Where to stay on Kangaroo Island: Accommodation Guide

This isolated and tranquil setting is near a pond, which offers fantastic bird-watching opportunities from the bird hide and observation platform. It is first-come, first-served and features toilets, but no shower facilities. This is the priciest option when camping, but offers the best range of facilities.   Some of the sites have coastal views and part shade, and some have min­i­mal wind pro­tec­tion. The sites are suit­able for tents, and some are suit­able for camper­vans and camper trail­ers.
If you are looking for a large beach house to rent on KI, this Airbnb is for you! There are 4 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 11 guests. In all honesty, KI is a quiet place anyway but the Penneshaw peninsula is completely overlooked by tourists so you can find some amazing holiday houses with beautiful views at a fair price here. The hotel offers studios with a kitchenette, small fridges and private bathrooms. You can also enjoy the rest of the facilities which include a tennis court, a pool and many walking trails. The Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge is ideally located in the heart of American River and will be the kangaroo island accommodation luxury perfect place to stay on Kangaroo Island if you want to enjoy the local produce and authentic atmosphere.

It’s the perfect place to stay if you want to explore the island, enjoy some time on the beach and want to do loads of activities. The Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge is located in American River. It’s the perfect place for people who want to enjoy a relaxing holiday.
With so much to see and experience, Kangaroo Island  invites you to slow down, reconnect and embrace the very best of South Australian coastal life. All four retreats - the two Eco Villas, The Rise and The Residence - provide guests with front row seats to one of Kangaroo Island’s most covetable wilderness escapes! Imagine yourself sitting on the deck with a glass of one of our famous premium Kangaroo Island wines, while listening to the birds and watching the wildlife go about their business. Experience the best of South Australia’s food, wine and wilderness in one seamless journey.

Southern Ocean Lodge has snagged a coveted spot on Fodor’s Finest list of the best 100 hotels for travel in 2025, sharing the limelight with outback sister Longitude 131° in the Australia and South Pacific category. Also part of the family, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge features amongst the top picks in the USA and Canada. Widely acclaimed as Australia’s Galapagos, Kangaroo Island is home to diverse wildlife each thriving in its domain and a swag of spectacular natural attractions. Centrally located between Flinders Chase National Park and Seal Bay Conservation Park, Southern Ocean Lodge is a luxurious base for adventures.
With three bathrooms, spacious indoor and outdoor living areas, wood-burning fireplaces, underfloor heating and premium amenities, it’s the perfect year-round escape for the family. Dune House is an architecturally designed retreat set right on the sands of Emu Bay. With uninterrupted ocean views, direct beach access, and complete privacy, it’s a standout example of luxury accommodation on Kangaroo Island.

Southern Ocean Lodge has been recognised with the American Express Travel One To Watch Award for 2025.
These places blend in well with the island’s typically relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Another affordable backpackers’ hostel is located just a three minute walk from a penguin colony in Kingscote, which also contains the island’s largest selection of family hotels and motels. Kangaroo Island Australia is a 'Web Magazine' website that is dedicated to all things related to Kangaroo Island. We are passionate about Australia's great southern island, its vast marine and wildlife, its white sandy beaches, its turquiose waters and the unforgetable experiences that are waiting for all who visit.
Flinders Chase National Park is essential for any Kangaroo Island adventure. This expansive wilderness features iconic Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and a long-nosed fur seal colony. The third largest island in Australia (measuring 155km from the east to west coasts), Kangaroo Island boasts over 509km of rugged coastline and some of the planet's most breath-taking scenery. Before we can show you lower prices, we need to check you’re an RAA member. We’ll use your last name and date of birth to find you in our system. Designed to blend with its surroundings, Mercure Kangaroo Island sits in bushland overlooking American River Bay.

I loved the rural setting here and was particularly excited to see an echidna wander past as we were cooking dinner in our camp kitchen (the cottages have their own!). The cottage really only has a bed, but there is some power (solar) and it’s much warmer than a tent. It is mostly a bush camping site, with access to bathroom facilities and a camp kitchen. For an almost guaranteed koala sighting, stay at Western KI Caravan Park, as they live in the trees all around the park. But if you really want to see them in the wild, stay in one of the rural locations rather than in Penneshaw or Kingscote.