2 day Ultimate Kangaroo Island with return ferry

Kangaroo island ferry saga

We booked the Sealink ferry well in advance to visit Kangaroo Island. On arrival at the appointed time we were advised that our 1pm ferry had been cancelled and we were rebooked on the 9pm ferry!!! Stuck in a sea of vehicles we could do nothing but wait. The 9pm ferry left at 10.15pm and we were then left driving on unfamiliar roads dodging kangaroos in pitch darkness. Arrived at our accommodation absolutely shattered at 1am the following day. Listening to the locals, we could well face the same saga on our return voyage. Meanwhile the Sealink website states ‘Our ferry services are currently operating as scheduled’. Do reconsider if you plan to take a vehicle over here.

A trip of 2 halves with a splendid guide.

This was a trip of two halves. The first day with 47 other travellers was a lot of coach travel and the second day with 12 others was much more relaxed. First I must praise our guide Hamish for his amazing knowledge and how he handled the problems on the first day. With a packed itinerary what you need is everything going to plan but it didn’t - ferry arrived late, passenger took a long time in the bathroom, and road works. So we arrived at Seal Bay too late to do the guided tour. However good views of seals from the public viewing platform. Rest of the day went according to plan and night in Seafront hotel was good. Food in Kiosk good but not much choice. Second day was brilliant with a small group and plenty of time for Hamish to stop and show us more things on the way including his home beach - Pennington bay. Best thing on the trip the Raptor show where Hamish had advised us to sit on the front row so I had a barn owl sitting on my knee. My advice to other travellers. Don’t do the one day trip to Kangaroo Island that goes to Remarkables Rocks and Admirals Arch unless you really only have one day free. It starts at 6.30 am in Adelaide and finishes around 10 pm. If I could do it all again, and I had the time, I would opt for the 3 day Sealink guided tour.

Amazing trip

The tour was amazing. Highly recommended for two days or even three days. Lots of nature to explore. Holding 🦅 exploring bee farm (really nice honey) and marvellous sea views. You can also see seals 🦭. They are very cute. And the tour guides Adam and Kevin are very nice. They would like to explain things to you. Also met people from the world (England, France, German, Canada) and people from other states of Australia. I would like to stay in the island 🏝️

Kangaroo Island holiday

We enjoyed it very much we would recommend it to anyone who interested That was our first visit there, we learned a lot about the island

Squeeze us onto the ferry they did.

We were doing our 4th trip there but this time we took our brother & sister in law from NZ. Weather was not usual December temperatures but was good for driving. We covered all the usual tourist beaches, Remarkable Rocks etc. To get there we were only able to book an evening crossing with Sea Link, however they were able to fit us, with our car, 2 crossings earlier and the same thing happened on our return. They really squeezed our car on. Thanks Sea Link.

Kangaroo Island Adventure

The two days on KI were excellent, just to see the local flora and fauna recovering from the terrible bushfires of a couple of years ago. The scenery was spectacular around the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals arch , the sea lions and seals also caught our attention!

Priced for small thing

Over rated and over priced. The ferry was very poor and probably the oldest one. The place is nothing special and you can see much more beautiful places in the mainland.

Great tour for foreigners.

For overseas visitors, this is a good opportunity to view and come close to Australian wildlife. The first day was rather long, but our tour guide, Adam, kept us amused with his endless knowledge. The ferry ride organisation was first class with a good coffee shop on board. Day two tour was more relaxed and offered an insite of live on the island. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience, but please check the lose blind in the return bus, which rattles continually

Kangaroo Island

I had a great time. The tour was well organized and ran on time. The staff were wonderful, friendly and made you feel included. The staff provided an informative commentary on the island's history and todays story. I would recommend this tour for a solo traveler.

Excellent

2 days are not enough for Kangaroo Island. It is beautiful there and so many things to do and Explorer.

Sailing into beauty and history

The beauty of the island is enhanced by the easy ferry crossing assisted by friendly staff, nice coffee, free booklet showing a range of activities and eateries and, of course, the geographical and historical highlights. We did the trip on our own and took in many of the natural sights. The dolphins didnt come out to play on the two days we visited, but I am sure they do. We found cafes with nice food all around the island, nice wine and good eateries for the evening meal. It was winter but the colours were glorious and the scenery on the trip down to Cape Jervis was very pretty.

Fantastic service

The staff at SeaLink South Australia are the most obliging I have ever encountered. We arrived early so called and they were able to get me on an earlier ferry. Then we decided to stay an extra day, so called again and changed the date and time for the return trip. Very helpful and easy to deal with

Great place to visit

A really good 2 day trip taking in many places of interest across the Island. The places visited were diverse enough to satisfy the interests of most people on the tour. To do the Island justice put aside at least 4 days even a week to see everything the Island has to offer. It's quite delightful and has a very interesting history. The fires of 2020 have left their mark but the landscape is slowly recovering.

Over priced. Some great bits and some not so

I booked this trip in Jan 2023 and paid £500. I was a single traveller so paid a hefty premium! The score I have given is made up from a number of different items. First the 5/5 - the sea lions, the seals and the geological rocks, they were all were great. However I selected the trip as it was clearly advertised as having a max size of 30 people, on this basis I paid the top price as shown above.. Both days there were over 50 on the bus. I raised this with Sealink the operator and they weren't interested at all! The trip was a little chaotic as there were people on day 1 of 2, some on day 2 of 2 and maybe even some on a single day. This led to the driver having to resolve all of the conflicting associated travel issues. At the end of day 1, we were dropped of here and there and people were concerned about where they were staying, when they would be getting on the ferry etc. I had a query on this to raise with Gary, the driver and I formed a queue behind others. when it was my turn somebody else butted in and Gary then accused me of getting Sh*tty about the situation when all I was doing was just waiting my turn. The two lunches were a bit basic when assessed against the overall trip cost and when having breakfast the second morning, I asked for coffee AND an orange juice and had to pay for a second drink, even though I had forked out £500.00. The first day consisted of mostly 'padding' trips to a wine tasting, even though I had come from Adelaide the wine tasting capital of Australia!, and a honey farm... surely everybody knows how they make honey and a somewhat bizarre Eucalyptus distillery. all of which had a shop attached. The Raptor visit was okay and the owl popping out of the dead tree was good theatre. Day 2 with Hamish was when we visited all of the good stuff, as noted above. So, expensive for what I experienced. The Party size was not what was advertised, and not what I had specifically selected and paid for. Paying extra for orange juice.. ..come on! Flustered driver dealing with multiple people all doing different things. I have tried to find a complaints section on anybody's web site and needless to say there is no path to do so. That knocked another star off of my trip rating. All my comments I would have liked to have discussed with somebody direct. Not finding a way to do so means they all sit in this review

Hidden gem of the south Australia.

The staff and their ability to fit so much into so little a space. The efficiency and the remarkable ability to gauge direction and space. Easy crossing...

Fantastic option for those that prefer to tour, not drive

Sealink were outstanding - from the whole booking process to the tour itself (where I added on extra days, extra transfers etc), everything was excellent. All connections worked and were on time and the tours / tour guides were fantastic - really got a good sense of all the key elements of this wonderful Island - best option available if like me you don't want to drive and have everything organised for you.

Great informative trip around Kangaroo Island.

Really good experience and very well organised. For me he moment I stepped on the bus in Adelaide the experience was well organised for my 2 days on Kangaroo Island. On tour the bus driver Scott was informative hilarious at times and caring of the passengers. Scott made the trip with his in-depth and very interesting. The sights were as to program and Scott included some unscheduled photo opportunities. It was hard to criticise Sealink and they very professional but in friendly way. 2 very enjoyable days.

Intense, very comprehensive

This trip was very busy and day 1 was very strenuous. We were collected at a very early hour from our hotel in Adelaide. After a 2 hour bus trip we were dropped at the ferry for a 45 minute trip to the island. From then on, Scott our tour guide, treated us to a highly informative, entertaining 2 days which took us to a wide variety of sights. His knowledge borders on encyclopaedic. The walking on Day 1 was quite difficult in places for older or less fit adults but well worth the effort. Day 2 was equally worthwhile but involved minimal walking. Due to a lack of communication with our travel agent, my husband and I ended up about 45 minutes in the wrong direction for our overnight hotel, but Scott drove the two of us all the way back! Our sincere thanks. Food was great. Accommodation was also comfortable and well appointed. Altogether a well planned,

a must see trip for everyone

This was an excellent trip from start to finish. The Sealink team from Booking to the folk running the ferry to our tour guides were just amazing. Every part of our trip went well without a hitch. Everyone was polite and helpful making sure that we had the best experience. So glad we picked the 2 day as there was so much to pack in and it was lovely to stay on the island for the 2 nights instead of a late bus drive back to Adelaide. Thank you for an enjoyable trip

Mother/ Daughter holiday

My daughter and I have waited till COVID allowed us to take this trip from perth. We have had a fantastic time but we must make special mention about our island tour guide/ driver Hamish! He was very knowledgeable, patient with a coach load of tourists and very organised. Thank u Hamish

Kangaroo Island 2 Day Tour

We booked the Ultimate Kangaroo Island 2 Day Tour departing from Adelaide. Day 1 was a long but fulfilling day, thanks to our lovely guide, Scott. We were picked up at our hotel in Adelaide at around 6.15am, and caught the 9am ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. Did Seal Bay Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. On Day 2, the tour guide (can't remember her name) didn't enforce mask-wearing or check on the passengers to ensure that they put on their masks on the coach. It was a smaller coach compared to Day 1, and there was a lady who had a persistent cough. Day 2 wasn't as interesting - we went to Raptor Domain, Pennington Bay, had wine tasting at False Cape Wines, and visited Clifford's Honey Farm. Took the 7.30pm ferry back to Cape Jervis, and only reached our hotel in Adelaide past 10pm.

Long day needs to be shorter

Beautiful island but the days are too long. I would rather see less for the same price and be able to relax in the evening. Got picked up at 6am and didn’t make it to hotel until after 6pm. The animal park on day one was nice but really could have left it off the itinerary. It seems whoever planned the tour tried to jam in as much as possible which leaves little relaxation time.

Two day Ultimate Kangaroo Island adventure

We were collected from our hotel early in the morning and driven the two hours to Port Jarvis in a comfortable coach, with an interesting driver. Everything ran smoothly, from the pickup, ticket collection at Port Jarvis, luggage transfer from the coach to luggage van for the ferry and back to the coach on KI, and all the day’s activities. Our itinerary on day 1 included driving to Seal Bay and interacting with the sea lions, lunch at Vivonne Bay (very tasty), visiting Remarkable Rocks and Admiral Arch and the wild life park. Day 2 was the ‘ Birds of Prey’ display at Raptor Domain (fabulous) , lunch at Emu Ridge eucalyptus distillery, a visit to Clifford’s honey farm (very informative) and finally a trip to the other end of the island for a wine tasting at False Cape winery. Unfortunately our ferry was cancelled due to high winds and swell. SeaLink were very good to arrange a hotel and transfers there and back to the ferry in the morning for a safe crossing and trip back to Adelaide. I have to highly commend our drivers Especially Scott who went above and beyond to ensure we were safe and accommodated when the ferry was cancelled.

Rocks, Seals, Raptors, Honey, Native Animals and Eucalptus Oil: A Varied 2 days

Hamish the tour leader was excellent. Despite the constant rain over the 2 days, Kangaroo Island has a 'magic' serene feel about it. The Remarkables and Admiralty Arch are obvious high-lights as was the raptor display. Particulaly enjoyed seeing the trained magpies collecting rubbish and depositing it in the bin at the start of the show. There was constant variety over the 2 days and the overnight stay at a room overlooking the mainland was a bonus. Only criticisms were the bus which had a leak through the overhead vent due to the rain, and the included lunches might have been better. The one at Vivonne Bay has highly forgettable. Overall, however, a recommended tour.

A Quick Trip but Great!

Really loved our recent trip to KI. We crammed a lot into the two days but didn’t feel rushed. A lovely mix of food, wine and scenery. Our guide, Jen was keen to share her love of the island and had a wealth of knowledge. Jen was friendly, committed and had an amazing sense of humour.

Relaxed and enjoyable.

Just completed the two day tour with Jen, our tour guide. Gorgeous scenery, lovely food and hospitality. Always think the tour guide can make or break your trip. Jen made it!!!!

KI is a winner.

The destination points were well worth the long trips in the bus. The Remarkable Rocks were incredible and in the the 2 days we covered all the wonderful sites we wanted to see in this amazing place. The buses were very comfortable and our driver, Adam, was extremely friendly. The fact that he is a KI local meant he had some interesting stories to tell. We would highly recommend this trip. It is well worth the very reasonable cost.

Excellent Tour

This is a great way to get an introduction to Kangaroo Island. It's a long 2 days as the pick up at your hotel is around 6am and you don't return until the following evening until around 10.30pm. Everyone I dealt with from the bus drivers who took us to and from Adelaide to the ferry port to our tour guide on Kangaroo Island Kate were exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. I learnt so much about the history of Adelaide and Kangaroo Island as well as the wildlife on the island. Kate in particular was so enthusiastic about her job and about making it a great experience for everyone. On day 1 the focus is mainly on wildlife and scenery. You visit Seal Bay Conservation Park, the Wildlife Park and Flinders Chase National Park. Day 2 starts off with more wildlife with a show at Raptor Domain, then the focus is on local producers with a visit to the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, a honey farm, a tasting at a gin distillery and a local winery. There are a number of options for the overnight accommodation. I stayed at the Mecure Lodge at American River. The hotel was clean, comfortable and at a great location, just across from the bay. Staff were extremely welcoming and food in the onsite restaurant very good. I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to visit Kangaroo Island.

Best of Kangaroo Island

A seamless and fantastic experience from start to finish. Very well organised and our driver/tour guide, Dick was very knowledgeable and just a great bloke. You'll be seeing us again very soon.

Beau mais bcp de km à parcourir et bcp de transport…a y penser.

1er journée exténuante car on fait bcp bcp de route pour voir 4 à 5 choses. Oui c’est beau mais vraiment trop de transport. D’abord 2 hrs d’autobus pour se rendre au ferry, ferry 1/2 hrs et ensuite près de 300 à 400 km de route entre 10hrs am et 7 hrs le soir arrivé à l’hôtel Puis le lendemain parti à 9: 30 am pour visiter mielrie petit show d’oiseaux, huile d’eucalyptus et dégustation de vins très ordinaire. Les repas sont succulents et l’hôtel est superbe.le retour de la 2ieme journée ferry a 7:30hrs pm 1/2 ferry, puis près de 2 1/2 pour revenir au bus station. Très tard, bcp de transport … y penser car l’île est grande et les choses à visiter sont loin les une des autres. Beaux paysages, belles plages pas baigna les. Beaucoup d’animaux .

Be sure to pay attention to group size!

We sent our request via the website that offered 2 days on Kangaroo Island in small groups. It took almost 2 days to get a response. We were very surprised that we had a bus with 50 people. You can imagine that by the time everyone had got off, we were almost ready to move on. The first day was just stressful, we were in the hotel after 7 a.m., food was only served until 8 a.m., so a shower was out of the question. On the second day there were 16 of us, much more pleasant! Adam the tour guide made the best of it. So make sure to confirm that it was a small group. By the way, we complained about this, but have not received a response to this day.

Really nice even with the rain

Voyage au cœur de la nature, certaines fermes semblent hors du temps. Repas inclus simple (salade) un petit peu décevant mais locaux très gentils. Le spectacle d’oiseaux a été mon coup de cœur !

Not recommended

The tour is boring and stressful. You spend more time sitting in the bus than doing anything. The stops are far too short and you can't enjoy the beautiful island at all. It's better to rent a car and explore the island on your own. Bad value for money.

Naturaleza pyea

Me gusto el contacto con la naturaleza Sunque creo que el tiempo en cada punto de interés debería ser más