“Excellent trip!!”
Could not recommend it higher. Kangaroo Island is a fascinating place with lots to see. The guide was local and very knowledgeable. An extremely good tour.
“Jammed Packed, Fun Day!”
Fair warning, this is a seriously long day: collected at 6.05am, back at the hotel by 10.30pm. A coach runs to Cape Jervis, about two hours from the city, then a 45-minute ferry across. Worth it all the same, and you can always stay on the island instead. Seal Bay and the Remarkable Rocks were my favourites, and the rocks truly live up to the name.
“One day tour of KI”
A long day but a wonderful one. Greg, our driver-guide on the island, was great and the tour so well run. Remarkable Rocks was incredible, plus sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, koalas and kangaroos. On the drive back I counted over a hundred kangaroos and a stunning sunset.
“Kangaroo island one day tour from Adelaide was great.”
A very early start from the Adelaide CBD bus station, then a coach to Cape Jervis for the 45-minute ferry, with wild kangaroos in the paddocks along the highway. Another bus met us on the island. First the seals, where we walked down onto the beach at a safe distance while a ranger explained their habits and took questions. Lunch was where every tour seems to stop: buffet style, billed as chicken or beef, which meant a chicken thigh and a beef sausage with green salad, coleslaw, noodles and potato salad. Fine but not fancy, and the sausage tasted more like lamb, which I'm not keen on. Then a ranger walked us through the wild koalas and pointed each one out, followed by the Remarkable Rocks, which were astonishing, and Admirals Arch at the end of a long boardwalk. We stopped in a town for food on the way back, and the ferry sells food too. Worthwhile, though the drive to the ferry is a fair haul.
“This trip was excellent!”
Its a long day but the number of sights we visited could not have been accomplished without being on an organised tour. Our driver Greg was local to the island and was very informative. One of our favourite points of the day was seeing the New Zealand fur seals in their natural habitat. The only negative was that the description of lunch was not accurate. The food was OK, though why fish was not offered when it is an obvious choice for an island with a fishing fleet is surprising. However there is no fine 'stunning Vivonne Bay' or 'looking at wildlife from the restaurant windows' its a hut amongst trees, no views or wildlife. That said lunch was a minor part of the day and the trip was well worth doing.
“A fantastic day !”
Getting pretty close to Sea Lions a with babies - Koala bears with babies - seeing basking brown fur seals - spotting Kangaroos and finally seeing the spectacular scenery and coastline at Kangaroo Island made for a wonderful time. lunch was also very good. Our local guide was brilliant! Totally recommended!!
“A fantastic trip which was really well organised.”
Long day but well worth it. The bus driver and guide Gary made the trip so much more enjoyable, nothing was too hard or difficult. Lunch was great too!! I would recommend the trip to anyone who is on a tight schedule and wants to experience the wildlife and remarkable scenery of KI.
“Whether you do any tour in Adelaide or not, but don't miss this!”
Our tour guide Greg was simply amazing with his interesting stories and food was awesome. Carry a water bottle and it will be filled by tour guide. Remember to carry a light jacket too. Stunning place to visit.
“Long day but fun!”
Took flight over and ferry back - if we knew that part was solo long we would have elected to take the flight bad as well.
“It was a very enjoyable day!!”
Although a very long day picked up from our hotel @ 6.20am and returned at 10.30pm, it was a very enjoyable day which was thoroughly enhanced by having a very knowledgeable and funny driver / guide in Garry. His ongoing commentary was brilliant and he made everyone feel most welcome on the island as he pointed out the island's highlights and inhabitants. The highlights tour only wet our appetite to return to Kangaroo Island for a more thorough visit which we will do in the near future. A highly recommended tour for anyone visiting Adelaide and South Australia.
“This was a great tour and experience!”
A great value compared to doing the tour on your own. The one day was just enough to see all the highlights of Kangaroo Island. Loved seeing all the Koala at the sanctuary. Our tour bus driver Glen was great, funny and very knowledgeable since he is a 5th or 6th generation Kangaroo Island native. Some tips: its a long day so take snacks. Although there are options to buy snacks at ferry terminal and on the island upon arrival, you won't have time. Also, if its a really hot day, you might not see a lot of Kangaroo unless it cools off. Wear layers...the temps and wind really changed throughout the day.
“Kangaroo Island itself is beautiful!”
This trip required an hour long bus trip to the ferry, a ferry ride, transfer to another bus, and then all over again back to our hotel and was worth every minute. The buses were comfortable and the hotel pickup was prompt. Every transfer and aspect of the day was expertly overseen by SeaLink. Our guide for the tour was knowledgeable as he had lived on Kangaroo Island for many years. We saw kangaroos, koalas, and seals. The National Park guide who led us to Seal Bay was informative and loved her job. The lunch provided was good, if not great, but satisfying. Kangaroo Island itself is beautiful and in a 24 day trip, this day was one of our highlights!
“A good way to see the highlights of Kangaroo Island”
It is a long day and a lot of it is spent sitting on the coach, we were glad we chose the option to fly back to Adelaide. Our guide was very good, telling us lots about the island and its wildlife. Loved seeing the koalas, seals and kangaroos in their natural habitat. Lunch was very good and our request for a gluten free meal was action ed. The scenery on the Fleurieu Peninsula on the way to the ferry was also amazing.
“Wonderful 1 Day Tour of Kangaroo Island”
Kangaroo Island is a must if you're in Adelaide, and the one-day tour was fantastic. It is a long day and costs a lot, but the money was well spent. Glen, our driver-guide, knew a huge amount about the island's history and had interesting commentary at every stop: Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, sea lions and New Zealand fur seals, and the koalas at Hanson Bay. There's far more than one day allows, so a few days there or a multi-day tour would show you more.
“Brilliant tour”
We joined the one-day Kangaroo Island Experience at Cape Jervis for the ferry to Penneshaw, though coach pick-up from Adelaide is an option. Our driver-guide Jacqueline gave us a tour of a lifetime with excellent commentary: the sea lion colony at Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase, and Hanson Bay sanctuary. A long day, but memorable.
“We Saw a Lot of Kangaroo Island in One Very Long Day”
The bus picked us up outside our hotel and we boarded the SeaLink ferry at Cape Jervis. Our friendly local guide covered much of the island in one day, including Seal Bay and a great sanctuary with koalas and echidnas. Lunch is included; dinner was takeaway on the way home. The ride back was slow, with drop-offs near the airport and in the suburbs before the CBD, so we weren't at our hotel until after 11pm. Make time for Kangaroo Island if you're in Adelaide.
“Interesting Island tour”
Hotel pick-up at 6.10am for the 2.5-hour run to Cape Jervis, with a mail trailer on the back and a stop at the Yankalilla bakery for cakes to sell on the ferry. Boarding was quick and the crossing to Penneshaw smooth; the ferry café has reasonably priced sandwiches, pies, cakes and coffee. Garry drove and guided all day with excellent commentary on the island's history and the country we passed. First Seal Bay Conservation Park for the Australian sea lions, where the park guide was very informative, then an excellent lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro of beef sausage and chicken breast parcel with good salads. Koalas at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, where metal stands mark their trees, then Flinders Chase for Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and the New Zealand fur seals. Back at the hotel at 10.15pm after a very enjoyable day.
“1 Day Kangaroo Island Experience”
Outstanding overall, but be warned it's a full 17-hour day with long bus and ferry legs at each end, and ours was a rocky crossing. Well coordinated given all the moving parts and stops. We saw kangaroos, koalas, fur seals and sea lions, and Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch are fascinating geologically. Marc was funny and knowledgeable, walking with us at every stop so we missed nothing. The included lunch was okay, the chicken better than the beef sausage, and the local Cabernet (extra) was excellent. Good value for all that's provided.
“Unique sights in natural surrounding”
We joined the SeaLink day tour from our hotel. After several pick-ups it's a loooong run to the ferry and a 50-minute crossing. It was well organised and our island driver was knowledgeable. Seal Beach was a treat and the Remarkable Rocks were just that. The drawback is the distance from Adelaide to the ferry: well over a 12-hour day, so be prepared.
“Excellent well planned/organised tour”
Sixteen hours, so be ready for a long day, though a good lunch is included. Rick, our driver-guide, was helpful about which parts suited passengers with a disability. Two hours from central Adelaide to the fast ferry after hotel pick-up, then 40 minutes across. The island tour is comprehensive: seals at Seal Bay, New Zealand fur seals at Admirals Arch down a boardwalk and 40 steps, koalas, kangaroos, and for us a tiger snake and goannas. Lovely coast, a short bush walk before the meal, well timed if guests keep to it.
“Wow- what a day!”
I'm an Adelaide local and had never been to Kangaroo Island. The day started at 6.30am with the bus to Cape Jervis for the 9am ferry to Penneshaw, which was rocky enough that I'd take tablets if you're prone to seasickness. Forty-five minutes across, then Seal Bay, which was amazing, with Stephanie knowledgeable and lovely to chat with. Lunch at Vivonne Bay was pleasant and a good standard for a tour group, then Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, which involve some walking but reward you with the views. The 7.30pm ferry back put us in Adelaide at 10.30pm. It's a long day, and mine was 40 degrees, which left me shattered. Still amazing, and I'd strongly recommend it. Kevin, our driver, was knowledgeable and passionate about the island. With more time, the overnight tour adds the northern side. I can't wait to return.
“Lovely and Enjoyable All Day Tour”
Kangaroo Island was my whole reason for visiting Adelaide and it didn't disappoint. The tour is a long 16 hours, but the views and animals are worth it: sea lions up close on the beach, koalas and kangaroos at Flinders Chase, fur seals along Admirals Arch. One for animal lovers. The ferry rides were great and we made new friends.
“A little pricey but a great tour guide”
A lengthy trip with most of it on a bus. For $275 we boarded at 6am, ran down to Cape Jervis, took the 45-minute ferry, then changed coaches for eight hours around the island. Greg was very informative and told us where to spot kangaroos from the bus. Lunch at Vivonne Bay Lodge was very good and the afternoon stops fantastic. SeaLink should hand out an itinerary at the start to save the confusion at the Cape Jervis transfers.
“Very good highlights tour, but a large group”
If you're not local and short on time, this is the way to do Kangaroo Island: hire cars can't go on the ferry and there's no public transport. The day runs about 6am to 10.30pm, much of it in transit, which is fair enough for Australia's third largest island, plus 45 minutes each way on the ferry. Very well organised, though I'd have liked a group smaller than 48 and more than about 30 minutes per stop. Moderately expensive, but I couldn't have matched what was packed into the time. Jacqueline was a great, knowledgeable guide, and we saw fur seals, koalas, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. I'd go back and stay longer, off a tour.
“Great stuff”
Great day trip to Kangaroo Island. On-time pick-up, well organised ferry and a good crossing. Very long day, but totally worth it: sea lions on a stunning white beach, wild koalas, lovely coastline, the Remarkable Rocks. Good lunch. Only annoyance was the flies.
“Many Highlights well Planned Day Tour”
Surely the longest day tour going: picked up about 6.30am, back around 10.40pm. Well planned and efficient, though. Around two hours by coach from the CBD to the Cape Jervis ferry, then several island attractions, lunch included, with stops at Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and the lighthouse.
“KI in a day!”
We left Adelaide Central Bus Station at 7am for Cape Jervis and the 8.30 ferry, in clean, modern, comfortable SeaLink coaches. Greg, our driver-guide, is a local Islander with obvious passion for his home, and the commentary was informative. Just enough time at each stop: Seal Bay, lunch at Vivonne Bay, Hanson Bay sanctuary, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, back in Adelaide just after 10pm. A long day but so worth it, and the organisation was outstanding. A magical place, rich in natural beauty and history.
“Best single day tour of Kangaroo Island”
With only three days in Adelaide and a flyer about Kangaroo Island, we booked a SeaLink day tour. Early pick-up from our Glenelg hotel, a smooth ferry from Cape Jervis, then a bus on the island. An amazing day: sea lions up close at Seal Bay, lunch at Vivonne Bay, then Flinders Chase with Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, where we took endless photos. At another stop we walked through trees and counted 14 koalas, including a mother and cub. The driver kept up detail about the island all the way, then the ferry and a bus back to the hotel ended a marvellous but very long day. If you only have one day, take this tour.
We did the day trip, an early start and late finish, but a great day out. A two-course lunch is included, though take some snacks too. The Remarkable Rocks were amazing.
“Do not afford to miss”
Just back from Kangaroo Island and still on a high. Credit to SeaLink for a well organised day trip, even starting early and finishing late. There's nothing to complain about: the buses, the ferry, the guides, the lunch, the timekeeping. The guides are very efficient, and ours, Greg, kept us engaged all day with information delivered with subtle humour. The island must be one of the best places to visit in Australia, with so much on offer. The coast, the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch are spectacular, the sea lions and seals resting on the sand or playing in the water are a joy, and kangaroos and koalas are out in the open. I recommend it to everyone, and there are two- and three-day trips if you have more time. I'd go back again and again.
“Must do when in Kangaroo Island!!”
An amazing day on this SeaLink tour. Gary, our driver, was funny and knowledgeable, took pride in his job and looked after everyone on board. The Remarkable Rocks were outstanding, as was Seal Bay. Lunch was OK, and I was glad of the snacks I'd packed as there aren't many food stops. Worth the money.
The ferry-and-tour packages are pricey, largely because SeaLink controls the ferry to Kangaroo Island, but get past that and it's a good, worthwhile tour. The package includes the 6.30am bus from the Adelaide bus station on Franklin Street, almost two hours to Cape Jervis, then the 45-minute crossing, with tickets handed to you for each leg; you're on the island by about 9.15. Buses are mostly modern and comfortable, especially on the island. For a big group tour it's surprisingly good: Garry, our guide, was a hit and kept everyone moving, with no long gift shop stops or two-hour lunches, just quick toilet breaks and the key sights. You get long enough driving stretches through sparse country for a nap, plus kangaroos, koalas, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, sea lions, sweeping ocean views, seals and the occasional whale. No holding or petting animals, but you see them from the bus and fairly close. It suits all ages, and while there are steps and a decent amount of walking, it isn't strenuous. If you only have a day, this is a very good option.
“Do Kangaroo Island in two or three days”
I'd allow more than a day for Kangaroo Island. Our one-day tour felt too long, mainly the run from Adelaide to the ferry: 6.15am pick-up, back about 10.30pm, with 90 minutes to the ferry, 45 across depending on weather, then 90 minutes from Flinders Chase and another 90 to Adelaide. The tour and our guide Glen were great; he accounted for everyone at every stop and, despite a group of 44, nobody was late or lost. The setback was Seal Bay, where the group was too big and the ranger's voice too soft to reach the back, and she started before everyone had gathered, so we missed her information. Big groups should be split so all can hear, and I'd like fencing both sides of the walkway to keep seals and people safe, especially in mating season. Otherwise the two-course lunch and the rest of the tour were great. A long day on the bus, but a good time.
“Kangaroo Island is a must do”
An amazing place, and a long day that's totally worth it. Our SeaLink bus collected us about 6.20am for the 40-minute ferry crossing. Words don't do the island justice, and the wildlife is as it should be seen. The tour was comprehensive, our driver knew the island well and threw in entertaining stories, and Admirals Arch and the Remarkable Rocks are fabulous. Faultless, and worth the massive day. Stay longer if you can.
“Wonderful and a must for visitors to Adelaide”
A tiring but worthwhile day trip. We left the hotel at 6am and were back by 10pm — about an hour by bus to the ferry pier, then an hour across to the island. Lovely weather, and a very well-run day: around 300km covered in a coach of 50 people, taking in Remarkable Rocks, Seal Bay, Flinders Chase National Park and Admirals Arch.
“1 day KI tour”
A few pointers. A day tour of Kangaroo Island makes for a very long day, as it's a big island with a lot to see, so prepare yourself. The ferry can be rough, especially in winter, and it's windy and cold, so dress for it. I didn't like the lunch as I don't eat beef, but I wasn't there for fine dining. We saw less wildlife than hoped: a few kangaroos on the drive to the ferry, and the island's koalas were high in the trees when we'd wanted a better look. We still had a good time. Our guide, whose name I've forgotten, was knowledgeable and informative, the weather was fantastic, and the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch were beyond beautiful. Worth the trip, though I wish it weren't so expensive.
“Kangaroo Island day trip -Sealink tour”
About 90 minutes from Adelaide to the pier at Cape Jervis, then roughly an hour on the ferry each way, arriving on the island around 10.30am. The coach took us to the Seal Bay Visitor Centre for a naturalist's talk, then half an hour on the beach with the sea lions. Lunch was a buffet of sausages, hamburgers, grilled chicken, salads and fruit with a delicious cake. Next Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, then Remarkable Rocks, the Cape du Couedic lighthouse with fur seals on the rocks below, and finally the Flinders Chase visitor centre, which explained what we'd seen. Then the ferry back and a coach to Adelaide. It is a VERY long trip: away 6.15am, back 10.30pm. Paying about $300 to fly saves two to three hours each way.
“Nature's Paradise-Its not just about kangaroo”
We'll admit we were doubtful at first — we'd already seen plenty of kangaroos elsewhere in Australia, so a long haul out to an island for more of the same seemed odd. That doubt vanished the moment we arrived. The coach took us through some stunning country to Seal Bay, where we got remarkably close to sea lions dozing on the sand, and there were walks out to Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch in Flinders Chase National Park, plus Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro in its bush setting was a nice touch. It is a tiring day — we weren't back at our hotel until after 10.30pm — but worth every minute.
“Amazing Day”
A wonderful day out. Our island driver-guide had lived there his whole life and knew everything about the place — he really brought the tour to life. The beach walk among the sea lions was a highlight, the Remarkable Rocks live up to the name, and Admirals Arch with fur seals on the rocks was another good stop. Good lunch, and the boardwalks make access easy and safe. A beautifully run day.
“A Great Day Out!”
I was short on time so took the one-day trip. The early start and late finish make for a long day, but I was on holiday and didn't have work the next morning, so it didn't bother me. The run down to the ferry was interesting in itself — the driver kept us informed and entertained, so it felt like part of the day rather than a shuttle service. Transfers either side of the ferry were smooth, and I enjoyed the crossing; I didn't find it rough at all, though I like boats anyway. Our island guide knew the place well and the day had a good mix of activities, wildlife and scenery. Lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro was excellent. I nodded off on the drive back to Adelaide. A really good day.
“Full day to see the highlights of Kangaroo Island”
A popular way for visitors short on time to see the island's highlights. We're locals so we drove ourselves to and from the ferry terminal, but for anyone coming by coach from Adelaide it's a long day — a 6.30am start and not back until around 10.30pm. There's plenty of chance to catch up on sleep between stops, and on the ferry if it's calm. The terminal was very crowded in peak season and could do with more space and staff, but everyone was friendly and we ran on time all day. Be ready for a rough crossing; sit towards the back to help with seasickness and to be near the toilets. Our island bus driver actually lived there and knew his subject. Lunch at Vivonne Bay was excellent and ran like clockwork. There's a lot of driving and hopping on and off the bus, but it's worth it — Remarkable Rocks was my favourite, with great photo opportunities. Snacks, drinks and toilets at most stops. A good option if you're time poor, though a longer stay is better. It's usually cooler and windier than Adelaide, so wear layers and shoes you can manage steps and sand in.
“A great way to enjoy Kangroo Island, but go for longer if…”
We booked the one-day tour. It's a very long day — hotel pick-up at 6:30am in Adelaide, ferry across at 9am, return ferry at 7:30pm and back in the city between 10 and 10:30pm. If one day is all you have, this is a great way to do it. The coach drivers know the island inside out and every stop was worthwhile. Seal Bay was the standout, with a ranger-led walk that gets you fairly close to the sea lions on the beach, and there were other stops for magnificent beaches and blue water, plus koalas, kangaroos and fur seals. That said, having now seen the place I'd strongly suggest going for longer. The single day felt rushed, and when we return to Australia we plan to stay a few days to explore it properly.
“Great Day Trip”
We took the KI day trip with the fly-back option. The drive from Adelaide to the ferry is long but interesting, about 90 minutes from memory. Lots of seals, not much other wildlife. The scenery and landforms were the big plus, Remarkable Rocks especially — though I'm not sure I'd rate it so highly if I'd had to take the coach back.
“Amazing Day: Well Worth the Trip!”
My husband's business trip to Adelaide gave us a chance to visit Kangaroo Island, a bucket-list spot for me. The island turned out to be far bigger than I'd realised, so driving our hire car over for the day felt like too much. I found SeaLink's one-day Kangaroo Island Experience on TripAdvisor and booked it despite a few reviews grumbling about the length of the day. We loved it. Booking on their website was easy, there was plenty of free parking at the Cape Jervis terminal and the staff there were helpful. Daniel and the coach met us after the 45-minute crossing. He was a walking encyclopaedia on the island's history, economy, wildlife and way of life. We saw Australian sea-lions on the beach at Seal Bay, koalas in the eucalypts at Hanson Bay (many with babies) along with kangaroos resting under the trees, climbed over the Remarkable Rocks, saw the stone Cape du Couedic lighthouse, and looked out at Admirals Arch with New Zealand fur seals covering the rocks. Lunch was at a lovely spot tucked away in the bush that we'd never have found on our own, and Daniel pointed out places to grab a snack in Penneshaw before our ferry home. He reckoned we'd covered over 350km, but we weren't especially worn out and felt we'd seen the island's best. Beautifully organised and full of amazing sights — don't skip this place, even with only one day.
“1 Day Kangaroo Island Experience - a good day out”
A great day out: Seal Bay Conservation Park, the sanctuary in Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch were all lovely. Daniel, our driver-guide, was informative and interesting, and the Vivonne Bay lunch was nice. The one letdown was the short time at some stops — the schedule is built around ferry and airport transfers, so it isn't truly a full-day tour.
“This Gem Crams a Lot Into One Day”
A perfect day trip. A long bus run to the ferry shows you the country south of Adelaide, then after a short crossing another coach takes you to a sea lion colony, a seal colony, and good odds on koalas and kangaroos. Remarkable Rocks is about the most photogenic spot on the island. Don't miss this one if you're in Adelaide.
“Long day then a broken down bus on the way home!”
Took the one-day discovery tour and saw the key west coast sights — Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch — plus a decent two-course meal, with outstanding commentary from Mark, a local driver who was professional throughout and ran on time with a full bus. The drama came on the way home: the bus broke down five minutes in with a loose tube, fixed by a helpful boat mechanic. An hour gone to thoughtless management — the drivers knew about the fault before setting off and judged it fine, with forty-odd of us facing two hours of winding road in the dark. Memorable, certainly.
“I enjoyed KI very much”
I enjoyed KI very much. I know KI quite well, but went with an overseas friend.
Interested to see tour included a koala sanctuary rather than time around the national park headquarters trying to find koalas. Probably the sanctuary is better. One thing was not quite correct. I was told we had to go into the city to catch the bus when we could have caught it at a stop near Flinders Uni which was much closer than going into the city.
My friend who eats Halal food was pleased with the vegetarian option provided for lunch.
Thanks Pat
“A memorable experience”
Hotel pick-up was welcome with the 6.20am start, and the coaches are modern and clean. The ferry crossing was good and the changeovers smooth. Our local guide Greg was very knowledgeable and his commentary informative and enjoyable. Seal Bay and its many seals was the highlight, and as an Australian it was a delight watching overseas visitors enjoy our wildlife, which is abundant on the unspoiled island. A long day — back at the hotel at 10.30pm — but an excellent tour and well worth it.
“Enjoyable Day”
We did this on a recent Adelaide visit. Collected from the hotel at 6am, then a 2.5-hour run to Cape Jervis for the catamaran. The crossing was fairly rough and some fellow passengers suffered for it. A long day on the island followed. Seal Bay came with a guided beach walk, then the koala sanctuary, where our guide Les sent us down an avenue of trees to meet him at the reception building — I'd expected something more, not realising the experience is just the walk. Remarkable Rocks and Admiralty Arch followed, with interesting commentary from Les; it was very windy, which made those stops challenging but fun. A lovely lunch was included. An interesting, enjoyable day, though don't expect much wildlife — the spectacular scenery makes up for it. Our version included a 20-minute flight back to Adelaide and a private transfer to the hotel, which is worth considering: we were sitting on Rundle Street with a drink in hand while our fellow travellers still had two and a half to three hours ahead of them.
“Great way to see KI if you don't have much time”
I'm from Adelaide and took an overseas friend who was tight for time. It's a quick way to see all the landmarks, but extremely long and tiring. On the plus side it covers the big ones — Remarkable Rocks, Seal Bay and so on — lunch is included, there are plenty of toilet stops, the ferry views are lovely and you meet nice people. On the downside, most of the day is actually spent on the bus; I'd call it 60% travel to 40% sightseeing, so avoid it if you dislike buses. The food was okay, but we boarded last and weren't offered the vegetarian option everyone else got, so I was stuck with sausages. A lovely day overall, though as a South Australian I'd rather do the island properly over a few days. If you're a tourist strapped for time it's probably ideal. Bring a jacket between June and August — it's very cold. I can't recall the driver's name, but he was amazing: full of facts and a very happy bloke.
“Janin Blass”
All in all, it was a nice day. but it was a very long day and less time at each point of interest. When I think about the marvelous landscape, i don't want to miss this pictures. But i would have spend two days with the lovely sea lions :-)
“Long but Worth It”
Picked up at 6am, with an informative run down to Cape Jervis for the ferry, about 35 minutes across. The sea lions and fur seals, the eucalyptus 'factory', Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch were the highlights, lunch was plentiful and our guide Les was very entertaining. The coach pulls up outside a place doing quick meals before the ferry, which is worth using as there are no stops after that until your hotel. Back by 11pm — a long day but worth it, and SeaLink made every part of it run seamlessly and were easy to deal with.
“good wild life but long drive”
As someone who loves wildlife and photography, this trip let me do both. With more time I'd have done the two-day tour or driven myself, since it's a long drive and most of the one-day version goes on travelling. Once there, though, I loved the seals at Seal Bay, and Remarkable Rocks was the highlight for me. Our island bus driver was great and told us plenty of interesting history.
“Long day but worth it”
A very early pick-up from our city hotel, then about 1.5 hours to the ferry and a 45-minute crossing, with adequate hot and cold food for sale on board. On the island a new driver, Albie, took over — he'd lived there, loved the place and knew everything about it. We got up close to sea lions on the beach, saw different seals from a walkway, the Remarkable Rocks (which really are), koalas up in the trees, and had a nice lunch in a big cafeteria-style restaurant shared with other tours. A 6.30am start and back at the hotel at 10.30pm. It isn't cheap, but it covers a lot in one day, and not having to drive meant you could snooze on the bus. Take snacks and water — it is a very long day.
“A very cool tour”
Took this in November 2013 and quite enjoyed it. On value, a few of the day tours I did in Melbourne and Sydney were better, but none of them included a ferry — I paid about C$250 for the highlights tour. The island's scenery and wildlife are breathtaking: at Seal Bay we got very close to sunbathing sea lions, and lunch near Vivonne Bay was excellent. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was the least interesting stop, with the koalas hard to pick out in the trees. Flinders Chase was very cool. Pick-up and drop-off at my hostel made it all very convenient. It was a large group, so a touch impersonal.
The island was more rural than the wilderness the brochures had led us to expect, but we still had a great tour. The highlights were Seal Bay with the Australian hair seals, and Cape du Couedic with the New Zealand fur seals and Admirals Arch, while Remarkable Rocks was fascinating. Glenn, our guide, was full of information and easy to follow — though be warned, if you're late back to the bus he'll let you and the whole coach know that the next attraction will get less time than planned. We still reached the ferry in good time. Worth doing if you've only got a day. We stayed two nights at Cape Jervis to fit this in, but with hindsight we should have spent at least the first night on the island, as SeaLink suggested once we arrived — too late to change our plans by then.
“A great day”
Friendly staff on the ferry, and an experienced, knowledgeable coach driver who gave us a good insight into the island's main sights, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Top-notch lunch, plus time for a coffee before heading to the ferry. A long day but well worth it.
“Hectic but Worthwhile and Fabulous tour”
We took the one-day tour, collected from our hotel at 6.15am and away from the Adelaide central bus stand at 7.15am. Our driver John was informative about the country we passed through. After two hours on the bus, the ferry took 45 minutes from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. Food choice on board was poor, especially for chicken or vegetarian — the chilli chicken roll advertised wasn't available. On the island our driver Dick was very knowledgeable and we covered Seal Bay, the Hanson Bay koala walk, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. The views were breathtaking and seeing sea lions and New Zealand fur seals was incredible. Given how far the island is from Adelaide and that it's seven times the size of Singapore, the tour is bound to be hectic — with more time and money, consider the two-day version.
“A tiring day but worth it”
We hesitated for a long time about booking this highlights tour mainly because of the cost seeming relatively expensive compared to other island tours in Australia (Fraser Island, Whitsundays, etc). We eventually plumped for it reasoning that we wouldn't be in the area again and we were glad when we did. (A little tip - we booked through Lost In Australia who were willing to knock about $20 off each, not much but enough for a couple beers!)
It was an early start (6.15am at the bus station) with a two hour drive to Cape Jervis before an hour ferry. Once on the island we were greeted by Kevin our tour guide and driver who is a local KI man and full of pride and knowledge about his home. Seal Bay was fantastic and the gourmet lunch and unexpected delight. The remarkable rocks, admirals arch and koala spotting at Hanson Bay were all worthwhile.
Our tour bus had a range of ages but everybody kept pace and Kevin kept us to time. The biggest rush was the dinner before the ferry home in penneshaw which is not included but this is perhaps unavoidable in order to fit in as much as possible in one day. I'd recommend the pizza restaurant.
“Amazing place, long day tour..”
If you have the time, the island deserves at least two days. We had one, so did the one-day highlights tour. From the 6.15am pick-up to the 10.45pm drop-off it was an informative day — the drivers and guides know the place, point out what's worth seeing and do their best to dodge the crowds. Seal Bay was our favourite, along with Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch; the Hanson Bay koala and kangaroo stop was a bit disappointing. The transfer at Cape Jervis after the return ferry was chaotic for us, with the drivers unsure which bus should drop us at the Hilton. Overall an experience not to be missed, but be aware it's a very long day with a lot of time on the bus.
“Fantastic Island, very long day.”
We did the one-day highlights tour on 29 November, picked up from our Adelaide accommodation at 6.15am and back at 11pm — a very long day. The bus to the ferry takes about an hour and a half, with the driver flagging points of interest on the way. We were lucky with the weather and the crossing was excellent; a little rain during the day didn't spoil the sightseeing. At Seal Bay we got close to Australian Sea Lions on the beach and learnt a great deal from the conservation park guide. We also saw koalas, New Zealand fur seals, Flinders National Park, the Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and plenty more. Lunch was a lovely two courses at a cafe in a bush setting, and our island coach driver's knowledge of the island's history was outstanding. A wonderful day and recommended if you're short on time — though if you can spare it, the two-day tour would show you far more.
“Don't go to South Australia, without going to Kangaroo Island!”
Everyone was helpful from the moment we booked the one-day highlights tour with SeaLink — the phone staff couldn't do enough for us. It's a very long day but a rewarding one. We were staying at Glenelg and SeaLink arranged a pick-up so we could join the main group coming from Adelaide. The bus to Cape Jervis takes about an hour and a half through interesting rural country — grapes, olives and glimpses of the coast. The 45-minute ferry was fine, with plenty of seating and a snack bar. We got off at Penneshaw, boarded the tour bus and met our guide Kalen, a local who kept up commentary on history and attractions all day and answered every question — fantastic. Seal Bay was interesting and we got close enough to photograph the sea lions, with a ranger who was earnest and passionate about conservation. We watched koalas in their natural habitat, which the overseas visitors loved even if Australians can be blasé about them, and saw the Remarkable Rocks, which you have to see to appreciate. Then the seals, close up, frolicking in the surf or lazing on the rocks. There's far more to this trip, and Kalen was the icing on the cake — clearly a man who loves his job. A long day, but worth it.
“A fantastic whirlwind tour of Kangaroo Island”
I'm not really one for big bus tours, but a fantastic driver and a day packed with sights and critters make this one hard to miss. Be clear though: it's a long, long day — out the door around 6.30am and delivered back about ten at night. The first bus can collect you at your hotel, then loops around for other pick-ups before heading south to Cape Jervis, a trip of about an hour and a half. Our driver on that leg only seemed able to comment on roads, suburbs and car dealerships, which was a bit depressing; better to let people doze, enjoy the views, or rework the notes with some area history. The ferry from Cape Jervis takes 30 to 40 minutes and has a nice snack bar and plenty of seating, much of it with tables. Off the boat you transfer to your tour shuttle — be patient, they have to check names to get you on the right bus and it can be a bit of a zoo. Then relax. Stunning scenery, commentary at the attractions (Kate at Seal Bay was wonderful), and a lunch of soup with several vegetarian choices and two meat options; you can sample the lot if you like. Hopefully your driver is as funny and informative as ours, Les. You take in nearly the full width of the island, from temperate rolling farmland to forest to the wilder south-west coast, and you'll see seals, sea lions and kangaroos. There's free time to buy a meal in Penneshaw before the ferry back. Be patient again at Cape Jervis, where passengers are sorted between a couple of buses by drop-off point. Most likely you'll doze on the ride home, already cherishing the island's natural wonders. I did.
“Awesome! A well oiled machine!”
An awesome tour, both for the natural wonders — close up to sea lions in the morning, fur seals in the afternoon, and Remarkable Rocks were my highlights — and for how well the whole thing is organised. An on-time hotel pick-up, straight to the ferry, off at the island and onto the tour bus for the day, then dropped at the plane for the short hop back to Adelaide and a chauffeured run to our hotel. Really smooth service. Both bus drivers, Adelaide to the ferry and on the island, gave informative and interesting commentary. Really enjoyable.
“Bouquets but one brickbat for the Kangaroo Island Highlights…”
Generally a very good tour. It was rushed, which is to be expected on such a big island, and I'd happily drop the birds of prey visit for a bit longer at Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch. Our local guide Kevin was friendly and obliging. My one complaint was lunch at the Vivonne Bay Bistro: the meat was cooked nicely, but the vegetables seemed to be plain frozen ones and were bland, which was disappointing given the wonderful produce Kangaroo Island grows — surely the bistro could source good vegetables from the island's farmers. My companion, an overseas visitor, was underwhelmed too. With a full bus they ran out of some things and didn't replace them apart from chips, and the cappuccino machine was out of order, which can't always be helped but added to it.
“If you have a tight schedule to visit Kangaroo Island, this…”
I did this in June 2010 while staying in Adelaide for a week, taking the day tour because I'd already booked city accommodation and couldn't switch to staying on the island. It was easily the highlight of my week and one of the most enjoyable tours I've done. By bus and ferry it's a long but thoroughly worthwhile day: we left the Adelaide bus station at 6.45am (some passengers had been collected from their hotels earlier, others on the way), heading through the southern suburbs along the coast and down the Fleurieu Peninsula as the sun rose over the water, with spectacular sunrise views. Driver Dave gave interesting commentary on the hour-and-three-quarter run down, showing parts of Adelaide you'd never see from the city. The coach stopped at a local bakery before the terminal to collect cakes and buns for the ferry, which plenty of people made straight for once aboard. We crossed Backstairs Passage with the sun breaking through clouds after recent rain — beautiful. On the island we transferred to another coach with Glenn, a long-time local who was extremely knowledgeable and helpful about the sights, the history and even the island's industries. Out of peak season the coach, normally 40 to 50 seats, was only about a quarter full, which meant more interaction with the driver; he even offered to pull over so people could photograph kangaroos by the road. The island is lovely and green in winter. We fitted in Seal Bay, with a guided walk to see Australian sea lions up close in their natural habitat; the Vivonne Bay Education Centre for a birds of prey tour (I'm Australian and still learned plenty about our native birds) plus a resident koala that amused the overseas visitors, and an included two-course lunch of soup then meat and salad, as much as you wanted and very filling; about 30 minutes at Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase National Park; and another 30 at Cape du Couedic for Admirals Arch, the New Zealand fur seal colony, the lighthouse and more spectacular coastline. We also drove past a eucalyptus distillery and part of Flinders Chase recovering from bushfires. There was an optional afternoon snack stop at the park's visitor centre, which has an exhibit, genuine island produce as souvenirs rather than junk, and a couple of very short nature walks out the back. Back at Penneshaw there's time for dinner at your own cost before the ferry, and I was at the Adelaide bus station just before 10.30pm; pre-booked passengers get dropped at their hotels. Don't plan anything tiring for the next day, but if you have one day and a tight schedule I strongly recommend it.
