Australia

Top 6 things to do in Kangaroo Island this summer

The 2019/20 fires burnt almost half of Kangaroo Island. The New York Times ran a piece ‘There’s No Place Like Kangaroo Island. Can It Survive Australia’s Fires?’ Three years on, the answer to that is a resounding yes.

Here's our pick for six experiences at this special destination this summer. 

Regenerative Tourism

Any tourism you bring onto the island will help this magical destination continue its bounce, but the KI Wilderness Trail – Fire Recovery Experience is one that will place you uniquely at the heart of the disaster, and the subsequent regeneration. Prepare to be inspired over the course of hikes ranging from a day through to five full days, and see the regrowth of mother nature.

BE INSPIRED

Stay in accommodation which is low-key epic

The thing we love about Kangaroo Island’s accommodation is that they all seem  to get it; let the location speak for itself. There’s a swathe of epic, low-key stays like Kangaroo Beach Lodge, where the beach you are staying on is so secluded that you could probably walk down it naked down if you wanted (we're not advocating this but hey, you do you). There's a bloody nice deck to sit out and enjoy a cold one, while watching the sun set over an extraordinary stretch of Aussie coast.

LODGE LIFE

PULL IN

Uncrowded waves is mostly a pipedream on the mainland these days, but the only locals you’ll need to share with on Kangaroo Island are dolphins. Two surf breaks get lost recommend are Vivonne Bay, where left and righthand waves break over sand, and where there’s picturesque, crystal-clear water, and D’Estrees Bay, a consistent, more advanced wave where there’s picturesque crystal-clear water.

GO DOWN THE DUNES

If you’ve had enough of surfing waves then do the same on sand. Less than a 10-minute drive from Vivonne Bay, hire a sandboard or toboggan and fang down epic dunes – about 70 metres above sea level. Fat bikes are also available.

CATCH SOME DUNES

Get low-key lit

Whip up a Bahama Mama or a Sexy Monkey at Kangaroo Island Spirits' Cellar Door Cocktail Masterclass, and get ‘Low Key Island Lit’ which is a special category of lit you probably don’t know about. Kangaroo Island Spirits  by the way have been making gin, spirits and cocktails for a long time now – they are the birthplace of Australian gin. They've gotten seriously good at it, and so they’ll be winning spirits you'll be using.

Shake it like a Polaroid Picture

Shuck some oysters

People either seem to love or hate oysters. If you love these salty, slippery suckers, hit up The Oyster Farm Shop, where you can get the freshest local oysters on the Island plus, Wild Marron, Abalone, Abalini, King George Whiting and more.

PHRESH PHISH