Kangaroo Island Wildlife & Conservation Journey

Koala and joey at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Kangaroo Island

Endangered Kangaroo Island Glossy black cockatoo

Dates

18 Aug 2026

12 Oct 2026

1 Dec 2026

12 May 2027

18 Aug 2027

20 Oct 2027

1 Dec 2027
Trip Type Nature & Wildlife, Conservation & Citizen Science
Twin Share Maximum of two adults
$ 3,690
Single $ 4,290

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AGT Expert Guide

Australian Geographic Travel guides are experts in their fields, combining deep local knowledge with a genuine passion for our unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultures. Their professionalism, warmth, and storytelling skills create immersive, educational experiences and consistently deliver enriching and memorable journeys for every guest.

Duration

5 Days

Group Size

10 People

Activity Level

Easy

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About this tour

A five-day wildlife and conservation journey on Kangaroo Island (Karta), based for four nights out of the quiet coastal town of American River. From this base, the tour visits Cygnet Park, Seal Bay, Flinders Chase National Park, Cape du Couedic and Cape Gantheaume – combining the island's wildlife and landscapes with the on-the-ground work of the ecologists and researchers conserving them.

This is an Australian Geographic Travel tour designed in partnership with on-island specialists. Days move between wildlife watching and active conservation: bird banding at Cygnet Park with an ecologist from the not-for-profit conservation group BioR, fieldwork with a local entomologist on the endangered green carpenter bee, and post-fire ecology and wildlife recovery monitoring in Flinders Chase National Park, where the 2020 Black Summer fires reshaped the landscape.

Kangaroo Island sits in the Southern Ocean off the South Australian coast, separated from the mainland for long enough to produce its own distinct populations of animals, plants and people. Days here combine the spectacular Remarkable Rocks, perched impossibly on a granite dome, an Australian sea lion colony on a quiet white-sand beach, and the Southern Ocean crashing through Admirals Arch.

Who is this tour for?

This tour is designed for travellers with a strong interest in wildlife, conservation in practice, and the landscapes and regional food of South Australia. It suits travellers with a moderate level of fitness – some days involve coastal hikes and walking on uneven, unpaved natural surfaces for extended periods, with enclosed walking shoes essential and walking poles recommended for those who prefer additional support. Those who enjoy meeting the scientists and ecologists doing the work, and who like a small group with a relaxed pace and good food, will get the most from it.

Highlights

Join an ecologist from not-for-profit conservation group BioR for a bird banding session at the private Cygnet Park conservation area.
Take a private tour into the Australian sea-lion colony at Seal Bay, where pups nurse, juveniles wrestle, and territorial bulls share the sand only metres away.
Walk through Flinders Chase National Park to Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, where a large colony of long-nosed fur seals hauls out beneath the crashing Southern Ocean swell.
Meet a local entomologist in the D'Estrees Bay region working to save the endangered green carpenter bee.
Visit a private wildlife refuge on the Flinders Chase boundary where infrared camera-trap surveys monitor post-fire recovery of endangered small mammals.
Hike the clifftops of Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, watching for western whipbird, shy heathwren and southern emu-wren.
Stand at Point Tinline beside an osprey nest first sketched by a crew member of the shipwrecked Osmanli in 1853, and in regular use ever since.

Four nights of accommodation in the town of American River on Kangaroo Island
Transfers to and from your accommodation from Kingscote Airport (KGC) or Penneshaw Ferry Terminal (in line with tour dates, alternative dates may incur a fee)
Four breakfasts and three lunches in the field
All ground transport during the tour by guided vehicle
Services of an expert wildlife guide for the duration of the tour
All scheduled wildlife and conservation activities, including the bird banding session at Cygnet Park, the private Seal Bay sea-lion tour, the Flinders Chase National Park day, the green carpenter bee field session, and the Cape Gantheaume coastal hike
Australian Geographic Society conservation contribution to fund the AG Society's conservation work

Itinerary

Upon arrival on Kangaroo Island, make your way to your hotel in the town of American River, your base for the next four nights. The afternoon is yours to settle in, explore the surroundings and soak up the relaxed island atmosphere. Overnight: American River. Meals: None.