The South West of Kangaroo Island

Most visitors to Kangaroo Island incorporate a visit to Seal Bay and to the Flinders Chase National Park. It is a very good idea to allow at least 8 hours to fully savour all of this natural Kangaroo Island beauty, and spend plenty of time observing all the wildlife that can be seen along the way.

With all of this in mind, it is recommended that these two exceptional sites be separated in to two one day trips. Accordingly, Seal Bay is incorporated into a separate tour of the South Coast.

Depart Kingscote along the Playford Highway to the Airport intersection, then follow the Birchmore Highway. Allow 1 hour to reach Vivonne Bay.

From Penneshaw and American River you travel past the Kingscote Airport, turning left on to the Birchmore Highway. Allow 1 hour 15 minutes from American River; 1 hour 20 minutes from Penneshaw to reach Vivonne Bay.

Vivonne Bay

Vivonne Bay has been voted as the best beach in Australia, and can only be described as a stunningly beautiful beach. The long curved sandy beach is a superb site for picnics, swimming, beach combing, or fishing expeditions. Experienced surfers may enjoy the tremendous turquoise waters. Fishing from the jetty, beach, boats, or the Harriet River mouth is excellent.
There is picnic, BBQ, camping and toilet facilities at Vivonne Bay.

The beach can be reached by taking either of the roads off to the left just past the Vivonne Bay Store. Safe swimming areas are near the jetty and boat ramp, or the sandy bottomed Harriet River that enters the bay nearby. Elsewhere the bay has an undertow that should be respected.

On the other side of the Harriet River, the Vivonne Bay western headland, Point Ellen, provides photographers with spectacular coastal scenery views with the Southern Ocean sending its waves crashing on to the cliff face.

Vivonne Bay is the only safe harbour on the south coast of the Island and is the base for a fleet of cray and game fishing boats. Four world record tuna catches have been made off these shores.

Please Note: At the moment the Vivonne Bay General Store is the last place for petrol on the scenic Southern Journey of Kangaroo Island.

Kelly Hill Caves

This area features an extensive undulating limestone ridges that are covered in dense mallee with stunted coastal heath along the coastline.

Detailed walking trails wind through the bushland to the coast to Hanson Bay and the historic farming settlement of Grassdale.

Kelly Hill Caves conservation park is serviced with BBQs, picnic areas, shelters, and toilets.

At Kelly Hill, the Park's most popular area, interesting sinkholes and caverns lead to caves of ornate calcite formations, the largest cave is open for escorted tours with the National Parks & Wildlife guides.

Proceed a further 16 km west to the Flinders Visitor Information Center, headquarters for the Flinders Chase National Park.

Flinders Chase

You will need to stop at the Flinders Chase Visitor centre and purchase a day pass for the park & then afix it to your vehicles windscreen.

Flinders Chase is one of Australia's largest National Parks, covering a massive 74,000 hectares, and it is considered to be one of South Australia's most significant parks due to its natural state, wildlife, and lack of introduced predators.

Here you will see many of the animals and birds you may have come to see. At Rocky River it is possible to view koalas in the nearby trees. If you have the time, and are suitably prepared, inquire at the Ranger's office about the many various hikes available.From Rocky River camping area, which has toilet and shower facilities, a road south leads to the spectacular coastline at Cape du Couedic.

Cape du Couedic

Here you can view the lighthouse, which was constructed in 1906, and considered to be the Island's finest structure. With the automation of the lighthouse, the nearby keeper's residences are available for short term tourist accommodation.

After parking your vehicle proceed down the walkway to Admirals Arch. This area is also home to a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals.

On return to your vehicle, proceed 4 km east of Cape du Couedic to Remarkable Rocks, you may also choose to detour to Weirs Cove. The old jetty and light house store ruins visually depict the extreme isolation of the area in early development of Australia.

Remarkable Rocks

A huge cluster of weather sculptured granite boulders perched on a large granite dome that drops 75 metres to the sea. You will need to park your vehicle and walk down to the rocks on the boardwalk provided

On leaving Flinders Chase, you take the Western Highway to the T-junction with the Playford Highway, then you can choose to turn left, this sealed road will return you to the main Airport intersection, and Kingscote via the small settlement of Parndana.

Look out for Roo Lagoon Studio. Here you can purchase wood products like pepper grinders, salad bowls, and cheese boards all turned from old red gum stumps.

We recommend 3 to 4 Days on Kangaroo Island is if you want to see a good sample of the scenic & wildlife wonders of Kangaroo Island.

The South West Coast of Kangaroo Island