Home Kangaroo Island Wildlife & Conservation, South Australia

Kangaroo Island Wildlife & Conservation, South Australia

AT A GLANCE

WHAT TO EXPECT

THIS AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC exclusive Kangaroo Island Wildlife & Conservation tour takes you behind the scenes to experience the best of Kangaroo Island. Hosted by local experts, it combines wildlife, landscape, local produce and active conservation such as bird banding. Whether it’s meeting the world expert on the short-beaked echidna, Dr Peggy Rismiller, sampling delicious regional food and wine, or learning about the critical work of ecologists after the Black Summer fires, this immersive trip will deliver a greater understanding of one of Australia’s supremely special places. 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Meeting with ecologists and wildlife experts in their field
• Active conservation by taking part in bird banding
• Presentation on short-beaked echidna by Dr Peggy Rismiller
• Combines wildlife, landscape, local produce
• Sampling delicious regional food & wine & learn about the critical work of ecologists after the black summer fires

CONSERVATION COMPONENT ON THIS TOUR

These tours include opportunities to help with the conservation of wildlife and in ensuring the natural environment that supports wildlife remains healthy.

Meet local entomologist, Dr Richard Glatz, who is currently working to save the endangered green carpenter bee. 

Meeting the world expert on the short-beaked echidna, Dr Peggy Rismiller

Take a stunning coastal hike along the clifftops of Cape Gantheaume Conservation park and learn about conservation projects

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival at Kangaroo Island

Arrival on Kangaroo Island by plane or ferry (own arrangements). After arrival on the island transfer to your hotel from the airport or harbour. 

Welcome to Kangaroo Island! This experience has been designed to showcase the best of Kangaroo Island – the lifestyle of the islanders, the produce, diverse landscapes and unique wildlife shaped by isolation. Your accommodation while on the island is the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, located in the quiet coastal town of American River.

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge 

DAY 2: Cygnet Park Habitat Restoration & Sea Lions

Breakfast at hotel.

After an early breakfast, we head straight to Cygnet Park, a private conservation area that supports a biodiverse ecosystem. We meet with one of the ecologists from not-for-profit conservation group BioR to take part in bird banding as a means of research. This is a great opportunity to take a close look at some of Kangaroo Island’s bird life, including the endangered Kangaroo Island glossy black-cockatoo, which lost approximately half of its habitat in the 2020 bushfires. 

Break for morning tea while learning more about these large cockatoos – far more subdued than the typically rowdy birds. Next up is Stokes Bay, where we explore a beautiful hidden beach through a magical tunnel – a great adventure for all. Enjoy a barbecue lunch at a private bush camp featuring King George whiting, grilled haloumi, fresh salads and local wines.  

Continue to Seal Bay and take a private tour into an Australian sea lion colony – look out for pups nursing, young males practising their wrestling and big bulls staking out their territory – all only metres away on a beautiful sandy beach in an experience reminiscent of the Galapagos Islands.  Return to Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge. 

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge 

Breakfast and lunch provided.    

Day 3: Flinders Chase National Park

Breakfast at hotel.

After an early breakfast we travel to a private wildlife refuge, in the island’s north-west, which escaped the 2020 bushfires. We’ll check out wildlife surveys using daylight and infrared camera traps, targeting tiny endangered mammals and get an introduction to the bush. This provides important context for the fire ecology discussions later in the day. 

Break for an elegant picnic lunch in the bush, featuring marinated poached chicken, fresh salads, cheeses and boutique South Australian wine, beer, soft drinks and spring water. 

After lunch, travel into Flinders Chase National Park via the West End Highway, stopping to learn how the bush has adapted to fire. Explore south-west peninsula around Cape du Couedic, including the lighthouse precinct and our most iconic coastal landscapes. 

Explore the massive shapes of Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture perched impossibly on top of a granite dome emerging from the ocean. Evidence of the power of the Southern Ocean swell continues at Admirals Arch – a coastal grotto that provides a haul-out area for a large colony of long-nosed fur seals that swim effortlessly through the crashing waves. 

Upon arriving back at the lodge, enjoy dinner (at own arrangement) followed by a presentation by Dr Peggy Rismiller who is the world expert on the short-beaked echidna. 

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

Breakfast and lunch provided.   

Day 4: Cape Gantheaume Coastal Hike

Breakfast at the lodge. 

Today’s breakfast is in the bush on a property that’s home to hundreds of kangaroos. After breakfast, we take a short drive to join last night’s guest speaker Dr Peggy Rismiller for an echidna habitat walk at her Pelican Lagoon Research Centre. 

Next, we drive to the D’Estrees Bay region to meet with local entomologist, Dr Richard Glatz, who is currently working to save the endangered green carpenter bee. 

We drive further south to the spectacular coastline at Point Tinline, which features an osprey nest that was first sketched by a crew member of Osmanli, which was shipwrecked in 1853. This nest has been in regular use since then. 

Break for another elegant alfresco picnic lunch at a secluded clifftop location. 

Take a stunning coastal hike along the clifftops of Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, with a range of
wildlife opportunities, including spotting western whipbirds, shy heathwren, southern emu-wren and long-nosed fur seals. 

The marine lagoon at Wheatons Beach is always worth a look as international migrants like red-necked stints, ruddy turnstones and resident hooded plovers are regular seasonal encounters. 

Dinner tonight is wood-fired pizza at the home of our tour operators, Craig and Janet Wickham. Return to the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge for your final night. 

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.

Day 5: Depart

Tour ends after breakfast transfer to the airport or transfer to the ferry at Penneshaw.

Breakfast provided.

_{Note: This itinerary represents the most current information for this itinerary, including but not limited to the itinerary and price. The itinerary should be seen as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to inclement weather, forces of nature and other circumstances beyond our control. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.}

_{WHAT’S INCLUDED:}

• 4 nights accommodation in Deluxe Waterview Rooms at Kangaroo Island Lodge
• Local experienced driver/guide throughout day 2–4 Sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary by private air conditioned charter 4WD vehicle 
• Meals as per itinerary: 4 x breakfast, home-baked traditional Australian morning tea with a selection of hot beverages, elegant alfresco lunch set in the bush with a choice of local wines, beer, soft drinks and spring water from day 2–4, wood-fired pizza dinner with your hosts on day 4 
• All National Park entry fees
• Meeting with ecologists and wildlife experts in their field Active conservation by taking part in bird banding 
• Presentation on short-beaked echidna by Dr Peggy Rismiller 

COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Domestic or international airfares
• Ferry services to/from Kangaroo Island
• Pre-registration, late check-out or day use at hotels other than specified above
• Guide services other than specified
• Meals/beverages other than specified, alcohol
• Tips and gratuities Optional tours/services
• Travel insurance

CONTACT US

Want to know more or register your interest?

Send us an email to [email protected] or call 1300 241 141. 

We look forward to hearing from you!