Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

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by Hertz AU - 11 January 2019

The road trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island is one that takes in some of the best bits of South Australia.

Begin in Adelaide

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and is the fifth-most-populous city in the country. With a combination of old fashioned charm and cosmopolitan modernity, Adelaide has it all – not to mention world-class contemporary cuisine.

Visitors to Adelaide are always impressed by its CBD and the intimate feeling that it has.

In the heart of the city, the prestigious Rundle Mall shopping district is where you’ll find an array of luxury retailers on pretty pedestrianised streets. The area is home to the most expensive real estate in South Australia. Take time to sit around with a coffee or ice-cream and soak up the vibe of the city and enjoy the many works of public art on display.

Throughout the year, Adelaide hosts a number of cultural events that transform the city with an infectious festival atmosphere that attracts visitors from all over Australia. Popular festivals worth visiting for include WOMADelaide, Tasting Australia, and the excellent Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Head for the Hills

After exploring Adelaide, jump in your Hertz rental car and head for the hills. With beautiful landscape, quality food and wine,a vast array wildlife, and the relaxed country atmosphere, the Adelaide Hills are the perfect place to get away from it all.

Although you can get to the Adelaide Hills in just 20 minutes, it feels like an entire world away. We recommend coming and spending the night. It’s the perfect place to book a cosy cottage, visit a pub and enjoy the laid-back pace of life. For wine lovers, the McLaren Valley and The Barossa Valley are close by and can be visited easily.

Sellicks Beach

Just over an hour drive from Adelaide is Sellicks Beach, a beautiful and secluded oasis far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Even on a summer's day, Sellicks Beach can be relatively deserted. However, with its pristine coastline and proximity to the McLaren Vale wine region, the beach is growing in popularity amongst road trippers and holidaymakers.

You’ll find the beach at the end of Sellicks Beach Road, where the steep cliffs of the Mount Lofty Ranges sweep down to the sea and the sandy expanse below. The locality is well equipped, with facilities including public toilets, picnic tables and barbecues all nearby.

The beach is also unique for being one of only a few beaches in South Australia that cars are permitted to drive on. The beach is great for swimming, snorkelling, and when the swell is good, surfing.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, nearby Maslin Beach is Australia's first official (and most famous) nude beach!

Kangaroo Island

The ferry to Kangaroo Island departs from Cape Jervis and takes just 45minutes to arrive at Penneshaw, a small township on the island. The town overlooks Backstairs Passage, with mainland South Australia just 16 kilometres across the water. The Kangaroo Island Sealink ferries passengers from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw several times each day.

There’s lots to do on Kangaroo Island and the beautiful beach at Penneshaw, known as Hog Bay, is a great place to begin any holiday. Here you can laze on the sand and enjoy a refreshing dip, while also enjoying the great picnic spots and barbecuing facilities available. It’s a perfect place for families to relax.

Penneshaw is also well-known for its colony of fairy penguins who waddle onto the beach every evening before bedding down for the night. Guided tours are run nightly by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and leave just after sunset from the Penguin Interpretative Centre, located just beside the main ferry terminal.

Now more than ever we need to support the local community on Kangaroo Island. The region needs your support as tourism is vital for the economies to rebuild after the bush fires. Check out the Kangaroo Island bushfire recovery information for everything you need to know about travelling to Kangaroo Island. We also have some special Kangaroo Island offers for anyone travelling to this magical island.