How to Get to Kangaroo Island from Melbourne

Kangaroo Island is only a short trip from Adelaide, but from Melbourne the journey takes a little more planning! The good news is there are several ways to make it work, whether you want to fly or drive. Here’s everything you need to know about getting to Kangaroo Island from Melbourne.

How to Get to Kangaroo Island from Melbourne

Kangaroo Island has long been one of the most obvious South Australia getaway options. It’s a wildlife-rich escape that locals have been visiting for generations. Koalas doze in the treetops and sea lions laze on white-sand beaches, plus there’s an exciting food and wine scene, too. For South Australians, a trip to “KI” is almost a rite of passage, and it’s a not too difficult long-weekend or week-long escape that feels a world away from Adelaide (despite being so close).

But Melburnians don’t realise that Kangaroo Island isn’t just a South Australian secret! It’s an achievable trip for them too, whether they’re after a quick flying visit or a proper road trip along the Great Ocean Road and into the Fleurieu Peninsula.

In this article, we break down every Melbourne to Kangaroo Island option in detail; flying, driving, ferry timetables, costs, and how to decide which route suits your trip best.

So without further ado, let’s get you to KI!

1. Fly from Melbourne via Adelaide

Kangaroo Island is not quite a hop, skip and a jump from Melbourne, but equally, it does take you right to the destination without hours spent in the car.

You’ll need to change planes in Adelaide, with the first flight taking around 1 hour and 20 minutes before a much shorter 35-minute flight to Kingscote. Qantas operates the Adelaide to Kangaroo Island route, so you can be on the island not long after leaving the mainland! Plus, the views from the window are gorgeous, so book a seat if you can!

The trick to making this trip as painless as possible is timing your connection. There are plenty of flights between Melbourne and Adelaide, but far fewer services to Kingscote, so check the Kangaroo Island timetable before booking your Melbourne flight.

2. Drive to Cape Jervis and take the ferry

Driving and taking the ferry from Cape Jervis is the option for turning the journey into part of the holiday! The drive from Melbourne to Cape Jervis takes around 8 to 9 hours, so if you’ve got all the time in the world, you could break it up with a night in the Grampians, Robe or Victor Harbor before boarding the ferry to Penneshaw.

Once you’re in Cape Jervis, the crossing takes about 45 minutes, and you can bring your car, campervan, motorbike or bicycle with you.

Having your own vehicle is especially handy on Kangaroo Island, where the beaches, wildlife reserves, wineries and small towns are spread across a surprisingly large island. You’ll need to book your vehicle onto the ferry ahead of time, then you can step off in Penneshaw and start exploring straight away!

3. Drive to Adelaide and then fly

If you’re heading all the way to South Australia, why not actually see some of Adelaide while you’re there? Drive from Melbourne, spend a couple of days exploring the city then fly from Adelaide Airport to Kingscote in around 35 minutes. Easy peasy!

There’s plenty to fill those couple of days, from the Central Market and Adelaide’s restaurant scene to the Botanic Garden and a wine-country day trip into the Adelaide Hills or the Barossa.

Although it’s handy to have a car on Kangaroo Island, you can always hire a car once you get there. Plus, Adelaide Airport has long-term parking at P3, which is a 7 to 10-minute walk from the terminal and currently starts at $39 per day when booked online.

This option makes for a much more rounded South Australian trip, with a city stay before swapping the mainland for the charm of Kangaroo Island!

Where to stay in Kangaroo Island

For a stay that feels a lot like Kangaroo Island, Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge is a great shout.

The 38-room lodge sits above American River Bay, surrounded by native bush where you might spot wallabies and plenty of birdlife, and Reflections Restaurant makes use of produce grown on the property alongside local island ingredients.

The hotel also has four acres of native vegetation, its own walking trail and an outdoor salt pool, so you can have a quiet island morning without going anywhere at all!

Check out Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge here.