Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia

Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kangaroo_Island_South_Australia.JPG
Author: Dinkum


Kangaroo Island is an island off the coast of South Australia. It is 112 km (70 mi) to the southwest of Adelaide, at the entrance of the Gulf of St Vincent. Covering an area of 4,405 sq km (1,700.8 sq mi), it is the third largest island in Australia after Tasmania and Melville Island. It has a population of around 4,300 people (2012 estimate).

Dauncey Street in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dauncey_St_Kingscote.jpg
Author: Yeti Hunter


Kangaroo Island was discovered by Captain Matthew Flinders in 1802. He named it "Kanguroo (sic) Island", misspelling the marsupial. In his wake came French explorer Nicolas Baudin, who surveyed, mapped and named geographic features on the island (resulting in many of its places having French names).

An unofficial settlement, comprising mostly sealers, developed on Kangaroo Island in 1802. As South Australia was only officially settled in 1836, the history of European settlement on Kangaroo Island pre-dates that of mainland South Australia. Its main town, Kingscote, was established on 27 July 1836, and holds the distinction of being the first official European settlement in South Australia.

Today Kangaroo Island is a rural, agricultural region. It produces wine, wool, honey, meat and grain. It also has the only eucalyptus oil distillery in South Australia, distilling from the Kangaloo Island Narrow Leaf Mallee, endemic to the island.

Visiting Kangaroo Island

There are ferry services connecting Cape Jervis on mainland South Australia with Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. The ferry carries both passengers and cars. From Adelaide, you can take one of the two daily coach services to Cape Jervis at $44 one way.

Another view of Remarkable Rocks
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Remarkable_Rocks,_Kangaroo_Island.jpg
Author: Diceman

Places of Interest in Kangaroo Island

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