What to Do on Kangaroo Island in Winter: 10 Local Tips for a Stunning Winter Escape
Kangaroo Island is at its most wild and beautiful in Winter. Our team are sharing their top 10 secrets for getting the most from your Kangaroo Island winter escape.
Kangaroo Island is wild, rugged, and spectacular in winter. With windswept coastlines, deserted beaches, green fields dotted with winter lambs, and wildlife at every turn, it's the perfect destination for a peaceful, nature-filled winter getaway. Whether you’re travelling for food and wine, natural beauty, or outdoor adventure, our team at The Islander Estate Vineyards shares insider tips on what to see and do on Kangaroo Island in winter.
🍷 Book a indulgent winter wine experience at The Islander Estate Vineyards Cellar Door
1. Explore the Cygnet River Cellar Door Trail.
Spend a day discovering the Cygnet River Cellar Door Trail, your shortcut to authentic Kangaroo Island flavours and stories. In winter, cellar doors are relaxed, producers have time to chat and the experience is uniquely personal.
- Start at The Islander Estate Vineyards Cellar Door for premium wine tastings, cheese and French charcuterie.
- Visit Springs Road Wines, Kangaroo Island Spirits and Kangaroo Island Wool for an immersive local experience.
- Enjoy a brew by the fire at Kangaroo Island Brewery, legendary scones at Emu Bay Lavender or tastings at Bay of Shoals Wines.
- Don’t miss a stop at Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co and Cliffords Honey Farm to experience Kangaroo Island’s world-famous Ligurian honey.
2. Discover Winter Wildlife and Bird Watching.
Winter is peak season for wildlife lovers. Visit The Islander Estate Vineyards tasting room to stock up on a favourite wine and picnic supplies, then head to Duck Lagoon, just minutes away, to spot birds and koalas. Also, keep an eye out for:
- Glossy Black-Cockatoos nesting near Penneshaw, American River, and Stokes Bay
- Cape Barren Geese, Albatross, and other pelagic species near Cape du Couedic
- Echidna trains on roadside verges
- Joeys emerging from pouches
- Bring binoculars, a blanket, and enjoy a peaceful picnic with a bottle of wine.
If you really love wildlife, put yourself in the hands of the experts at Exceptional Kangaroo Island. Their naturalist guides have lived here for decades and know how to maximise your wildlife experience with access to little-known wildlife locations.
3. Taking invigorating stormy beach walks.
There’s nothing like a bracing beach walk in winter to refresh your soul. Some of our favourites include:
- South Coast: D’Estrees Bay, Vivonne Bay, Hanson Bay
- North Coast: Western River Cove, Snellings Beach, Stokes Bay, Emu Bay
- East Coast: Antechamber Bay, with BBQ facilities at Chapman River Reserve
- Rain-washed sands and dramatic skies make winter coastal walks truly memorable.
Nothing is as refreshing as a beach walk during a winter storm to restore the soul and, of course, to give you a good excuse to recover with an afternoon curled up with a glass of wine by the fire.
4. Watching the green fields burst with new life
Fields burst with green and fill with baby lambs in winter. They’re a joyful symbol of renewal on the island.
- Keep a lookout for lambs in roadside paddocks.
- Spot echidnas beginning their breeding season.
- Look for joeys and other young wildlife at dawn or dusk, especially near Duck Lagoon.
5. Try Winter Beach Fishing
Kangaroo Island is a fishing paradise, especially in the calm after a winter storm.
- King George Whiting is in season, plump and delicious.
- Cast for Salmon Trout at Hanson Bay or Squid from jetties.
- Charter a fishing trip for a guided experience (try Kangaroo Island Fishing Adventures).
- Prefer to buy your catch? Visit Kangaroo Island Oysters American River for oysters fresh from the farm or KI Fresh Seafoods in Kingscote.
6. Watch for whales leaping from the sea.
From May to September, Southern Right Whales migrate past Kangaroo Island’s coast.
- Look for mothers and calves in protected bays.
- Also watch for Blue Whales, Humpbacks, and occasional Orcas.
- Top whale-watching locations: Cape Willoughby, Cape du Couedic and Penneshaw.
- Take a whale watching tour with a local operator.
7. Treasure hunt for tiny native orchids
With such amazing vistas and coastlines, it can be hard to remember to look down. But it's well worth slowing down and taking in the beauty of the island’s microflora.
- Over 80 species of native orchids bloom in winter.
- Look for them along trails like the Cannery Walk in American River.
- You’ll also spot fungi, lichens, and flowering ground shrubs.
8. Cosy up for some stargazing by a bonfire.
Evenings on Kangaroo Island are made for red wine, firelight and starry skies.
- Bring a guitar and stories to share.
- Kangaroo Island is a Dark Sky destination, perfect for stargazing.
9. Watching the landscape change from luxury accommodation.
After exploring the wild, retreat to warmth and luxury.
- For rolling farmland and wildlife, book at Stowaway Kangaroo Island where you can watch the landscape change from your loungeroom, bedroom and even bathroom.
- Prefer coastal views? Wander Kangaroo Island is your perfect base to relax by the fire with a glass of local wine while you watch storms sweep over the sea.
10. Dine on local cuisine in style.
Celebrate Kangaroo Island’s finest produce at Samphire Kangaroo Island in American River.
- Enjoy a 7-course degustation with matched wines from The Islander Estate Vineyards.
- Stay overnight in their on-site luxury suites.