Coastal Drives, Ferries and Kangaroo Island Wildlife
Sleeping to the sound of crashing waves, waking to a view of the ocean and wildlife abound, this coastal tour to South Australia ticks all the boxes for these RV lovers.
We're at Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, watching the sunrise as the dolphins frolic in front of us – a 'pinch me' moment that would be one of many on this coastal tour in our Jayco Conquest 'Vandie' to South Australia.
Days earlier, we started our journey in Sorrento on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, crossing to Queenscliff on the first Searoad ferry of the day to Red Cliffs (Mildura), McLaren Vale; and finally, the coast. By the time we reached Port Elliot, we'd travelled more than 1,000 kilometres.
First Stop: Port Elliot
We back Vandie onto the sand dunes at Big4Port Elliot so we can hear the waves. From here, it's only a 10-minute walk to town. An ideal location for our holiday home on wheels.
Grabbing coffees and breakfast from the popular Port Elliot Bakery, which dates from the 1860s, we wander the historic main street, The Strand, and walk kilometres along the pristine sand. My fave spot was the Flying Fish café on the sand at Horseshoe Bay where we sip cappuccinos and watch the waves and the brave souls who gather daily for their ocean swim.
From Port Elliot, we drive 70 kilometres to Cape Jervis, where we take Vandie on the SeaLink Kangaroo Island Ferry. The ferry is an adventure in itself if you take your car.
Until the new, larger drive-on/drive-off ferries arrive, you have to reverse on the ferry at both ends of the trip. The vehicles are packed in like sardines, so if you have a large vehicle, driving is not for the faint-hearted.
Life on Kangaroo Island
On Kangaroo Island, we stay five nights at the Seafront Holiday Park overlooking Hog Bay in Penneshaw. Another prime location, less than five minutes' walk to the beach, ferry terminal or town.
Rather than the usual communal shower and toilet blocks, the Seafront Holiday Park has lockable bathrooms containing a toilet, a shower and a hand basin. Hog Bay is a gorgeous spot with a family-friendly beach. We stroll, swim and fish here; and at Pennington Beach, our footprints are the only ones on the sand.
Vandie at Kangaroo Island
Getting Out and About on Kangaroo Island
We self-catered (there's a decent IGA supermarket at Penneshaw), but we alternated between the excellent neighbouring cafés for coffee in the morning. At cutely named Millie Mae's Pantry and the Fat Beagle, the coffee was on point.
Kangaroo Island is vast. Never having been there before, we wanted to explore it all; but we didn't want to damage Vandie by taking her on unsealed roads. We hired an electric vehicle so that we could explore. Having said that, we could have taken Vandie everywhere we went … with the exception of False Cape Winery, which was accessed via an unsealed road.
During our time here we visited Seal Bay, opting for the boardwalk option (rather than a tour). We were rewarded by multiple sea lions basking in the dunes, including young ones suckling.
At Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, we petted koalas (we were lucky to arrive at the koala ranger experience time) and also fed wallabies and kangaroos. A bag of food costs $3, and the marsupials come up to you, gently pawing for food.
And on our last morning, much as our time started on Kangaroo Island, it was a magical moment when a kangaroo jumped out of the saltbush on the sand and hopped across the beach. Much like seeing those dolphins on day one, it was a moment we'd never forget.
Pennington Bay © Isaac Forman
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
- Book the Sealink Kangaroo Island ferry in advance to take advantage of cheaper fares.
- Carry AdBlue with you. Vandie went into 'limp home' mode. Luckily, we found a service station selling the diesel exhaust fluid – and after a five-litre drink, she was happy.
Journey Planner
Lunch at False Cape Winery, Kangaroo Island
