10 Reasons Why Now is the Best Time to Visit Kangaroo Island

It’s no secret that in January 2020, bushfires took control on the western side of Kangaroo Island. The media’s negative portrayal of this natural event fails to acknowledge that there are still substantial areas of land on the island that remain untouched by fire and are a haven for the island’s wildlife. With every ‘storm’, comes a brighter day and with this in mind, here are 10 reasons why NOW is the best time to visit Kangaroo Island!

1. All travel is UNRESTICTED to Kangaroo Island

Ferries are travelling several times a day to take passengers to and from Kangaroo Island. The east end from Cygnet River to Penneshaw is entirely unaffected by fire, and you will find wildlife, beaches, tours, food and wine all in abundance – not to mention our very own Edgewater Escape that boasts unobstructed waterfront views of gorgeous Nepean Bay, and is safely located in the island’s largest township of Kingscote.

2. It’s The Cheapest Time to Get Your Ferry Tickets

The ferry operators, in conjunction with the government, have opted to slash the prices of ferry travel to Kangaroo Island, so now more than ever before, is the perfect time to book your low cost ferry tickets to see the island.

3. Experience Some of the Most Pristine Air in the World!

The air quality on Kangaroo Island right now is near perfect and is as pristine as you can get. The smoke from the bushfires has dissipated and there is no smoke affecting the air quality on Kangaroo Island. Instead, you can find bright blue skies, pristine oceans and inhale refreshing CLEAN air, which seems more difficult in this modern era!

4. Spectacular Coastal Views over Rolling Plains

Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island. In fact, it’s six times bigger than Singapore. The reality is that the majority of Kangaroo Island has been unaffected by fire. From the east end from cygnet River to Penneshaw, you’ll find landscapes entirely unaffected in this way. In these areas you wouldn’t know that bushfires on KI have even taken place, and will instead be pleased to discover spectacular coastal views over rolling plains, pristine beaches, dolphin adventures, ocean safaris, wineries, conservation parks, and local produce that Kangaroo Island is renowned for. We recommend staying for a minimum of three nights to enable enough time to explore over 2500 hectares of this section of Kangaroo Island.

5. See The Beginning of Regeneration in Bushfire Affected Areas

From the west of the Kingscote Airport, there are some areas blackened by the bushfire which are in the early stages of regeneration that you may well encounter if you are on your way to Seal Bay Conservation Park and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. Given all the media coverage, curiosity prevails and it’s an unforgettable experience to view these areas, which are a very real reminder of the fires that have recently impacted the island. Even more amazing is nature’s ability to regenerate and you get to view some of the very early phases of regeneration after this rare event for KI.

6. Contribute to the KI Economy and Help It Recover!

Did you know that Kangaroo Island’s biggest industries are tourism and agriculture, both of which have been impacted by the fires, while the former has also been negatively impacted by the media’sexaggerated depiction of the fire damage. Given the importance of tourism, the industry and locals are campaigning together to encourage people to plan, visit and enjoy a trip to the island, much of which has been unaffected by fire. Every dollar spent in these communities is pumped back into their economy and keeps it afloat and it also helps the SA and Australian economies. It will also bring back the all the positive international attention it formerly enjoyed.

7. Enjoy Abundant Wildlife

Whilst the reality is that a lot of wildlife living in the west have perished in the Kangaroo Island bushfires, there is a substantial amount of wildlife that continue to survive and thrive, on the eastern side of the island. Many of the wildlife from the western side have fled to the east to avoid the fire, providing even more opportunities to see abundant wildlife. You will see magnificent wedge tailed eagles, playful dolphins (that you can swim with), koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goannas and more. Kangaroo Island is a mecca for wildlife and you’ll most definitely be able to see a lot in the wild, as well as at family friendly parks like Raptor Domain, KI Wildlife Park, KI Outdoor Action, KI Marine Adventures and KI Ocean Safaris. You can even book a tour with one of the island tour operators to show you parts of the island that are not accessible to the public and walk among habitats and ecosystems unlike anywhere else in the world.

8. Bountiful Experiences Making Memories for a Lifetime

There are so many businesses that are open, and so many experiences to enjoy on Kangaroo Island. The variety of things to do and see is vast. You can experience the island’s wineries, distillers, wildlife tours, lavender farms, pristine beaches, lighthouses, honey farms, fishing charters, Seal Bay and so much more. You can also spend time simply relaxing in our amazing holiday house, admiring the seals swimming from our stunning rear deck – a daily occurrence at Edgewater Escape.

9. Visit Cape Willoughby Lighthouse & Its Stunning Landscape

Even though you will not be able to visit Remarkable Rocks and Flinders Chase National Park, an equally good substitute is Cape Willoughby Conservation Park. This park is home to SA’s first lighthouse and is rich in maritime history. The coastline and views from this conservation park are spectacular and it’s located on the eastern end of KI which has not been affected by bushfire whatsoever.

10. View Sea-lions Up Close

If you want to see sea-lions in their natural habitat, then Seal Bay is the place to go! Bonus: it’s been untouched by the fires. Seal Bay is a world-class nature-based tourism attraction and home to a protected population of wild Australian Sea-lions. Take a guided tour up-close with these ultra cute sea-lions with an experienced National Parks guide to learn about these endangered animals. Alternatively, you make prefer a self-guided tour along the 1km boardkwalk. Either way, you’ll get up close and personal to seals as they sleep and nurse their pups in and among the dunes.