Backpacker Hostels in Kangaroo Island, Australia

Kangaroo Island is purely breathtaking with all of its amazing beaches, wildlife, and geological formations. If you are taking a trip here, make sure that you get a hostel for at least three days to get around the entire island and enjoy it, given that the island is one hundred fifty-five kilometers wide -- larger than you would think.

The easiest way to get to Kangaroo Island to take one of the ferries that leaves from Cape Jervis on the mainland and arrives into Penneshaw. From here, they offer shuttles into the main town on the island, Kingscote. Given that Kangaroo Island is an island, there are quarantine laws that apply, so make sure you check the list of what you can and cannot take there to preserve the integrity of this spectacular place.

Once you have your hostel, you have a few options to see the island. There are a multitude of companies that run tours on coach or four-wheel drive during the day so that you can easily get to and see the places you want to see. The other option is to hire a car, which you may want to do on the mainland before you get to Kangaroo Island. Some of the things that you won't want to miss are the Flinders Chase National Park on the west side of the island, which contains the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch rock formations; Seal Bay on the south coast, which is home to quite a large number of seals; the little penguins arriving at sunset into Kingscote and Penneshaw for the night to go to their burrows; the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse; and all of the spectacular beaches that line the coast. There are hiking trails if you are interested in doing this, too -- just ask at your accommodation for details.

Hostels in Kangaroo Island are mostly located in Kingscote and Penneshaw, although there are several that are quite isolated and farm-type stays. For your food and basic supplies, you would need to visit Kingscote, as this is where most of the island's local businesses -- including pubs and cafes -- are located.