Kangaroo Island after the fires: what's still worth seeing?

Hi there,

I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.

Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi there, Were these the 2019-2020 fires? There’s an article with some pretty optimistic accounts about how nature has bounced back: https://www.voyage-australie.com/blog/actus/kangaroo-island-regenerescence Happy reading and safe travels. Fred

Hi Fred,

Yes, those were indeed the terrible fires. Thanks for the article—it’s actually reassuring and optimistic.

Hi Jérôme I’d also wondered about that before going. But since you don’t know the island “before,” you can’t be disappointed. I loved KI because I camped there, which added to the natural feel of the trip. Less interesting if you stay in “town,” but it was still one of the highlights of our trip (which you know inside out 😉). On the other hand, two nights seems a bit short to “justify” the ferry ride.

Too bad about Philip Island! We really liked its “holiday island” vibe.

Hi Bruno,

I’m thinking of confirming this stop in KI to avoid any regrets, especially since passing through Adelaide again on a second trip to Australia isn’t straightforward. I’m also waiting for confirmation from the car rental company that they allow taking the ferry. For now, Sealink reservations for early April aren’t open yet.

I’ve definitely gone through your trip report—I can’t thank you enough for it! I’ll also check out jlcro’s.

My plan is to stay overnight in Cape Jervis so I don’t risk taking the ferry at the end of the day after a long drive.

Day 1: Arrival in Cape Jervis with 1 night

Day 2: First ferry early at 06:30 (end of March schedule), for example = 1 full day 2 nights

Day 3: 1 full day

Day 4: Half a day with the ferry at 17:00 (end of March schedule) and 2 nights / 2 days in Adelaide

So that leaves 2.5 days, which I’ll make the most of by getting an early start.

Yeah, I’ve skipped Phillip Island, but I’m planning 2 nights at Wilsons Promontory. Ughhhhh, as always, choosing means giving something up. But hey, vacation time isn’t endless :(

Hi Bruno,

I think I’ll confirm this stop in K I just to avoid any regrets, especially since going back through Adelaide on a second trip to Australia isn’t straightforward.

wise decision

I’m also waiting for confirmation from the car rental company that they do allow taking the ferry. For now, Sealink bookings for early April aren’t open yet.

I didn’t even realize a rental company could ban that 😮

My plan is to sleep in Cape Jervis so I don’t risk taking the ferry at the end of the day after driving. Day 1: Arrive in Cape Jervis for 1 night Day 2: First ferry early at 06:30 (end of March schedule) for example = full day 2 nights Day 3: Full day Day 4: Half-day with ferry at 17:00 (end of March schedule) and 2 nights / 2 days in Adelaide

With a morning ferry and a return at 17:00, that’s almost 3 days—seems reasonable to me. For accommodation the night before, check out Victor Harbor. It’s only 45 min (Google Maps) from Cape Jervis (which I just drove through and didn’t mean much to me 😅) and I found the town really nice—a cute little seaside spot. Sure, it means getting up an hour earlier, but when you love it… Maybe the next ferry? 😉

While I’m thinking about it, fill up the vehicle (and the trunk) before boarding—the gas (and everything else) takes a hit on the island 🏴‍☠️

Yes, I ruled out Phillip Island, but I’m planning 2 nights at Wilsons Promontory. Ughhhhh, as always, choosing means giving up. But vacation time isn’t endless :(

True, choosing means giving up… The upside is you can give us feedback on Wilsons Promontory—I’d ruled it out too 😅. I had to make choices too ;)

Hi Bruno,

I didn’t even imagine a rental company could prohibit that

There’s nothing mentioned about it, but it’s just to be really sure in case of an accident.

With a ferry in the morning and a return at 5 PM, that’s almost 3 days—seems reasonable to me.

The evenings are probably quiet there, so might as well get up early and make the most of it.

For accommodation the night before, check out Victor Harbor—it’s only 45 minutes (Google Maps) from Cape Jervis (which I just drove through and didn’t mean much to me...), and I found the town really nice, a cute little seaside spot. Sure, it means getting up an hour earlier, but when you love it... Maybe the next ferry?

Victor Harbor does seem way nicer than Cape Jervis. Spending the end of the day and night there is a great idea.

While I’m thinking about it, fill up the vehicle (and the trunk) before boarding—the gas (and everything else) takes a hit on the island 🏴‍☠️

Not surprising 🙁 The whole trip will be like in the US West with a cooler, picnics at lunch, and depending on the evening, either a restaurant or quick cooking at the accommodation. And of course, all that with cold beer while sampling Australian wines. I’ll actually stop by the Yarra Valley and Barossa Valley near Adelaide 😉

And yes, choosing means giving something up... The upside is you’ll be able to give us feedback on Wilsons Promontory, which I’d ruled out... I had to make choices too 😉

The PROM looks really nice and is well promoted in guides and online.

Have a great day.

Hello,

I’m also waiting for confirmation from the car rental company that they do allow taking the ferry. So far, Sealink reservations for early April aren’t open yet.

I didn’t even realize a rental company could prohibit that!

I got confirmation from Budget. Other rental companies like Avis, Hertz, Sixt, and Europcar—which I also checked—are more expensive, but I’ll ask them out of curiosity about the Kangaroo Island crossing.

Worst-case scenario, I’ll leave the Budget car in the Sealink parking lot at Cape Jervis and rent another one in Penneshaw. Financially, it’d work out the same since the ferry without the car is $254 AUD (~140 €) cheaper, and renting an SUV in Penneshaw for 3 days with Hertz costs about 129 €. The only hassle is the logistics of taking the ferry on foot with luggage (I’d rather not leave anything in the trunk), a cooler, and some supplies. Plus, there’ll be two large holds on my credit card (2,600 € for Budget in Sydney and 3,300 € for Hertz in Penneshaw).

If anyone knows a car rental company offering a good rate for an SUV picked up at Sydney Airport and dropped off at Adelaide Airport—and whose insurance covers ferry crossings—I’d love to hear about it! I don’t want to risk signing a waiver in case something happens on the ferry or on Kangaroo Island.

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Hi,

Vehicles can be taken to Kangaroo Island, however you need to sign an agreement at checkout because Location Insurance does not cover the cars when they are taken on a ferry away from the mainland.

Should you have further concerns please don't hesitate to email us back.

Thank you.

Sales Consultant Pacific Contact Centre Website: www.budget.com.au --- No doubt, the answer is crystal clear.

Hi Jerome. I just checked: I rented my first car through Budget and the second one through Ace Rentalcars (a Hertz subsidiary, judging by the invoice). My main criterion was price (and a somewhat reputable company, still). To be honest, I never checked if the insurance covered ferry crossings 🏴‍☠️. Booking.com now has a pretty comprehensive search engine for your research, just in case.

Besides, the crossing takes less than an hour and was quite smooth when we went… you don’t have to tell them .

As for leaving the car on one side and picking it up on the other, that’d be a real hassle!

Hi Bruno,

I checked Booking out of curiosity, but nothing more interesting came up.

I also contacted the rental company East Coast, and their answer was very clear. So, either rental companies explicitly forbid going there, or the insurance won’t cover you during the ferry crossing.

"You are certainly permitted to take the rental vehicle to Kangaroo Island via ferry. However, please note that any Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or insurance coverage will be void while the vehicle is on the ferry."

Kind regards,

East Coast Car Rentals Reservations Team

P.O. Box 2560, Southport BC, QLD, 4215 T: +61 7 5555 8900 Free Call: 1800 028 881

Sure, the risk of the ferry sinking or a car causing damage during boarding or disembarking is tiny, but it’s still something to consider.

For safety, I’ve booked 1 night in Victor Harbor and 2 nights on K-I at Discovery Parks, where you stayed. Now, the question is whether we’ll take the rental car from Sydney and cross our fingers during the two crossings or rent another one at the Penneshaw port for the K-I part. Financially, it’s the same, but we’d just have to transfer our stuff on the ferry.

Hi Jérôme, Out of curiosity, I dug out my contract and sure enough, there’s a little paragraph saying I shouldn’t have 🤪. Well, luckily I didn’t even think about it because that would’ve really annoyed me …

I asked my AI 😊 and it says that potentially Hertz or Europcar might offer coverage with additional insurance … Worth checking, but if the prices skyrocket, the only option left is luggage transfer … Maybe try contacting the rental companies directly in Penneshaw—they must know the issue since they’re on-site and might have a solution …

This whole thing seems crazy! So typically Australian—would it be the same if I wanted to go to Corsica?

Anyway, when I see how close the cars were parked to each other, I think a rough sea would’ve been enough to cause trouble …

PS: We had this on the dock when we boarded for the return trip—does he have special insurance?

Hey Bruno,

Out of curiosity, I dug out my contract and sure enough, there’s a little paragraph that says I shouldn’t have 🤪 Well, luckily I didn’t even think about it because that would’ve pissed me off

I’m not surprised by rental companies’ terms—better to know beforehand. Everyone does what they want, but personally, I prefer everything to be clear and to be well insured.

I asked my AI 😊 and it says Hertz or Europcar might offer coverage with extra insurance... Worth checking, but if prices skyrocket, the only option left is schlepping luggage

Hertz and Europcar are way more expensive to begin with in my case (literally double), and I didn’t even look for Kangaroo Island.

I booked an SUV with Eastcoast from Sydney Airport after 3.5 days of sightseeing, and I’ll return it at Adelaide Airport. I’ll leave it in the Sealink parking at Cape Jervis while I’m on KI. On top of that, I reserved a rental with Hertz at Penneshaw port for KI. I’d rather play it safe with zero risk. Plus, 3 days of rental at 129 € for an SUV is covered by the savings from not taking the ferry with a car.

This whole thing seems crazy! Typically Australian—would it be the same if I wanted to go to Corsica?

This could definitely be a thing for us with Corsica.

Okay, but when I see how close the cars were parked together, I’m thinking a rough sea would be a problem

Yeah, and if something goes wrong, you’re left sweating over the credit card that’s already in the red, as you know.

Ps: We had this on the dock when we boarded for the return trip—does this guy have special insurance?



Love this road train with XXL insurance 😉

Have a great rest of the day.

Awesome this road train with XXL insurance 😉

Not so awesome when you see it bearing down on you in your rearview mirror on a gravel road 🙁 Well, you pull over and wait for the dust to settle