Kangaroo Island is one of the best natural wildernesses near Adelaide. With somewhere as good as this, you want to make sure that you time your visit just right. When is the best time to visit Kangaroo Island? We’ve got you sorted.
When is the Best Time to Visit Kangaroo Island
First up, consider the temperature. Sitting off the bottom of Australia, Kangaroo Island has cooler summers (Dec-Jan) than destinations like Sydney, and colder winters (May-July). If you’re planning to do a lot of hiking, you’ll probably want to avoid the extremities (middle of summer or winter), but that still leaves you with a lot of time to tour Kangaroo Island. It’s also worth considering that autumn brings rains, whilst spring brings wildflowers.
Secondly, are you interested in seeing whales? Southern right whales pass the island on their yearly migration from the months of May through October, whilst killer whales can be seen year-round in the channel between the island and the mainland. The third consideration is the wildlife that lives on and around Kangaroo Island. Whilst the seals, kangaroos, platypus and other animals don’t exactly leave the island, there are times in which they are less active. The heat of summer sees them hiding from the harsh sun, for example.
So, with that information up your sleeve, when is they best time to visit Kangaroo Island?
We think the best time of year is the end of winter/beginning of spring, around July through September. Why? You’re visiting right in the middle of the whale watching season, meaning you’re likely to spot whales, especially if you couple your visit with a whale watching cruise. Winter is also the time when Kangaroo Island is at its most lush – and least touristed. Everything is green, the animals are more off guard than they are when more people descend in summer. This is also the time when many baby animals begin to emerge and try out their new legs, or flippers. The seals themselves are at their most active during the winter, and jump in and out of the water between lying on the beach soaking up the sun.
It is worth noting though, that the temperatures in winter can drop to around 8°C (46°F), which is why we suggest planning your trip to coincide with the end of winter. Plus, if you wait until spring, you’ll start to see multitudes of wildflowers and even more baby animals about – though with the tradeoff of more people to share it with.
When is the Best Time to Visit Kangaroo Island from Australia Things to Do