Depart from home and travel to Adelaide
Sept 22–24
Travel to Adelaide from your home airport and make your way to the hotel to relax and unwind.
Australia’s Wildlife Haven
Kangaroo Island Extension
September 22 to 28, 2026
Cost: $4,700
Leader: TBD
Group Size: 8
Days: 6
Safari Overview
You will spend two and a half days exploring Kangaroo Island, a sanctuary for wildlife off the eastern coast of South Australia. The island is known for its diverse and stunning geography, featuring rugged coastlines, pristine sandy beaches, rolling farmlands, and untouched wilderness. This extension will allow you to immerse yourself in stunning coastal landscapes and opportunities for sightings and photography of its unique wildlife, including koalas (introduced), Tammar wallabies, Australian sea lions, and rare endemic birds like the Glossy Black Cockatoo. Its isolation and conservation efforts have preserved much of Kangaroo Island’s natural beauty and ecological diversity. You will explore conservation parks, sandy beaches, and historic sites.
WHY CHOOSE THIS EXTENSION?
- Unparalleled Wildlife Encounters: Spot iconic Australian species, including koalas, Australian sea lions, Long-nosed fur seals, Short-beaked Echidnas, and rare birds like the Glossy Black Cockatoo.
- Stunning Coastal Landscapes: Discover Kangaroo Island’s diverse and breathtaking scenery, from sandy beaches and rugged cliffs to rolling farmlands and pristine conservation areas.
- Immersive Nature Experiences: Stay near wildlife hotspots, stroll along picturesque waterfronts, and gain a deeper understanding of the island’s ecosystems and history.
- Relaxing Accommodations: Stay in peaceful, well-situated lodges near wildlife-rich areas for an intimate connection with nature.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCES
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Itinerary Updated: April 2025
Print Trip
| Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 22–24 | Travel from home. Fly from your home airport to Adelaide and relax at your accommodations in the late afternoon. | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Sept 25 | Fly from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. Depart Adelaide in the morning and begin your explorations of the island which includes a visit to Seal Bay Conservation Park. | Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island | B, L, D |
| Sept 26–27 | Explore Kangaroo Island. Spend two full days exploring the diversity of landscapes, from sandy beaches to conservation areas, and the island’s unique wildlife, including koalas, Tammar wallabies, Kangaroo Island kangaroos, Australian sea lions, and rare birds such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo. | Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island | B, L, D |
| Sept 28 | Depart for Hobart, Tasmania to join the Southern Australia trip. | The Old Woolstore Hotel | B |
Detailed Itinerary
A glimpse into our journey
Travel to Kangaroo Island
Sept 25
© Cat Davidson
Travel to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide on a morning flight and begin exploring the island. Ease into the relaxed rhythm of Kangaroo Island, where locals wave as they pass, and sometimes stop for a friendly chat. After your arrival, you will set out on foot along a quiet country track lined with towering eucalyptus trees. Keep your eyes peeled for snoozing koalas nestled in the branches, occasionally stirring to feed, and listen for the chorus of the bush—honeyeaters, colorful parrots, cicadas, or perhaps the peaceful sound of silence.
Continue your journey through some of the island’s most fertile farmland as you make your way toward the rugged and wildlife-rich north coast. Accompanied by your expert guide, walk through native bushland filled with unusual tree forms and signs of wildlife. Along the way, you may spot Tammar wallabies, once nearly extinct on the mainland, the Kangaroo Island kangaroo, and a variety of native birds, plants, and insects found nowhere else.
Pause midday for a relaxed lunch at a private bush camp, enjoying local island sea and farm to table fare. Later, visit Seal Bay Conservation Park for a private, guided walk among a colony of Australian sea lions lounging along a pristine sandy beach. Witness playful pups splashing in the surf, observe powerful bulls marked from past battles, and gain insight into their unique breeding biology.
Explore Kangaroo Island
Sept 26–27
Spend two immersive days discovering the diverse landscapes and wildlife of Kangaroo Island, from the regenerating bushlands of Flinders Chase National Park to the windswept headlands of the Dudley Peninsula. Explore iconic natural landmarks like Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, home to a lively colony of Long-nosed fur seals, while learning about the island’s unique fire ecology and the resilience of its native flora. During your stay, you will search for koalas (which have been introduced to the island) and visit Baudin Conservation Park which is home to tammar wallaby (a species almost extinct on the adjoining mainland) and Kangaroo Island kangaroo (a subspecies of Western Grey Kangaroo that only occurs here). You will also visit a beautiful sandy beach to see Australian sea lions, watch their pups nursing or playing in the surf, see old bulls bearing the scars of territorial disputes, and learn about their unique breeding biology. The island is also home to a range of rare birds, including Cape Barren Goose and Glossy Black Cockatoo. Your accommodation is near a known black cockatoo roost, which will maximize our chances of seeing this beautiful endangered species.
Depart Kangaroo Island and Travel to Hobart
Sept 28
This morning, you will have breakfast at your accommodation, and then depart Kangaroo Island for Hobart to continue on our Southern Australia September 2026 trip.
- Cost & Payments
- Included
- Not Included
- Climate
- Fitness Level
- Flights
Conservation- Conditions
Cost & Payments
Costs (in US$)
| Type | Cost Per Person |
|---|---|
| Trip Cost, double occupancy | $4,700 |
| Single Supplement | $500 |
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
Payment is due with your Southern Australia trip’s final payment.
Cancellations
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another trip if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Included
- Carbon offsets for the duration of this trip.
- All leaders, transport, park entry fees, landing fees, and permits for all activities unless described as optional.
- Accommodations (double occupancy) for the nights of September 24 through 28.
- Meals from breakfast on September 25 through breakfast on September 28.
- Transfer on September 25 from Kingscote Airport to Aurora Ozone Hotel.
- Transfer on September 28 between Aurora Ozone Hotel and Kingscote Airport.
Not Included
- Carbon offsets for your flights to/from this trip.
- All airfare, airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees. Round-trip airfare is approximately $1,450 to $1,600 between the US and Hobart, Australia, and back to the US from Adelaide, depending on origin. The one-way flight between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island and the one-way flight between Kangaroo Island and Hobart will be added to your trip balance based on rates at the time of booking. The estimated cost is $500-600.
- Passport and visa fees.
- Divergent airport transfers (arranged by us) and extra hotel nights.
- Transfer on September 24 from Adelaide Airport to your accommodation.
- Transfer on September 25 from your accommodation to Adelaide Airport.
- Gratuities – tipping is not required or expected in Australia and prices usually include goods and services tax (GST) which is equivalent to VAT. However, if you feel that your guides, a staff member, or any service provider has done an outstanding job or exceeded your expectations, it is appropriate to give them a tip in appreciation. A recommended amount is approximately 10% of a meal/service charge and AU$10-20 per day for a tour guide.
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic and other beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Traveler Form.
Climate
Temperatures vary depending on the location. Lows can be about 29 to 55°F (-1 to 12°C) and highs can be about 57 to 75°F (13 to 23°C). Rain is possible.
Fitness Level
You’ll take longer walks on uneven ground, but if you prefer shorter walks, we will make them available. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging.
Flights
Unless listed as included, airfare is not included in trip costs. Detailed logistical information and the contact information for our recommended flight-ticketing agent are included in the Trip Materials we will send you. Please let us know if you are arriving earlier or staying later, as we are happy to assist you with any extra overnights that you might want to arrange.
Flights you book
- Arrive at Adelaide, Southern Australia anytime on September 24, 2026.
Flights we book
- The one-way flights from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, and Kangaroo Island to Hobart, Tasmania; we’ll add the flight cost to your final trip balance.
FAQ
Accommodations
Seasickness
Transportation
Conservation
Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world while stimulating each destination’s local economy. We encourage you to explore the various ways in which Cheesemans’ operates within this context:
- Ecotourism and Conservation for Australia.
- Cheesemans’ Trips are Carbon Neutral.
- Offsetting your Travel to/from our Trip: We ask you to pledge to offset the carbon emissions for your travel to and from our trips. You can purchase offsets with most airlines (Delta includes them automatically), use our handy carbon calculator and donate to Sustainable Travel International, or contribute to your favorite offsetting organization.
Conditions
Read our current Terms and Conditions.