Kangaroo Island Shore Excursions

Cruise ships call at Penneshaw, on the island’s eastern tip, and land their passengers by tender. That one fact shapes the whole shore day: where you start, which tours will take you, and what happens if the sea is too rough to come ashore. This guide covers all three, and what to do in town if you would rather not book a tour.

Two independent shore days are built for cruise passengers. Most other full days on the island will not take you. For a Kangaroo Island booking that fits the ship’s clock, start with the comparison below.

Where do cruise ships land on Kangaroo Island?

At Penneshaw. It is a tender port with no berth, so ships anchor offshore and bring passengers in by tender to landing pontoons at the wharf. The ferry terminal sits about 145 metres from the tender landing, and the ferry has right of way at the shared jetty.

From the wharf, the town centre is about 500 metres on foot. Volunteers meet the tenders with maps and directions. There is one public toilet at the terminal, so use the ship’s facilities before you come ashore.

Which tours accept cruise passengers?

Tours sold by the cruise line leave from the terminal area itself. A small number of independent local tours leave from North Terrace, about a five-minute walk away, soon after the first tenders arrive. KI Trails runs both of the independent shore days sold here, with buses on North Terrace between 8:30 and 9am.

The island-wide full days mostly say no. Hire a Guide marks its best-of, far-west and sea lion days as not suitable for cruise passengers. SeaLink’s coach day, which returns to Penneshaw at 6:45pm, says the same. Choosing a tour explains the rest of the full days, for travellers staying on the island.

How do the shore excursions compare?

The scenic day is the one to book if you want the island’s wildlife and coast. It is also the only tour whose own plan puts you on the boardwalk at the sea lion colony rather than the beach, which matches what the parks service allows today. The tasting day stays in the east and the north, and suits a second visit or a food lover.

What can a shore day reach?

More than you might expect, but not everything. On the scenic day you drive south to the sea lion colony, then all the way west to the national park, with about an hour each at Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, and lunch. It is a long way in a day, and most of it is on the road.

The tasting day stays closer. It stops at Clifford’s honey farm, a eucalyptus distillery, a lavender farm for scones, then Kingscote, a winery and a gin distillery. You see farms, towns and the north coast rather than the parks. Lunch is not included, so eat at one of the stops.

What happens if the ship cannot tender?

Read this before you book. If your ship does not come in, or cancels its tenders within 24 hours of the tour, both shore days are non-refundable. You get a 50% credit toward a later tour and a letter for your insurer. The operator sells an optional Trip Protection add-on that refunds the fare, less an admin fee, even if the ship skips the port.

If the ship arrives late or leaves early, the itinerary is shortened to fit. A tour sold by the cruise line is the line’s own booking, so ask the line how it treats a missed port before you choose between the two.

Is a shorter port call still worth a tour?

If the ship is in for only a few hours, skip the full days and stay near Penneshaw. The snorkel trip runs two hours from a start point opposite Christmas Cove Marina, with a midday start. You swim with seals or dolphins when the animals allow it, in a wetsuit the operator supplies. The water sits at 14 to 15 °C.

The coastal safari is shorter still, 75 minutes on the water, and it also leaves from Christmas Cove. It cannot be refunded once booked, so take it only if your tender is sure. The Kangaroo Island wildlife tours page compares the boats.

What can you do in Penneshaw on your own?

Plenty, on foot. The beach in town is one of the safest on the island for a swim or a snorkel, and a local pod of dolphins feeds offshore. Walk to the eastern end for Frenchmans Rock, where a plaque marks Nicolas Baudin’s voyage in 1803. The museum covers early island life.

For a longer walk, the Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail starts within five minutes of the town centre, and the Ironstone Hill hike climbs through Baudin Conservation Park. On busy ship days a free town shuttle runs about every 30 minutes from 8:30am to 2pm, with mobility needs first. A market with island produce sets up on the oval. Things to do on the island covers the wider eastern end.

Can you hire a car for the day?

You can, but think it through. Budget and Hertz/Thrifty hire cars on the island, booked direct with the company, and cars are limited on a ship day. There is no public bus or taxi. The distances are long, and the headline sights are a long drive from the wharf. A car makes most sense for a short trip around the eastern end.

If you do drive, keep a close eye on the clock. The island map shows how far each place sits from Penneshaw.

Should you book through the ship or on your own?

Both work, and they suit different people. Tours sold by the cruise line leave straight from the terminal area, and the line plans them around its own timetable. If the ship runs late, the tour knows. You pay the line’s price, and you take the tour the line has chosen.

An independent shore day costs from $177 and leaves from North Terrace, a short walk away. You pick the day you want, the scenic loop or the tastings, in a group of twenty at most. In return, you carry the risk of a missed tender yourself, so take the Trip Protection add-on or insurance that covers it.

• Choose the ship’s tour if you worry about timing, travel with someone who needs help getting about, or want the line to handle a missed port.
• Choose an independent day if you want a smaller group, the tasting route, or the far west with a full hour at each of its two big sights.

How do you make sure you are back on time?

Pick a tour that plans around the ship. Both shore days aim to have you back by about 4:30pm and change the route if the ship’s times are tight. Sit near the front of the bus at each stop, carry the ship’s phone number, and do not add a stop of your own. On a self-guided day, keep your last hour for the walk back and the tender queue.

There is no hospital or dentist in Penneshaw. Bring any medicine you need ashore with you. The town has a pharmacy and a supermarket.

What should you carry ashore?

Pack for a long day outdoors, even if the ship feels warm. The island sits in the Southern Ocean, the wind picks up on the south and west coasts, and the boardwalks give little shelter. A shore day covers a lot of ground, most of it on foot at each stop.

• A windproof layer: the headlands are exposed, even on a sunny day.
• Sun protection: a hat and sunscreen, because shade is scarce on the boardwalks.
• Walking shoes: the path down to the arch is steep, with steps at the end.
• Water and a snack: the drives between stops are long.
• The ship’s card and phone number: you will need both to get back aboard.

If you book the tasting day, lunch is not in the fare, so bring money for a meal at one of its stops. The FAQs answer the smaller questions about a visit.

Questions from cruise passengers

Tours that fit a ship's day

Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Scenic Trail Tour

A shore day for cruise passengers from the Penneshaw tender landing: the sea lion boardwalk, the far west and lunch.

From $177 per person (minimum 1)

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Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour - For Cruise Ship Passengers Only

A cruise shore day of honey, eucalyptus oil, lavender scones, wine and gin, from the Penneshaw tender landing.

From $177 per person (minimum 1)

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Kangaroo Island - Swim with Dolphins/Seals/Coastal Snorkel

Two hours on the water from Penneshaw in a wetsuit and snorkel, swimming with seals or dolphins when the animals allow.

From $139 per person (minimum 1)

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