This guide to Kangaroo Island surf has all you need to know about searching out the hidden breaks on Australia’s third-largest island, from the best surf stays to getting there in the first place.
An introduction to Kangaroo Island surf
Kangaroo Island sucks up all the swell that moves south-north on its way up to Adelaide. The sleepy City of Churches sees none of it. Gutted. It would be like Long Beach in Oz if it did. But all is not lost, because this 88-mile-long rock makes the most of what it steals from the St. Vincent Gulf.
The upshot here is that all the best spots are along the south coast. As you move east to west, they tend to get gnarlier and heavier, but also less busy. Beginners and groms and crews of local rippers tend to hover around Pennington Bay most of the time, but only because it’s within easy striking distance of the port at Penneshaw and the main town in American River.
Our advice? Get yourself a car hire and cruise the whole coast. There are jaw-droppingly gorgeous bays with pounding left and right points. You can also keep watch for sealions and whales as you go. Let’s take a closer look…
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Australia
Kangaroo Island at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Kangaroo Island surf?
Where is Kangaroo Island (KI)?
Kangaroo Island is located off the mainland of South Australia. It’s Australia’s third largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. The island is southwest of Adelaide, and can be reached by ferry from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula (more on that below). In all, the isle is 88 miles across, with its westernmost points having the most exposure to the dominant S swells throughout the year.
How to get to Kangaroo Island?
There are only two ways to get to Kangaroo Island from the mainland of Australia…
- By Ferry – The SeaLink ferry operates several trips daily between Cape Jervis (about a 2-hour drive from Adelaide) and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. The ferry trip takes approximately 45 minutes. You can bring vehicles on the ferry, although it’s more expensive than passenger-only tickets.
- By Air – Kangaroo Island Airport (Kingscote) offers flights from Adelaide and Melbourne. The flight from Adelaide takes about 30 minutes. Car rental services are available at the airport for getting around the island.
Do I need a car to get around Kangaroo Island?
Yes, you do. There’s zero point coming here for a surf trip without your own wheels to be quite frank. The whole point of branching out and skipping the mainland’s surf towns in favor of the wild and empty bays over here is to get away from it all. That means getting away from civilization, too, which, in turn, means you’re gonna’ need wheels to make it to most of the best breaks.
Car rentals are offered in abundance at the airport. If you rent on the mainland then be sure to check that you’re allowed to take your car over to Kangaroo in the T&Cs. Oh yea, and a 4X4 will be a gift here. Many of the coast roads are sandy, uneven, and pretty wild.
We always use RentalCars.com for our hires…
Kangaroo Island surf spots
We’ll start in the east and push west along the southern shore of Kangaroo Island to showcase the best of the surf spots…
Pennington Bay
Depending on the swell size, Pennington Bay can be a haven for foam-touting beginners or a place to chase frothing beachies with some serious power. It’s one of the best-known spots on the east side of the island and tends to draw the biggest crowd of all, largely because of proximity to American River.
Was windy as hell when we dropped by, so the best advice we can give is to push to the westernmost part of the beach, where the higher headlands offer more protection.
The locals are right when they warn you off solo surfs in these parts. It’s a known stoping ground for great whites!
Vivonne Bay
Vivonne Bay is probably the finest beach break on the whole of Kangaroo Island. First off, it’s a stunning sweep of white sand before a undulating landscape of dunes and rocky outcrops. It’s remote, too – seals bathing in the sun are often the only locals you find.
The waves get great shelter at the western end of the bay by the gnarled finger of Point Elen. Long, cruisy rights form up there. They actually have take offs on the north side of the rocks, becuase the dominant S swells refract around, loosing power and turning into longboard trims as they go.
But that’s just the start. There are epic A-frames all up and down lovely Vivonne Bay. They form and reform on different sandbanks as the tides push up and drop down, often changing a lot from season to season.
Shark sightings are regular, so be wary in the water.
Hanson Bay
Out west on Kangaroo is where the crowds really deplete. Hanson Bay is one of the spots where it’s basically empty all the time, save for a trickly of surfers willing to make the long drive over from the ports.
Look at the long reef patch that drops out from the dues about two thirds of the way along the beach. That’s the main spot, offering point-break style rights on its eastern side and the same mirror lefts on the west.
The lefts are better in our opinion, shaping up into sectiony walls and shoulders before tapering into a protected channel.
Rockys
If you’re willing to hit the dust roads on the way to Cape du Couedic then Rockys is a spot with big, slabby left walls. It handles loads of swell but is for experts only on account of the moving currents and solid paddle out.
Sandy Bay
The the finale of the Snake Lagoon Hike, you’ll happen upon a wide, white-sand beach that actually faces due-west into the Southern Ocean. S swells work beatifully into the rocks there are peel left into the bay. Anything 5-6 foot and it’s a perfect spot to cruise top to bottom. But it’s uber-remote and dangerous on account of the sharks.
Where to stay when surfing in Kangaroo Island?
True to the vibe of greater Kangaroo, most of the places to stay here are remote and away from it all. We’re guessing that’s precisely what you’re after since you choose to come here on your surf travels. You won’t be dissapointed by the options below, which we’d rate as top-quality accom for intrepid surf travelers keen on dodging the crowds…
- Vivonne Bay Island Getaway – This four-bedroom country house is a fine escape out to the gnarled eucalyptus woods and waterways of Vivonne Bay. The beach and its empty rights and A-frames is minutes away. The pad itself is hemmed in by woods and has cracking views. There are even on-site kayaks to help you explore the region between surf sessions.
- Flour Cask Bay Retreat – Stay closer to the more beginner-friendly beaches further easy in Kangaroo by opting for a stint at Flour Cask Bay Retreat. It’s got English cottage vibes to it, offering decks overlooking the rolling fields and meadows.
- Western KI Caravan Park & Wildlife Reserve – There are self-catering cottages on offer at this well-rated site out in western Kangaroo Island. They’re simple but offer a gateway to the remotest beaches around; places where you’ll surf totally alone from morning until night.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Kangaroo Island?
Kangaroo Island is plonked right in the middle of the dominant S swell channels, which means it gets surf pretty much all year round. The winter – May to September – will see a significant uptick in size, as the roaring 40s get rolling for the stormy months. Those are better times for advanced surfers. Most will drop by in the summer, when the south beaches have crystal-clear water and more manageable surf in the 4-7 foot range most days. Just be sure to watch out for sharks!
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
