Penneshaw (Kangaroo Island) / Australia

Off the southern coast of Australia, in the Great Australian Bight of the Indian Ocean, lies Kangaroo Island. The island, located in the state of South Australia about 110 kilometers southwest of its capital, Adelaide, is the third largest in all of Australia after Tasmania and Melville Island, and has about 4,500 inhabitants. On its northeastern coast, on the Dudley Peninsula, lies the town of Penneshaw, the island's main port and home to just under 300 people.

 Allegedly, as early as 16,000 years ago, Kangaroo Island, separated from the Australian mainland after the end of the last ice age, was inhabited by the original Aboriginal people, who knew it as Karta (Island of the Dead). The island received its current name in 1802 from British captain, navigator, and cartographer Matthew Flinders, whose expedition was closely followed by the French expedition of Nicolas Baudin, who mapped most of the island. From the early 19th century, whalers and sealers settled on the island, with permanent settlement dating back to 1836 when South Australia began to be colonized by the British. The main economic activities remain agriculture and fishing, but tourism is playing an increasingly important role – Kangaroo Island is one of the most visited destinations in South Australia.

Penneshaw is just a small town, but it boasts a number of attractions: the island's first church from 1883, a modern information center, or a nice Maritime and Folk Museum. Popular are night tours to the colony of little penguins or a climb to Ironstone Hill for stunning views of the sea and the Australian mainland. 

Kingscote, the largest town and administrative center of the island, was founded in 1836 at a place now called Old Kingscote, making it the first colonial settlement in South Australia. To this day, you can see an ancient mulberry tree, a historic jetty, or an old post office here. From the 1850s comes the stone cottage Hope Cottage, one of the oldest houses on the island with a nice folk culture museum. 

Kangaroo Island is a paradise for adventurers and nature lovers: more than a third of it is protected within nature reserves, home to wildlife such as sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, koalas, dolphins, flamingos, and of course kangaroos, after which the island is named. Several parks and zoos, such as the one near the town of Parndana or in Hanson Bay with a large group of koalas, offer encounters with native and exotic animal species.

The vast Flinders Chase National Park in the western part of the island is known for its penguin colonies and enchanting rock formations. The island's symbol is the fascinating granite formations of Remarkable Rocks, near which stands Admirals Arch, a cave with an arch, stalactite decorations, and stunning sea views.

Popular stops include the Kelly Hill limestone cave system, Seal Bay full of sea lions, and Little Sahara, massive sand dunes where sandboarding is a lot of fun for families with children. Wine enthusiasts will also find their place here: there is no shortage of vineyards - especially those with red varieties - on Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island boasts more than 500 kilometers of coastline, lined with long beaches and hidden coves. Among the most beautiful are the long sandy Emu Bay near Kingscote, the 6-kilometer Vivonne Bay on the southern coast, or Snelling Beach, known for its magical sunsets.

Places worth seeing

Maritime and Folk Museum – Take a look into the interesting history of the island, separated from the Australian mainland after the last ice age.

Remarkable Rocks – Be enchanted by the granite rock formations of all shades of yellow in the national park on the Indian Ocean coast.

Kelly Hill Caves – Admire the beautiful stalactite decorations of the limestone caves and the stunning sea views. 

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park – See more than 150 species of native and hundreds of exotic animals in a great zoo.

Little Sahara – Experience a lot of fun sliding down the massive sand dunes in the southern part of the island.

Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari – Swim with sea lions and dolphins, go snorkeling, and admire seabirds and, in season, migrating whales. 

Vivonne Bay – Relax, sunbathe, and swim on the 6-kilometer-long sandy beach with turquoise water.