Women’s Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail (KIWT)

We depart from Adelaide in the morning and enjoy a scenic drive in our bus through the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula.

At Cape Jervis we board the ferry and cross to Penneshaw where your island adventure begins! On the ferry journey, keep your eyes out for whales known for passing through the Backstairs Passage as well as dolphins and sea birds.

Reaching the island, we head west to Kingscote. Here, you can purchase any last minute items. Then it’s a short drive to our lunch spot, the picturesque Emu Bay Lavender Farm.

Continuing our journey south, we next drop in to Seal Bay Conservation Park. Here, local experts take you on a private guided beach tour amongst an Aus­tralian sea lion colony. This unique insight is a world-class experience.

Meals Included: Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 1km

This morning we head into Flinders Chase National Park where your Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail walk begins at Rocky River, the original starting point.

We may spot rosellas, pardalotes and wrens as we follow the Rocky River. Highlights of the days walk include the Pardalote lookout and the soothing sounds of the Cascades where water flows through rocky chutes and pools. Also, a platypus may make an appearance today.

If you’re keen to extend your walk, we take an optional side trail and visit the mouth of the river. Here, a white sandy surf beach awaits and incredible baby waterfalls of the terraced river rock pools. This trail adds an element of adventure to the end of your day!

We then return back towards the Cup Gum Campground to conclude the days walk. Our transport will be waiting to take us to our comfortable accommodation next to the trail. Then its time to unwind and relax while we prepare a delicious 2 course dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 13km or 17km

Today we head back to Cup Gum where we pick up from where we left the Wilderness Trail yesterday.

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 can be testing, but with our 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.

Entering the fragile dune ecosystem the trail can be hard to navigate at times, therefore we take this section slow to ensure we protect the delicate plants and shrubs re-establishing.

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

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 14km

We start our adventure today at spectacular Admirals Arch where we have the seals to ourselves 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.

Then, it’s a short drive back to Hakea Campground to continue along the Wilderness Trail to Banksia Campground.

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

After time exploring Remarkable Rocks, we follow the coastline offering incredibly wild landscapes this afternoon. Making our way towards the feisty Sanderson Beach which we can see in the far distance. Walking on calcrete limestone trail with plenty of hard terrain underfoot, you can see the regrowth of salt loving succulents and even fungi.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 6km, 8km or 14km

Today offers landscape and trail variance not yet seen before. Starting at Banksia Campground we walk to Cape Younghusband. You can see parts of native bush here untouched by bushfire while sections right to the cliff edge were singed in 2019.

Continuing past Cape Younghusband the trail can be littered with diggings so keep your eyes peeled for echidna and goanna.

The final part of our journey today involves crossing the South-West River in a small boat. Once reaching the opposite bank it’s just a short walk onto Hanson Bay beach. With views across the bay and stunning turquoise waters it’s great swimming here if you’re keen.

Tonight we enjoy our final dinner together and a restful evening as the sun sets behind the gum trees.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Trail Snacks, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 12km

Today, we follow the brackish river towards the open plains of Grassdale and then Kelly Hill Conservation Park. With not far 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.

Completing the trail at Kelly Hill Caves, you then venture underground. We take you on a private tour of this spectacular cave system.

Next is a celebratory lunch at Cactus, the funkiest café on Kangaroo Island. Our destination has rave reviews and a brilliant global menu with delicious meals to choose from. This happening place is known for creating tasty food from locally sourced produce. We include a drink of your choice with lunch. So why not try a local beer, a local wine, artisan coffee, or freshly pressed juice.

After lunch it’s all aboard as we make our way back to Penneshaw and our ferry back to the mainland. At Cape Jervis we enjoy the journey in comfort back to Adelaide feeling accomplished and rewarded by this incredible wilderness experience.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Walking Distance: 8km

We grade the overall walking on this itinerary as MODERATE
(see our grading system)

This grading is provided as general advice only, and is based on our assessment and also feedback from past participants. Please consider your level of fitness and experience in regard to this rating, and if you’re unsure please contact us for more information

Rocky River Section

Distance: 17km
Elevation Gain: 375m
Elevation Loss: 375m

Maupertuis Section

Distance: 14km
Elevation Gain: 350m
Elevation Loss: 275m

Sanderson Section

Distance: 14km
Elevation Gain: 250m
Elevation Loss: 350m

Grassdale Section

Distance: 12km
Elevation Gain: 200m
Elevation Loss: 200m

Kelly Hill Section

Distance: 8km
Elevation Gain: 175m
Elevation Loss: 175m

10 REASONS TO WALK WITH US

Realistic Itineraries
we want you to love and be inspired by Kangaroo Island. This tour itinerary is well-designed and realistic, allowing you to complete the full itinerary ….. we don’t over sell and under deliver

Be Fulfilled
this itinerary is designed to maximise your awe and leave you fulfilled. You will walk every step of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail from the original starting point in Flinders Chase National Park to Kelly Hill Caves, as well as experience unique Kangaroo Island highlights including a Seal Bay tour, Emu Bay Lavender Farm lunch and Kelly Hill Caves tour, all too good to miss. We’ve planned this itinerary so you get the full experience and time to relax ….. you won’t leave Kangaroo Island feeling unfulfilled

Nature Connection
we want you to feel de-stressed and re-energised. So, our guides are also nature facilitators with skills to immerse you with your surrounds. Not only do we safely guide you and share our knowledge, we also provide invitations for you to slow down and connect deeper with nature whilst walking the trail (included activities such as an introduction to Shinrin-yoku ‘Forest Bathing’ ) <learn more about Forest Bathing here> ….. we’re pioneers of hiking with deep nature immersion

Group Fitness
we want you to succeed and maximise your enjoyment, so pre-tour training walks, training programs, and group chats online are provided leading up to your walking tour (included as part of the tour price). These will assist you to practice on terrain that you are likely to encounter, meet your guides and other group members, ask questions on what to expect, receive advice on the trail, travel, and the destination, and gauge your level of fitness. Many people underestimate the difficulty of walking this trail and end up under-prepared and unfulfilled ….. so we invest in your preparation

Meaningful Moments
we will bring your Kangaroo Island experience alive ….. a guide book, phone App, and interstate companies can’t do this as well as a local South Australian tour operator like us

Flexibility (2 guides)
our departures have 2 experienced female guides. Having 2 guides means we can better cater for group dynamics and individual needs. Factors such as walking pace, injuries and incidents can mean changes to the itinerary become necessary, and if there was only 1 guide then these changes will impact on your expectations and your level of enjoyment ….. avoiding this is why we always have 2 guides

Safety
our wilderness trained female guides from Adelaide carry comprehensive group first-aid kits, satellite communication devices, and safety equipment. In addition, safety procedures are in place, and constant communication is undertaken with local emergency services. There isn’t mobile phone coverage along sections of this trail ….. so for your safety, we always have multiple communication devices

Timing
we go at the best time of the year for comfortable walking conditions. We can’t guarantee perfect weather everyday, but you can book with confidence 

Small Groups
a maximum of 10 only on each departure. Meaning, it’s better for the environment, you get your own bedroom each night, and you won’t feel like you’re just a number in the crowd

Travel Assistance
our in-house travel specialists can assist you with travel insurance. If you’re arriving from interstate or from international destinations we can also package any accommodation, flights, and add-ons in addition to this tour. Package your Kangaroo Island walk with us and save stress, time and money

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