Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail (KIWT) Adventure

We depart from Adelaide at lunch for a scenic private drive in our minibus through the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis.

We board the ferry and cross to Penneshaw where our island adventure begins! On the ferry journey we will keep our eyes out for whales known for passing through the Backstairs Passage as well as dolphins and sea birds.

After we disembark we drive our private vehicle to our accommodation for the night. For those preferring to fly to Kangaroo Island today we can arrange a transfer from Kingscote Airport to Penneshaw.

Once we are settled into our cosy accommodation we will relax with grazing platters and a glass of something special. Then we will walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Tonight we also experience a taste of Kangaroo Islands abundant wildlife, as we take you on a penguin colony tour.

Meals Included: Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 1km

This morning we drive our private vehicle to the western side of the island. We will have a briefing before we head into Flinders Chase National Park where our KIWT Fire Recovery Experience will commence.

The evidence of regrowth here is inspiring – gums trees look like giant bonsai with green leafy shoots clumping along branches, grass trees aim their seed pods to the sky and lichen offer orange hues against the backdrop of blackened trunks.

We may spot rosellas, pardalotes and wrens as we cover a 10km section along Rocky River including a visit to Pardalote lookout and the soothing sounds of the Cascades where water flows through rocky chutes and pools.  If we are lucky enough, we may spot platypus.

We take a side trip today and visit the mouth of the river where white sandy surf beach awaits.  The rock formations here are incredible as well as seeing the numerous baby waterfalls of the terraced river rock pools.  This rocky trail adds an element of adventure to our day!

We then return back towards the old campground of Snake Lagoon and our finish spot. Our transport will be waiting to take us to our comfortable accommodation next to the trail.  Then its time to unwind and relax with grazing platters while we prepare a delicious 2 course dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 13km

Today we head back to Snake Lagoon where we pick up from where we left off yesterday on the Fire Recovery Experience.

The trail winds its way back down to Rocky River where we have one more opportunity to spot platypus in the morning light.

We then make our way up and over the headland to huge views of the mighty Southern Ocean below.  This section is exposed and offers perfect 180 degree views of the coastline.

Then down on to Maupertuis beach for a soft sand walk.  This section was known to test those doing the full trail as overnight hikers pre bushfire but with light day packs, this section is less daunting.  Endangered hooded plovers nest in the dunes here and pied oyster catchers are often spotted on the shore along with seals who stray away from the Arch down the coast.

The dunes have been slow to recover with widespread damage evident. Being such a fragile ecosystem, the trail on this section is hard to navigate at times and we will take this section slow to ensure we protect the delicate plants and shrubs re-establishing.

We finish our days walk at the lighthouse where our private transport will return us to our accommodation for sundowners and a freshly prepared 2 course dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 16km

After a good nights rest and delicious breakfast, today we conquer a longer section of the KIWT Fire Recovery Experience with approx 18km including side trips.

We start our walk from Admirals Arch where we have the seals to ourselves with an early morning moment before the park opens to the public.  Seals raise their young and breed here, so it’s a busy spot with young ones sparring or learning to swim in the safety of the rock pools.  Tired mums sleep after doing long haul feeding missions while babies play nearby.  It’s a feast for the senses and a great way to start our day.

We make our way to Weirs Cove for a visit to a site where three lighthouse families lived and worked the lighthouse during times where the only way to receive goods on this side of the island was by boat and pulley.

The views of the dramatic coastline are amazing from this side and with Remarkable Rocks in the distance, the next landmark sits on the horizon.   Our journey takes us inland on a meandering and at times disorientating journey through what used to be thick coastal mallee scrub.

With the coastline offering incredibly wild conditions for the afternoon, we make our way towards the feisty Sanderson Beach which we can see in the far distance as we leave the Rocks.  Walking on limestone trail with plenty of hard terrain underfoot, you can see the regrowth of salt loving succulents and even fungi.

Relax back at our accommodation with gourmet platters at sunset followed by a delicious 2 course dinner with us.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 18km

Today is our longest day of walking but it also offers landscape and trail variance not yet seen before.  Our day starts on the original trail as we follow the stony recovering section to Cape Younghusband.  You can see parts of native bush here untouched by fire while sections right to the cliff edge were singed.

Just past Cape Younghusband the inland trails are littered with diggings so we will keep our eyes peeled for echidna and goanna.

We visit Hanson Bay with views across the bay and beach, stunning turquoise waters (a great swimming beach if a warm day!).  Then its up and over the dunes as we follow the brackish river towards the open plains of Grassdale and then Kelly Hill Conservation Park.  With just 10 km to go, the trail will climb over small hilly sections past the lake and lagoon, with fast regrowth seen amongst gums, acacia and grass trees.

Walking the trail with us means you have contributed not just to funding conservation programs on the island but also keeping the regrowth at bay and defining the trail for future walkers.

Tonight we enjoy our final dinner together and a restful evening with the chance to unwind and relax with a beautiful sunset behind the gum trees.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 23km

Today, we celebrate our way back to Adelaide!  Our day starts by choosing your own adventure.

You can enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading to a distillery where we enjoy gin and liqueur flights (or vodka) with uniquely KI infusions. We then head to a winery for tastings and amazing views over the Bay.

Or, for an additional wildlife experience, you can skip the alcohol and take a cruise and a swim in the wild with dolphins who rest in the shallow waters near a secluded shore. This is an incredible once in a lifetime experience offered nowhere else in Australia – note this is optional extra outside of our itinerary and conditions and additional costs apply.

We all reunite before heading out for a celebration lunch together in Kingscote.  Our destination has rave reviews and a brilliant global menu with delicious meals to choose from.  After lunch we make our way to Penneshaw for our ferry journey back to the mainland. For those preferring to fly, we will drop you off at the airport.

At Cape Jervis our private vehicle will be waiting for us where we enjoy the 90 minute journey in comfort back to Adelaide feeling accomplished and rewarded by this incredible wilderness experience.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Walking Distance: –

There are stairs, uneven surfaces and moving luggage to and from accommodation, plus walking rocky trails on this trip.  Please talk to us about your accessibility needs before booking