★★★★★
The Best of KI day by 4WD
A wildlife safari and a coastal day in one. We saw kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, an echidna, fur seals, sea lions and a goanna, and the parks were recovering well.
Matthew K. · November 2024
Kangaroo Island Tours Reviews
What people wrote after a day on the island: on a 4WD or coach day, on the dolphin boats, on the quads and in the dunes, after dark, and on the trips from Adelaide. Comparing Kangaroo Island reservation? The operators’ own ratings and fares sit side by side below.
What travellers said afterwards
These are travellers’ own accounts, paraphrased, each tagged with the day it belongs to. The low scores stay in, because they are the useful ones: a cruise ship whose tenders were cancelled with no refund, a full ferry that cost a tour, a missed boat that was non-refundable, and a long day spent mostly on the coach.
★★★★★
The Best of KI day by 4WD
Our ferry came in late, and the guide calmly got us straight out on the road. We saw all sorts of wildlife, and lunch was very good.
Bridget G. · July 2024
★★★★★
The Best of KI day by 4WD
We took the tour in August and it rained. Even so, the day was full of interest and the guide made it work.
Iryna M. · March 2025
★★★★☆
The Best of KI day by 4WD
Everything promised was on the day, with clear explanations at each stop. I was the only guest, which meant a lot of driving for the guide.
John E. · July 2016
★★★★★
The 2-day wildlife adventure from Adelaide
We arrived ahead of the crowds almost everywhere, so our small group often had a place to ourselves. I could not have seen so much of the island on my own.
Pearl T. · January 2026
★★★★★
The 2-day wildlife adventure from Adelaide
A good two-day introduction to the island. The guide cooked dinner and breakfast too, and went out of the way to show us an echidna.
Sharon K. · February 2026
★★★★★
The 2-day wildlife adventure from Adelaide
Lots of wildlife, and the overnight trip was just the right length. It never felt rushed.
Craig P. · March 2026
★★★★★
The 2-day wildlife adventure from Adelaide
I had doubts about camping, and they were unfounded: the tent was comfortable and warmer than I expected. Koalas sat in the trees around camp and kangaroos hopped past.
Charissa M. · April 2026
★★★★★
The quad bike tour at Vivonne Bay
We went with our 16-year-old son. After the briefing I expected a slow single-file trail, and it turned out fast, bumpy and a lot of fun.
Sacha B. · Family · January 2026
★★★★★
The quad bike tour at Vivonne Bay
The guide explained things along the way and kept checking how we were going. We are in our sixties and had a great time.
Stephen J. · August 2025
★★★★★
The quad bike tour at Vivonne Bay
It rained over Easter, and the guides wiped down goggles and quads at every stop. The kids loved it.
Robin S. · April 2025
★★★★★
The quad bike tour at Vivonne Bay
A quick safety check first, then a fun ride with a friendly guide. One bike broke down halfway and we waited about 15 minutes, but the tour was extended to make up for it.
Alvin S. · March 2026
★★★★☆
The quad bike tour at Vivonne Bay
Safety came first, and the briefing built our confidence for the ride. The guide knew the area well.
Malte R. · February 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day in the far west
The national park in the far west was spectacular, and lunch was a cooked meal rather than a boxed sandwich. We saw a koala with a baby and a kangaroo with a joey in the pouch.
Julie B. · January 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day in the far west
The guide's background on the bushfires was something you would not get visiting the park alone. The place itself is magnificent.
Philip S. · April 2021
★★★★★
The full-day coach tour from island hotels
The first stop was the sea lions, seen up close from the elevated walkway. The coach was clean and comfortable, and the driver-guide was full of natural history.
Mark M. · August 2026
★★★★★
The full-day coach tour from island hotels
Yes, you spend a lot of time on the coach, because there are a lot of miles between the top sights. It was worth it, and the guide knew the plants and animals well.
Diane K. · March 2026
★★★☆☆
The full-day coach tour from island hotels
A long day with most of it on the bus, and short stops on a big island. The wildlife park was small, though we did get to feed the kangaroos.
Susanbrad · November 2025
★★★★★
The scenic shore excursion from the tenders
Nothing is guaranteed with wild animals, but the guide worked hard to find them. We saw kangaroos, koalas and sea lions.
Denise G. · February 2025
★☆☆☆☆
The scenic shore excursion from the tenders
Weather stopped our ship's tenders about 20 hours before the tour, and we were not refunded. Know the operator's rule before you book from a cruise ship.
Kenneth R. · March 2025
★★☆☆☆
The scenic shore excursion from the tenders
The bus was not waiting at the tender landing as we expected. The pickup point was about a 15-minute walk away, so allow time for it.
Peter L. · January 2026
★★★★★
The Best of KI over two days
At first we were unsure about the price. It turned out worth every penny: we made every planned stop and a few unplanned ones for the things we most wanted to see.
Valerie C. · September 2024
★★★★★
The Best of KI over two days
Some sealed roads, and some rough dirt ones the drought had left in poor shape. Apart from that, great views, great wildlife and a very experienced guide.
Ian C. · April 2025
★★★★★
The small-group scenic and wildlife day
Koalas, kangaroos, the granite boulders, the rock arch, sea lions and much more in one day. So many memorable moments.
Jennifer L. · November 2024
★☆☆☆☆
The small-group scenic and wildlife day
Nobody told us we had to book the ferry in advance, and it was full, so we missed the tour. Book the crossing before anything else.
Donald R. · April 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The small-group scenic and wildlife day
Too much travel time for too little to see, coming across for the day from Adelaide. On a day trip, most of the time goes on getting there.
Aldrin F. · December 2024
★★★★☆
The dolphin and seal snorkel from Penneshaw
The crew made sure our gear fitted. Dolphins were about, but the pod had calves, so we could not get in the water near them.
Ken F. · February 2025
★★★★★
The dolphin and seal snorkel from Penneshaw
We swam with seals and saw a big pod of dolphins from the boat. We could not swim with the dolphins, and it was still one of the best things we did.
Louis Z. · April 2026
★★★★★
The dolphin and seal snorkel from Penneshaw
Surprisingly close encounters with both dolphins and seals. The guides knew their stuff.
Jason L. · March 2026
★★★★☆
The 75-minute coastal safari from Penneshaw
With only eight of us on board, we could all go to the front of the boat and watch the dolphins ride the bow. Good views of seals too.
Kathryn L. · July 2026
★★★★★
The 75-minute coastal safari from Penneshaw
Several dolphin pods up close and two groups of seals, with good commentary on the rock formations. The crew were friendly and knowledgeable.
Belinda O. · March 2026
★☆☆☆☆
The 75-minute coastal safari from Penneshaw
Our cruise anchored at the same time as the boat left, so we missed it, and the fare is non-refundable. Check your ship's arrival before you book.
Kerrianne L. · January 2026
★★★★★
The koala walk at Vivonne Bay
Our first time on the island, with my six-year-old son, and this walk suited us perfectly. We watched koalas sitting quietly at the tops of the trees.
Koichi Y. · Family · August 2022
★★★★★
The koala walk at Vivonne Bay
The guide knew the koalas and the plants well. We counted 18 koalas.
Katherine S. · October 2024
★★★★★
The private nocturnal tour from Kingscote
After three days of searching we had seen one kangaroo. After dark, with a guide raised on the island, we found kangaroos, wallabies, possums, koalas and penguins.
Kent V. · January 2026
★★★★★
The private nocturnal tour from Kingscote
Our family were the only guests. We saw plenty of kangaroos, wallabies and koalas, and dolphins surfacing at night.
Sreekanth H. · Family · December 2025
★★★★★
The small-group evening and night tour
The guide knew every spot to find animals in the dark: possums, kangaroos, wallabies, penguins, koalas and birds. The Milky Way was a bonus.
Emily Q. · July 2023
★★☆☆☆
The small-group evening and night tour
Know that the whole tour is done from the car, driving the island's tracks and waiting for animals to cross. It is a night drive more than a walk.
Francesco M. · January 2026
★★★★★
The dune buggy ride at Vivonne Bay
We found 16 koalas in the forest, five of them mothers with babies. It made a good stop on the drive west.
Linna T. · January 2025
★★★★★
The dune buggy ride at Vivonne Bay
My husband and I are in our late seventies and managed the whole ride without any trouble. Suitable for all ages.
Yyandamurra · Couple · March 2026
★★★★☆
The dune buggy ride at Vivonne Bay
Bring a warm jacket. We learned a lot about koalas, bees, kangaroos and the shrinking dunes.
Ania C. · September 2025
★★★★★
The e-bike ride at Vivonne Bay
Challenging and a lot of fun. We were first-time fat bike riders, and the guide coached us on the route, the terrain and the e-bike.
Terri K. · First-timer · September 2025
★★★★★
The e-bike ride at Vivonne Bay
The bikes were fun. We could adapt the ride to suit us, with lots of sand or hardly any, depending on how hard we wanted to work.
Lucy L. · February 2026
★★★★★
The tastings shore excursion from the tenders
Every stop on the itinerary, with time to taste, explore and shop, and back to the ship with time to spare. Lavender scones, honey, wine, gin and cider.
Ellen S. · March 2025
★★★☆☆
The tastings shore excursion from the tenders
Not much to see in a short time, and it was wet. Good for wine lovers.
Yolanda A. · March 2023
★★★★★
The 3-day camping trip from Adelaide
A full three days that saw most of the island. The swags were better than expected, with an indoor kitchen, bathroom and lounge at the camp.
Anne C. · January 2025
What travellers keep saying
The guide makes the day
Almost every five-star review names the guide first: who knew where the koalas were, who stopped for an echidna, who cooked dinner at camp. The scores follow the guide more closely than the route.
It is a big island
The low scores on the full days say the same thing: a lot of the day goes on the road between sights. A small group in a 4WD spends less of it waiting than a full coach.
Book the ferry first
A traveller missed a tour because the crossing was full. The ferry is its own booking on almost every day, so secure it before you buy the tour.
Cruise days carry cruise risks
If the weather stops the tenders, not every operator refunds, and the pickup point can be a walk from the landing. Read the card’s refund line before you book from a ship.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators’ own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us.
| Tour | Where it starts | What the fare carries | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroo Island Quad Bike (ATV) Tours | Vivonne Bay base, no shuttle | A guide, the gear | 5.0 | 1,292 | From $140 per person (minimum 1) |
| Kangaroo Island 75-Minute Coastal Safari | Meets at Penneshaw | A guide, the gear | 4.8 | 634 | From $62 per person (minimum 2) |
| Kangaroo Island - Swim with Dolphins/Seals/Coastal Snorkel | Meets at Penneshaw | A guide, the gear | 4.7 | 280 | From $139 per person (minimum 1) |
| Small-Group Buggy Tour at Little Sahara with Guide | Vivonne Bay base, no shuttle | A guide, the gear | 5.0 | 250 | From $105 per person (minimum 1) |
| Kangaroo Island Small‑Group Scenic & Wildlife Day Tour | Starts in Kingscote | A guide, park entry, lunch | 4.8 | 138 | From $292 per person (minimum 1) |
| Small Group Kangaroo Island Tour - Best of KI | Island hotel pickup | A guide, park entry, lunch | 5.0 | 127 | From $318 per person (minimum 2) |
| Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Scenic Trail Tour | Meets the cruise tenders | A guide, park entry, lunch | 4.3 | 119 | From $177 per person (minimum 1) |
| Small Group Kangaroo Island Evening and Night Tour | Starts in Kingscote | A guide | 4.9 | 100 | From $103 per person (minimum 2) |
| Kangaroo Island 2-Day Wildlife Adventure Small Group tour | Adelaide or ferry start | A guide, park entry, lunch, the beds | 5.0 | 84 | From $639 per person |
| Kangaroo Island Shore Excursion Tasting Tour - For Cruise Ship Passengers Only | Meets the cruise tenders | A guide | 4.6 | 76 | From $177 per person (minimum 1) |
| Koala Walking Tour in Kangaroo Island | Vivonne Bay base, no shuttle | A guide | 5.0 | 64 | From $55 per person (minimum 1) |
| Full-Day Kangaroo Island Experience Departing from Kangaroo Island | Island hotel pickup | A guide, park entry, lunch | 4.4 | 64 | From $154 per person (minimum 1) |
| Electric Fat Bike Tour in Kangaroo Island | Vivonne Bay base, no shuttle | A guide, the gear | 5.0 | 59 | From $126 per person |
| 3-Day Kangaroo Island Adventure Tour | Starts in Adelaide | A guide, park entry, the ferry, lunch, the beds | 4.7 | 50 | From $757 per person (minimum 1) |
| Small Group Kangaroo Island Tour - Best of KI in 2 Days | Island hotel pickup | A guide, park entry | 4.9 | 47 | From $586 per person (minimum 2) |
| Nocturnal Tour of Kangaroo Island | Starts in Kingscote | A guide | 5.0 | 30 | From $121 per person |
| Small Group Kangaroo Island Tour - Seal Bay | Island hotel pickup | A guide, park entry, lunch | 5.0 | 24 | From $300 per person (minimum 2) |
| Small Group Kangaroo Island Tour - Flinders Chase | Island hotel pickup | A guide, park entry, lunch | 5.0 | 21 | From $300 per person (minimum 2) |
| After Hours Electric Fatbike Tour in Kangaroo Island | Vivonne Bay base, no shuttle | A guide, the gear | 5.0 | 4 | From $140 per person (minimum 1) |
| Flinders Chase Private Luxury Tour | Pickup at your lodging | A guide, lunch | 5.0 | 1 | From $884 per person (minimum 1) |
A listing with a thousand reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how long each has been on sale and how many seats it carries: the quads and the boats run several times a day, while a private day takes one group.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide and check the FAQs. Then compare every tour on Kangaroo Island Tours.