Kangaroo Island Short Break Adventure
Trip Code: PZAI
Why we love it
Enjoy a Short Break Adventure, where all the logistics are taken care of for you – giving you plenty of time to soak in the scenery, the abundant wildlife and the fresh air., Visit diverse natural habitats on Kangaroo Island and see species protected from the threat of introduced predators. Look out for echidnas, koalas, reptiles, wallabies and the 250 species of birds including Australia’s rarest cockatoo., Explore Flinders Chase National Park, a protected area on the west end of Kangaroo Island, on foot and visit the iconic Remarkable Rocks., Walk along the island’s coasts and must-see spots with a local guide, including Cape du Couedic, where a colony of 10,000 fur seals call home – what a sight!, Enjoy gourmet-style picnic lunches out in nature in secluded areas surrounded by the sounds of birdlife and the nearby sea.
Is this trip right for me?
On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
This trip has two full days of driving, as well as early morning pick-ups and late evening drop-offs with a combination of bus, ferry and 4WD vehicles. You’ll be unaccompanied by a trip leader on the ferries and on the bus. This trip also involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with good mobility.
Kangaroo Island can be very windy, and this Short Break Adventure involves mostly outdoor activities. Bring appropriate clothing and check the season prior to departure.
This Short Break Adventure is made up of two full day trips, so there will be little time for independent exploration of the island.
Important information
START& END TIMES:
Early Morning departures (6:45 AM) and and late evening arrival (21:30 PM) from/at Adelaide Central Bus Station. Please take this into consideration when booking your arrival and departure travel arrangements.
Sometimes ferries might not run due to rough seas or other operational reasons. For this reason please reconfirm the ferry departure point and time 1 business day prior to travel with Sealink on 13 13 03 (local phone number). In case of ferry cancellations please contact the emergency phone numbers: 1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164
Luggage Limits: Luggage limits are 15kg per person as touring is in small 4WDs. This will require ‘packing down’ to one smaller bag per person. When this is necessary, excess luggage can be stored at your Adelaide accommodation.
What to bring/pack
LUGGAGE LIMIT
Due to limited vehicle space and strictly enforced road laws regarding weight limits, your main piece of luggage must be soft-sided and weigh no more than 15kg/33lb. You can also bring a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, sunscreen, etc when you’re exploring during the day. Please note that we are unable to carry large suitcases, particularly hard/externally framed suitcases as they are difficult to store and can damage equipment and other travellers' belongings., Below are some essential items for this trip. Please review the ‘Climate and Seasonal Information’ to ensure you pack appropriately for the weather at the time of year you are travelling.
- Lightweight clothing. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing and layers. Long shirts and pants are useful to protect against the harsh Australian sun. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Maybe bring a change of smart clothes for dinner in larger cities. Australia is pretty casual, shorts or a skirt and a top, with sandals, is our usual warm weather wardrobe.
- Comfortable, closed-in shoes. These will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grasslands and will act as a protective barrier in the rare case of a bite or sting. A pair of sandals or thongs/flip flops are great for the beach.
- Sun protection. Wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.
VALUABLES
Try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.
Physical rating
This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Some trips may have individual inclusions that may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall rating of the trip. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don't want to participate.
Joining your group
Adelaide Central Bus Station, 83 Franklin St, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Sealink have their own coach for transfers from Adelaide to Cape Jervis (and vice versa). Their coaches are highly visible with signage and it will be located INSIDE the Adelaide bus station. Once inside if you head towards the back, there are bus and coach pick up lanes.
Finishing your trip
Adelaide Central Bus Station, 83 Franklin St, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Alternate Finish Point
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 1
Lunches included: 2
Dinners included:
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Australia eats multi-culturally. Everything from meat pies to ramen, tacos, curries, rice and pasta are part of the national diet. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for in Australia and most restaurants and cafes will have a good selection of vegetarian meals. Gluten and lactose-free diets are also well catered for.
Climate & seasonal information
From October to March it is likely that you will experience temperatures over 35C/95F. These extreme temperatures place stress on the air-conditioning units within our vehicles which can make travelling uncomfortable. Your leader will assist with regular breaks and information to assist keeping cool and hydrated.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
The following national holidays are observed in Australia, which can affect our itinerary as traffic can be extreme, and shops, restaurants and attractions can be closed:
New Year's Day (01 January)
Good Friday (date varies)
Anzac Day (25 April)
Christmas Day (25 December)
Boxing Day (26 December)
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Transportation
You will be unnacompanied on the shuttle bus to/from Adelaide and on the ferries.
DRIVING DISTANCES ON KANGAROO ISLAND
Kangaroo Island is a BIG island! In fact, it's Australia's third biggest island (after Tasmania and Melville Island in the Top End). While it looks small on a map compared to the mainland, exploring the island in depth does require a decent amount of distance to be covered. But all of it is stunning, so sit back, relax and see the scenery roll by your window between our frequent scenic stops.