Have you ever explored or known about one of the best-kept secrets of Australia? Then a visit to the Kangaroo Island will help you unravel this secret. Undoubtedly so, Kangaroo Island continues to be the world’s unspoilt natural wonders. The 55-km wide and 155-km long Kangaroo Island is situated off the coast of South Australia and is the 3rd largest island here. The island is spread in a very huge area spanning 4,500 sq kms.
Visit this unique wilderness to discover numerous wildlife species. Many animals found here are completely unique to this island itself. Some of the animals are even extinct or rare on the mainland. Kangaroo Island, which broke away from Australian mainland nearly 9,000 years ago, comprises of national and conservation parks covering one-third of the island. The parks offer fascinating views of the rugged coastline and sheltered beaches of the island.
Whether you are visiting Kangaroo Island for the first time or a frequent visitor, you will love exploring the island and enjoy its diverse and rich flora and fauna. Most of the area in the island is either covered by national and conservation parks or natural bushland. The island holds great surprises for you. It’s veritably a paradise for wildlife lovers. Here you will be stunned to see 254 species of birds, 15,000 kangaroos, 5,000 koalas, 600 rare Australian sea lions, 6,000 fur seals, 4,000 penguins, and between 500,000 and 1 million tammar wallabies. One of the amazing facts here is that a major portion of bushland remains completely untouched and undisturbed as no foxes or rabbits are to be found here.
Apart from the fauna, the island is also quite rich in flora. The island is home to over 850 species of plants. Nearly, 250 plant species have been introduced here from different parts of the world. To enjoy the rich flora here, consider visiting the Kangaroo Island during spring season in the months of September and October. The island looks colorful with spectacular flowering during these months.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
Before planning your visit to the Kangaroo Island, it is important to know the weather conditions here or what is the best time to visit here. The weather conditions are relatively mild during the summer as well as winter seasons. It is important to bring windproof clothing along with you because of the cool ocean breezes at times. When visiting the central part of the island you might experience temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 C. The months from November through March are considered to be the best time to visit this amazing island. It usually rains during the months of July and August, so it’s better to plan your trip accordingly. Winters here tends to be colder.
Attractions to See
Kangaroo Island is at least 7 times bigger in size to Singapore. It’s a big place to visit. You should at least spare 3 to 5 days to explore the island. The island has many places of interest to see and explore. Some of the famous attractions here include Flinders Chase National Park, Cape du Couedic, Admiral's Arch or Remarkable Rocks, Seal Bay Conservation Park, Penguin Centre at Kingscote Wharf, Penneshaw Penguin Centre, Lloyd Collins Reserve, Clifford's Honey Farm, and Island Pure Sheep Dairy.
Tips to Consider
This piece of information is especially for those visiting for the first time. If you are on a self-drive tour, it will take you around 2 hours to travel from one end of the island to the other. It may take even some more time to visit remote areas. This may involve driving on unsealed or quite corrugated roads. Be patient, cautious and drive slowly. It is recommended that you reach your destination in daylight. Avoid driving during nighttime. This may prove to be hazardous because of the wildlife on the roads. However, when driving in the night take good care of yourself and be extremely cautious. Kangaroos usually tend to hit and damage the cars at night.
Petrol is available on the Kangaroo Island. It is however quite expensive. The best way before embarking on a self-drive, it is important that you fill up car’s tank before leaving the Australian mainland. This will save you a lot of money. Petrol stations are found only in a few localities. Finding one might just be difficult for you when visiting for the first time.
Buy your groceries at Penneshaw and Kingscole. It will be good for you to make your purchases from here and save money. There are few smaller shops on the island where only limited goods are available and at high prices. It will also be good for you to carry as much food as possible from the mainland.
Water in the island is quite limited. Main water supply is not available in most areas. People in the island mostly depend on rainwater. So, remember to fill up your water cans and don’t forget to bring them along with you.
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