Kangaroo Island is one of the most pristine spots in Australia. Thanks to the eight miles of the Gulf of St Vincent that separate it from mainland South Australia, the huge island (it’s Australia’s third largest after Tasmania and Melville Island) has remained a protected sanctuary for many of Australia’s famous native creatures.
Its mix of soaring cliffs, dense forest, towering sand dunes, wetlands and massive arcs of bone-white beach give Kangaroo Island a stark beauty (as you can see in our glorious featured image by PoweriPics). But up close, it’s the kangaroos hopping across grasslands, sea lions basking on the beaches, penguins diving into the ocean, koalas dozing in lofty eucalypti, pelicans soaring over shimmering lagoons that are the island’s stars.
Winter is the best time of the year to visit the island. During the months of June, July and August the mammals are at their most active and the countryside is at its most lush. Koalas emerge from their mother’s pouch and ride on her back, kangaroo and wallaby joeys leave their mother’s pouch, southern right whales pass the shores migrating from the Antarctic to the Great Australian Bight and ospreys show off to their mates in spectacular courtship fights.
Spring is (September – November) is a great time to visit too, and not just because there are wild flowers in abundance. The island’s annual art feast always takes place at the beginning of spring. This year 30 venues are hosting events for the Kangaroo Island Art Feast. Galleries, wineries, cafes, shearing sheds, tiny cottages, wildlife sanctuaries, churches all across the island will showcase the art, food and wine of about 150 artists, chefs and wine makers at parties, lunches, readings and performances.
Kangaroo Island Art Feast always opens on the Friday evening of the Aussie Labour Day Weekend. This year the event runs from Friday September 28 to Sunday October 7.
Here’s 5 great pictures of Kangaroo Island to get you in the mood:
And 5 images from last year’s Feast, all courtesy of kangarooislandartfeast.org.au:
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
