Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
5
National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
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About
Nature’s drama unfolds at every step of the 66 kilometre five-day trek, with the trail weaving its way through the most botanically unique area in all of South Australia before reaching the rugged, remote and spectacular coastline of the Southern Ocean. The unimaginable beauty of this part of the world has to be seen to be believed. Come and discover the magic for yourself.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
64 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Sarah
Adelaide Hills, Australia3 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
We did the trail over 5 days, staying at Western KI Caravan Park. Following the fire in January 2020, the park is recovering and the walk was beautiful. Yuccas, eucalypts and wildflowers abound as nature recovers. We saw lots of wildlife, including goannas, wallabies, kangaroos. The best part was that we saw no one else on the trail, we had it all to ourselves!
Written 15 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Pssingham
Melbourne, Australia40 contributions
Oct 2019
This walk is well worth completing but not an easy stroll. It is not a walk for children because it is easy to trip and fall on the many rocks. The first and last days are easy. There were plenty of rocks to negotiate. Even when walking on a path that looks easy care needs to be taken due to low rocks and very low stumps. The views of the coast were continually enjoyed as we walked. We saw many seals in a few places and seals in others. It’s well worth doing this walk.we did it the easy way by staying in cabins at the Western KI caravan park. Mark and Fiona drovevus to our starting point each day and collected us at the end. We only needed day packs. Some had their tents and other equipment moved each day. I admired one couple who were carrying everything they needed. They had left their car at the visitor centre.
Written 4 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jane S
Adelaide, Australia43 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
I took my 15 and 13 year olds on this walk with friends. We opted to have one backpack transported by the Western KI Caravan Park service and it made life so much easier. The walk itself is spectacular in a pristine wilderness environment. The campsites are well laid out with a shelter area for cooking and dining. We had a great five days!
Written 13 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Francesco
Hawthorn, Australia2 contributions
Oct 2019
My wife, (62) and self (65) just completed the five day , four night 60 plus kilometre walk. We chose to do the pick up and collect after each section. We stayed at the Wilderness Retreat which was comfortable and well staffed. Price included ferry transfers for our car and two passengers to and from the mainland, 4 breakfasts, 3 packed lunches and 4 evening meals, park entries and drop off and collect from each section of our walk and entry to Kelly Caves on the last day. The walk is not difficult. We had no real issues considering our age. We completed each leg of the trip well in advance of the recommended time frame. We stopped numerous times to take photographs and admire the spectacular views, fauna and flora that KI has to offer. Highly recommend this trip. Massive sense of completion when you get to the end. The walk is well signposted and not overpowering. Plenty of seals along the rugged coast. Bring water, sunblock, hat and dress according to the weather conditions. No phone coverage at all which was a bit of a blessing. Wifi available from the Retreat to keep in touch with the outside world. Loved this trip. Tick from our bucket list.
Written 6 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
pdme13
Adelaide, Australia9 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail was the first-ever overnight hiking experience for myself and my 16 year old daughter. It was a fantastic experience and so great to spend some time with her in nature with no mobile phones. Day two was the toughest, but it felt like an amazing accomplishment to finish the trail, carrying everything in and out again. So proud of her...and me :). Highly recommend the experience.
Written 10 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vicki851
Adelaide, Australia17 contributions
May 2019
We just completed the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail walk and it was one of the greatest walks we have done. The walk itself and the facilities at the campgrounds are world class. I would recommend this walk to everyone so that you can see the beauty that Kangaroo Island has to offer.
Written 23 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Edwina B
30 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
A really good walk with amazing scenery and even kangaroos on the path. We did the 5 day hike and stayed in one of the cabins which was very well appointed and lovely view of the beach and bay. It was all very well organised with dinner magically appearing in the fridge while out on our walk. Pick-ups at the beginning and end of the day worked well. And all the people involved were really friendly. As an extra we did the nocturnal wildlife walk and saw koalas high up in the trees. The walk is not too strenuous - 44 miles in 2 half and 3 full days. Mostly flat but often rocky and tricky terrain. And 1/2 bar of 3G encouraged a complete break!
Written 28 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JacksStore
Sydney, Australia198 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
This 5 day, 63 km, guided walk was a terrific way to experience Kangaroo Island without having to lug a full pack, sleep in a tent and eat slop. We stayed in comfortable cabins at Hanson Bay, were dropped off and picked up each day and enjoyed good meals and congenial company in the evenings. The itinerary included sections of the KI Wilderness Trail, plus the stunning Ravine des Casours hike. There were 10 in our group plus 2 guides, one of whom accompanied us each day. My reservations that this might make for a school excursion-type walk were not realised. Our group tended to string out along the trail so you could be alone, before regrouping further down the track. Our guides were friendly, professional and knowledgable, offering just the right amount of commentary. Saw plenty of wildlife - an echnida next to the path from Kelly's Hill to Hanson Bay, plenty of roos, Tamar wallabies around the cabins, grunting koalas and huge Cape Barren geese on the Waterholes walk (and in the Visitors Centre carpark) and a snake. A fat possum joined us for dinner each evening. Highlights were the cabin accommodation at Hanson Bay, the waterhole walk, Ravine des Casours hike and the Snake Gully walk, the meals and the company. Personally I could have done without the gin distillery and honey farm on the way back to the ferry but others seemed to enjoy them. My tips: take walking poles - those limestone clifftops are very uneven; take an extra bottle of wine; and, for any fellow smokers, make sure your e-cig is working properly before you go.
Written 1 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
roscoeg65
Blackheath, Australia15 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
In the busy post-Christmas period, there were only 2 other groups on our walk and no tour groups. The walk has amazing scenery and a variety of habitats. Saw plenty of wildlife along the way. Our approach was to complete each day's walk then take day packs to complete all of the side trips - Admirals Arch and the secluded beaches. None of the walking is difficult for experienced & reasonably fit walkers and not long days of walking. We were lucky with good weather on all days. The coastal sections would be challenging in gale conditions. Campsites are excellent & spacious, the final Tea Tree site being my favourite.
Written 6 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
crab11
Tasmania,Australia15 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
I walked this trail with my husband and adult children in mid-December 2018. We are experienced hikers and thought the days were perfectly curated. The Trail has been very well planned and the infrastructure is beautifully designed and built with lovely separate and private tent pads at each campsite. The vegetation and scenery was very diverse and we saw plenty of wildlife. We were very lucky with the weather for this time of year and we had perfect low twenties days. We all loved it but calling it a Wilderness Trail is a little bit of a misnomer as we could hear the road from one campsite. However, this does not detract from the experience and all the campsites are remarkably clean because there is a dirt road to all campsites so staff must be able to clean the facilities every day. If you do have the energy, it is very worth doing the side trip to Admiral’s Arch. There are also a couple of places to swim along the way and we would highly recommend the side trip to peaceful and protected Hanson’s Bay. Very few mozzies and some flies but not the annoying kind.
Written 28 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Megan20152015
Scamander, Australia17 contributions
My husband and I have booked to walk the KI Wilderness Trail in October 2018. We would like some advice on where is best to stay on the night before the walk starts.
Iona P
Adelaide, Australia16 contributions
Hi, before my group did the walk we just stayed at a cabin in the Western Caravan Park. It was such a lovely spot and around that time of year there aren't too many people about which makes for the best nights sleep you could ever experience. Lovely to wake up to so much wildlife as well.
Kez-ann
McLaren Vale, Australia15 contributions
It is apparently the most expensive water crossing in the world!! Insane! otherwise we would go there more often as we are only an hour away from the ferry.So maybe that's why you mentioned no crowds of people? This would be a positive response in my opinion, which you did not mention.Its costs more but that's a choice you have to make, It wont last long as direct flight from melbourne and adelaide via Qantas now avalable. We are going in June before it gets too over crowded.
Pam H
Splitska, Croatia7 contributions
1. Can I find out anywhere availability to do the walk without going through the booking process.
2. We are 4 people wanting to walk and 1 who will drop off and pick up each day and take to accommodation...is this possible, I have read that there are locked gates to the drop off/pick up points
Stewartpk
South Australia, Australia12 contributions
I'm not sure why you do not want to go through the booking process, however you cannot do the walk without booking and paying. The walk is limited to a certain number of walkers and campers everyday. Several drop off points are near gated private roads. The gates are locked and there is no access to the general public. As mentioned above Western KI Caravan Park do four a drop off and pick up at a very reasonable rate (its also a great place to stay)
mandythepcgirl
Munno Para, Australia
Am looking for low cost transport of 1 persons pack from site to site for the entire trip. Who offers this option?
adelaidenow
21 contributions
Hi Was wondering about transfers to and from the airport.The caravan park seems to offer transport from the park to and from the track but not from the airport.
Has anyone else travelled from the airport ?I suppose a cab might be an option?
Ouzo10
Adelaide, Australia421 contributions
I don’t think there’s a taxi service on the island, but you could arrange a transfer from Kingscote Airport through KI Transfers (0427887575). No idea of the cost. Good luck!
Justjoanne
Queensland, Australia95 contributions
From the reviews I have read I see that walking across the limestone rocks appears to be the most difficult. Can anyone tell me how difficult and how far this part is? I have arthritis in my ankles and find uneven ground ie: rocks very difficult to walk across. I walked the three capes walk earlier this year. 47 Kim’s over4 days and found it very manageable and enjoyable. I would love to do the KI walk
Deanna72
Renmark, South Australia44 contributions
I agree with all the previous responses. Keep your pack as light as possible.
The rocky ground is ok if you can take it slow. You can pick your way through.
Start early on day 2, this has the beach section which I found the hardest and a fair bit of the cliff top rocky path.
I used waking poles and found them helpful.
It is a beautiful hike and well worth doing.
youngkidscantravel
Melbourne56 contributions
Hello, I am planning on doing this hike with my son (as a surprise mother-son adventure) for his 13th birthday. It sounds spectacular but I am wondering after completing the walk (or before) what other attractions would you recommend for a very adventurous 13yr old?
PS; He is a mad keen mountain biker - don't suppose their are any rides?
Ren082
Adelaide, Australia8 contributions
Hi there, I am looking to do the KI wilderness trail in March this year. As part of my planning, I am wondering what the closest accomodation option is at Kelly Hill Caves (the final destination)? Thanks
divegirl2010
Adelaide, Australia1 contribution
Western KI Caravan Park will collect you for modest fee and they have cabins, tent sites etc and very good facilities. They can do pack transfer, even daily drop off and collect you on the trail to avoid backpacking if you have young or elderly. Otherwise best to backpack, but with pack transfer available you have the best of both worlds.
KANGAROO ISLAND WILDERNESS TRAIL - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
- Hotels near Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail:
- (0.28 km) Rocky River Heritage Accommodation
- (6.47 km) Western KI Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve
- (11.31 km) Southern Ocean Lodge
- (12.01 km) Cape du Couedic Lighthouse Keepers Heritage Accommodation
- (12.70 km) Hanson Bay Cabins