★★★★★
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
Kangaroo Island Quad Bike Tours at Vivonne Bay
Vivonne Bay base, no shuttleRide your own quadMax 6 guests
You drive to the base on the south coast, pull on a helmet and gloves, and learn the controls from your guide. Then you ride your own quad bike out along sandy tracks, mud and rock through the bush, with six riders at most. It takes two to three hours and suits beginners. Children from 4 ride as passengers in a buggy.
Your own quad, a guide in front and six riders at most
Beginners welcome
The guide teaches you to ride before you leave the base.
Six riders at most
A short line behind the guide, with stops to explain the bush.
Helmet and gear in the fare
All the equipment you need is included.
Two routes a morning
All Terrain Action at 9am or Edge of the Earth at 11am.
A seat for younger children
Drivers from 6; passengers from 4 ride in a buggy.
5.0 from 1,292 ratings
One of the most-reviewed tours on the island.
Two routes: All Terrain Action at 9am, Edge of the Earth at 11am
You choose your route when you book. All Terrain Action starts at 9am and Edge of the Earth at 11am. Four routes are run in all, and these are the two you can book here. Both run on dirt tracks, bush trails and sandy corners, out to viewpoints over the south coast. Sandra_M rode Edge of the Earth with just a partner and a guide. Jill_D called the ride out to the end of the earth humbling.
The ride is fast and bumpy, and that is the point. Sacha_B expected a slow line of riders like a horse trek and found it fast paced and bumpy, up and down hills. Andrew_W met rocks, sand, mud and hills, and saw a bush beehive and a yakka tree said to be 400 years old. Yuka_Y spotted a wild koala from the track.
Driving your own quad: the briefing and the practice track
The start is built for riders who have never driven a quad. You fill in a form, collect your helmet and gloves, and get a pre-ride briefing on the controls. Andrew_W, on a first ride, found the practice track made them feel ready for the bush. The guide then leads, and you follow and copy.
The guide sets the pace for the group. On a ride with mixed skills that can mean slower stretches: christa_c noted that you go as slow as the slowest rider. Stephen_J rode in their sixties and had a great time, and Siew_M’s nine-year-old learned to ride on the day.
Ages: passengers from 4, drivers from 6
The age rules are clear. Children from 6 may drive a quad, and children from 4 may come as passengers in a buggy. Anyone aged 17 or under must be with a parent or guardian who is 18 or over. Melissa_C’s children, aged 11 and 12, were charging through puddles once their confidence was up.
The tour is not for everyone. It is not wheelchair accessible, and the operator asks anyone with heart problems or another serious medical condition not to ride. If that is you, the gentler buggy ride in the dunes nearby is the better fit, and it is described below.
Your two to three hours, from the base and back
- Arrive at the base. Park at 188 Jetty Road, Vivonne Bay, and sign the forms.
- Gear up. Collect a helmet and gloves, and meet your guide.
- The briefing. Learn the controls and how to ride over rocks and sand.
- The practice track. A first few laps before you head out into the bush.
- The ride. Your route by dirt tracks, bush trails and coastal viewpoints.
- Stops on the way. The guide points out plants, animals and the land ahead.
- Back at the base. The ride ends where it began, two to three hours later.
Who this suits: drivers with a car and a spare morning
Book this if
You have a car on the island and a morning free, and you want something fast and hands-on between the parks. First-timers are welcome, and so are families with children old enough to drive or ride along. Sacha_B came with a 16-year-old son, and the ride was fast and a lot of fun.
Book something else if
You have no car: there is no shuttle to Vivonne Bay, so book the full day by 4WD from Kingscote for $318 instead. For a gentler ride, or for someone who uses a wheelchair, the dune buggy ride with a guide is described as wheelchair accessible, for $105. If you would rather walk, the koala walk near the dunes promises a koala and costs $55.
What’s included
In the fare
- Local guide
- All necessary equipment
Not in the fare
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
The fare covers your guide and all the equipment: the quad, a helmet and gloves. It does not cover food, drinks or hotel pickup. Fuel is sold at Vivonne Bay, and the things to do page lists what else is nearby on the south coast.
Getting to Vivonne Bay (no shuttle)
The base is Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action at 188 Jetty Road, Vivonne Bay, on the south coast. It is about about 90 minutes by car from the ferry terminal at Penneshaw. There is no shuttle, and there are no taxis or rideshare cars on the island, so you need your own car or a lift.
That makes the morning start easier if you sleep nearby the night before. The quad ride pairs well with a visit to Little Sahara, the white dunes on the South Coast Road at Vivonne Bay. The island map shows where the base sits.
Know before you go
- Wear closed shoes and long trousers. Both are required to ride; no sandals or shorts.
- Pack spare clothes if it is wet. Krysten_G advises it: the puddles are part of the ride.
- Bring your own food and water. Neither is in the fare, and the base is well out of town.
- Check the ages before you book. Drivers from 6, passengers from 4; anyone under 18 comes with an adult.
- Confirm your slot the day before. Kym_O arrived to find a booking had been changed; a call ahead avoids that.
- Cancel a day ahead and pay nothing. The full fare comes back up to 24 hours before the start.
What riders say after the quad bikes
★★★★★
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
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
Questions about the quad bike tours
Do I need to have ridden a quad before?
No. The guide teaches you before you leave, and there is a practice track at the start. The tour is built for beginners.
How old do children have to be?
Six to drive their own quad, and four to ride as a passenger in a buggy. Anyone under 18 must be with a parent or guardian.
Is there a pickup from my hotel?
No. The base at Vivonne Bay has no shuttle, so you drive there yourself. Without a car, the full day by 4WD from Kingscote collects you at your hotel.
Which route should I choose?
All Terrain Action starts at 9am and Edge of the Earth at 11am. Both are guided rides of two to three hours on bush tracks and sand.
Can I combine it with Little Sahara?
Yes. Little Sahara, the white dunes, sits along the same South Coast Road at Vivonne Bay, so a quad ride and a dune visit fit into one day.
What if it rains?
The ride goes ahead and the tracks get muddier. Robin_S rode at Easter in the rain, and the guides wiped goggles and quads at every stop.
Other ways to see the island
Ready to ride?
Check which routes are still open on your date, see what your party pays, and hold a place with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availability