Kangaroo Island, also known as Karta Pintingga (literally 'Island of the Dead' in the language of the Kaurna people), is Australia's third-largest island. It lies in the state of South Australia, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of Adelaide. The island is 145kms (90mi) long West/East and about 54kms (34mi) from widest North/South points.
Kangaroo Island is one of South Australia's most popular tourist attractions, attracting over 140,000 visitors each year, with international visitors, primarily from Europe, accounting for more than 25% of these visits.[
Yes, for sure, you will find kangaroos on Kangaroo Island. It is estimated there are 65,000 wild kangaroos hopping around. With a population of 5,000 residents that means there are 13 Kangaroos for every person living on the island. Kangaroo Island has the largest remaining natural population of Tammar Wallabies in Australia. These are smaller than the grey kangaroos - darker, almost black.
Certainly there is more than just kangaroos hopping around that make this island a popular tourist destination, and there is. Beautiful beaches can be found by traversing the island. There you will find sea lions and dolphins. Across the island you will find breweries, gin distilleries, wineries and even bee shops selling the famous Ligurian honey. The residents of Kangaroo Island have adapted well to capitalizing on tourism opportunities.
Certainly two of the most spectacular coastal attractions to be found are on the far western side of the island in Flinders Chase National Park. There you will find a perfectly restored lighthouse and two geological features that have been listed as geological monuments - Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks. This is a must stop when visiting Kangaroo Island.
Admirals Arch
Remarkable Rocks
What about that Curry Kangaroo Special at a restaurant on Kangaroo Island? Well, I asked the waiter how popular the Kangaroo Vindaloo was and he said, “it’s not a big seller”. I kept thinking about all of the photos I had taken of the cute kangaroos on the island, and then decided on - Fish and Chips.
