Kangaroo Island: South Australia’s Paradise For Animal Lovers

26.04.2024 - 22:05 / forbes.com

Australia is home to its fair share of fascinating creatures—the frilled lizard, quokka and platypus, to name a few—and when it comes to spotting a massive array of native species in the flesh, few destinations can compare to Kangaroo Island. Located just southwest of Adelaide, this storied site serves as one of South Australia’s crown jewels for ecotourism, with no shortage of protected preserves that play host to all sorts of indigenous flora and fauna. As you plan your next trip to Australia’s southern shore, be sure to save some room on the itinerary for a wildlife-filled foray into the depths of Kangaroo Island.

Australia’s diversity of landscapes and climates has given rise to a truly incredible array of indigenous avian species, with many of its most striking birds calling Kangaroo Island home—and for those hoping to spot a wealth of these marvelous creatures in the flesh, Bell Bird Tours offers the perfect multi-day voyage. Taking place in both September and November, the four-day Kangaroo Island Birding Tour takes guests deep into the interior of the island, providing visitors with an opportunity to encounter birds like the Cape Barren goose, white-bellied whipbird and tawny-crowned honeyeater—and as an added bonus, seabirds abound across Kangaroo Island’s perimeter, with the flesh-footed shearwater, Wilson's storm petrel and southern royal albatross serving as just a few of the species that might make an appearance.

For those visiting the island outside of September and November, Exceptional Kangaroo Island has been in the tour business since 1986, with multiple curated excursions that highlight the culture and natural beauty of the surrounding region. During a three-day Wild About Birds tour, guests can immerse themselves in the splendor of Kangaroo Island from an entirely-avian perspective, with countless passerines, waders and raptors all appearing throughout the journey. While there’s no shortage of fascinating sites on the itinerary, highlights range from Roper’s Gums—a top spot for scoping out glossy black cockatoos—to Duck Lagoon, a billabong that’s rife with native waterfowl.

Australia is known for sweet treats ranging from fairy bread to Tim Tams, but for those who visit Kangaroo Island, there’s a particularly fascinating confection found in the form of Ligurian honey. This sugary substance is produced in abundance by the Ligurian honey bee, a type of domesticated insect that was first bred in the Italian region of Liguria—and while this particular breed of bee has been wiped out across the globe due to crossbreeding, Kangaroo Island’s isolation from the mainland has allowed the animals to thrive without interference, ultimately establishing the surrounding region as the last