Getting to Kangaroo Island by Ferry

You will need to talk to Sealink, at the time of writting (November 2010) they are the only Ferry operating, others have come and gone over the past 10 years but non can compete with the shorter run Sealink enjoys as a result of it's deal with the SA Government, which effectively gives it a monopoly over the Cape Jervis and Pennehaw ports.

The Ferry to Kangaroo Island depsrts from Cape Jervis, Cape Jervis is approximately 1.5 hours drive south of Adelaide.

For updated ferry costs go to: http://www.sealink.com.au/getting_there/fares/, you should be able to book from this page as well.

There are really only 2 ways to get from Adelaide to Cape Jervis.

• Driving your own car (or bike, pogo stick, walking backwards with the thumb up your arse etc)
• By Bus

Catching the Bus to Cape Jervis

Fortunately the Ferry company also operates a connecting bus from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, so your Ferry trip to Kangaroo Island can effectively start in Adelaide of Cape Jervis.

The bus adds about $20 each way onto your ferry ticket.

Driving your car to Cape Jervis and leaving it there

If you are planning to drive yourself to Cape Jervis, which is a great idea as there are places to see along the way, have a look at Getting to Kangaroo Island by Car for more info on these places. If you are not planning to stop along the way, driving can be a pain because of parking issues. There are essentially 3 places to park, all which are not perfect:

• Public parking area near the Ferry Terminal
• Has time restrictions, so if you overstay your visit, you will be fined
• Private parking area near the Ferry Terminal
• Very secure and safe, you need to pay for it.
• No mans land near the ferry terminal
• Look for where the busses are parked, between the public car park and the boat ramp, free, not secure but this is normally not a problem
• In the town
• Find somewhere without a parking restriction sign, not secure and a long walk (1km+) down to the ferry

As you can see, taking a car to Cape Jervis, although it would appear to be more convenient, can be a pain in the butt. The other option is to Tour Kangaroo Island

Once you get to the Ferry

Don't just turn up in Cape Jervis and expect to get on the ferry, I strongly advise booking your ticket in advance, otherwise you might end up spending the night at the Cape Jervis Tavern, although nice enough, it is a bit like stepping into a time machine and heading back to the 80's, be prepared for a few mullets.

If you caught the bus, your transition to the ferry will be rather seamless, if you drove your car, or used one of the other methods, extract your thumb and check in at the terminal building.

Wild Guide

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Kangaroo Island Travel Guide

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