Kangaroo Island in Spring: Our team’s favourite ways to make the most of your holiday.
Spring is a magical time to explore Kangaroo Island. As the days grow warmer, the island comes alive with colour, wildlife activity, and opportunities to taste the best of the season. To help you make the most of your experience, we’ve pulled together The Islander Estate Vineyards team’s favourite things to see and do on Kangaroo Island in Spring.
🍷 First, wine is an essential Kangaroo Island experience.
Book an immersive wine experience at The Islander Estate Vineyards Cellar Door
1. Explore the Cygnet River Cellar Door Trail.
Spend an afternoon discovering the Cygnet River Cellar Door Trail, your shortcut to Kangaroo Island artisan producers and stories. In spring, cellar door life moves into the sunshine, and the pace is relaxed. Producers have time to chat, providing a uniquely personal experience. The Cygnet River Cellar Door Trail offers two unique wine styles, gin, and handmade wool products in a compact trail that can be easily explored in an afternoon.
- Start at The Islander Estate Vineyards Cellar Door for premium wine tastings, cheese and French charcuterie.
- Visit Springs Road Wines, Kangaroo Island Spirits and Kangaroo Island Wool for immersive local experiences.
A little further afield:
- Enjoy a brew by the fire at Kangaroo Island Brewery or the legendary scones at Emu Bay Lavender.
- Don’t miss a stop at Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co just outside of Kingscote, to experience Kangaroo Island’s world-famous Ligurian honey.
2. Discover Spring Wildlife and Bird Watching.
Spring is the peak season for wildlife lovers. Visit The Islander Estate Vineyards tasting room to stock up on a favourite wine and picnic supplies, then head to Duck Lagoon, just minutes away, a nature reserve home to a wide array of birds, echidnas and koalas. Bring binoculars, a blanket, and enjoy a peaceful picnic with a bottle of wine.
Also, keep an eye out for:
- Rosenberg Goanna hatchlings emerging from eggs and warming themselves in the sun.
- Migratory shorebirds return to Kangaroo Island & protected Hooded Plovers make their nests on sandy beaches.
- Kangaroo and Tamar Wallaby joeys emerging from pouches to graze alongside their mothers on juicy spring grass (twilight is a great time to see them)
If you really love wildlife, put yourself in the hands of the experts at Exceptional Kangaroo Island. Their naturalist guides have lived here for decades and know how to maximise your wildlife experience with access to little-known wildlife locations.
3. Explore pristine deserted beaches.
As the days warm up, there’s nothing more relaxing than spending a few hours on a beach that’s all yours, strolling, swimming & scouring the shores for treasures. Some of our favourite beaches include:
- South Coast: D’Estrees Bay, Vivonne Bay, Hanson Bay
- North Coast: Western River Cove, Snellings Beach, Stokes Bay, Boxing Bay at North Cape (a local’s secret)
- East Coast: Antechamber Bay with BBQ facilities at Chapman River Reserve
- Tip: If you’re staying on the eastern end of the Island, Brown Beach and Island Beach are fantastic places to watch the sunset with a bottle of wine and a picnic.
4. Take a Hike
Cool mornings and sunny afternoons in Spring are ideal for stretching your legs on one of Kangaroo Island’s hiking trails. Here are a few of our favourite accessible and lesser-known walks for spring:
Near Penneshaw:
- The Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail is situated alongside Hog Bay, nestled within 4.5 hectares of dunes. This community-owned and managed art trail combines nature trails, local wildlife, native flora and stunning sculptural installations.
- Baudin Conservation Park on the outskirts of Penneshaw is home to the Ironstone Hill Hike 4km a trail that showcases spectacular views, wildlife, and fascinating heritage stories, and culminates at the historic Bates Cottage, overlooking the town of Penneshaw.
Near American River:
- Explore tranquil Pelican Lagoon and its abundant bird life on the Independence Trail. The trail is 3.6km one way or 7.1km return
- The Cannery Walk is a locals’ favourite, following the coastline to the ruins of a historic fish cannery. It’s also a fantastic place to spot seasonal native orchids.
Western End:
- Platypus Waterhole Walk, Flinders Chase National Park. This 4.7km walk is best done in the early morning for the best chance of spotting a Platypus in its natural environment.
- The 7.4km Ravine Des Casoars hike takes you along a lovely creek for the last few kilometres until reaching the end, where you’ll find a beautiful secret beach and a huge cave. Enjoy exploring the caves, which feature giant stalagmites and stalactites.
5. Treasure hunt for spring native flowers
With such amazing vistas and coastlines, it can be hard to remember to look down. But from September to October, the island is carpeted in native wildflowers. It’s well worth slowing down and taking in the beauty of the island’s microflora.
- The island is ablaze with stunning varieties of wattle.
- Spring is the ideal time to hunt for native orchids. Our favourite place to look for them is along the 4km Cannery Walk in American River.
- You’ll see fields all over the island with vibrant yellow displays of canola crops.
6. Watch the landscape change from luxury accommodation.
After exploring the wild, retreat to absolute luxury.
- For rolling farmland and wildlife, book at Stowaway Kangaroo Island, a couples-only retreat where you can watch the landscape change from your living room, bedroom, and even your luxurious tub for two.
- Prefer coastal views? Wander Kangaroo Island is your perfect base to relax with a glass of local wine while you watch waves roll in on stunning Snellings Beach.
- At the eastern end of the island, Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island offers luxury accommodation, stunning sea views, in-house dining, touring options and is just a few minutes from Cape Willoughby Lighthouse.
- Ecopia Retreats offer luxury accommodation amongst a registered wildlife sanctuary on 150 acres of natural wilderness, with options for couples, families or small groups.
7. Dine on seasonal cuisine in style.
- Celebrate Kangaroo Island’s finest produce at Samphire Kangaroo Island in American River. Enjoy a 7-course degustation with matched wines from The Islander Estate Vineyards. Stay overnight in their on-site luxury suites.
- Chef Jack Ingram of hatted restaurant Sunset Food & Wine (open December to April only) also owns upmarket wine bar Tirage on Kangaroo Island, in Kingscote, open year-round. A great spot for a local wine & simple shared plates after a long day of touring.
- Rockpool Cafe at Stokes Bay opens in September and is the perfect spot for seafood. Go through the hidden case to the stunning surf beach, then dine in this rustic cafe on delicious seafood options paired with local wines.
- Prefer to dine at your accommodation? Stop in at American River at KI Oysters to pick up oysters fresh from the farm at their pristine best. They also stock a range of other fresh local & South Australian seafood.
Ready to Plan Your Kangaroo Island Spring Getaway? Discover a quieter, wilder, and more beautiful side of Kangaroo Island. Book a wine experience with us, explore the island’s hidden gems, and immerse yourself in a winter holiday like no other.
