While many grey nomads view a trip across to South Australia’s Kangaroo Island as a special ‘treat’, it seems tourism authorities there are continuing to target bigger spending tourists.
The South Australian Government has just granted planning approval for a multimillion-dollar luxury tourist resort to be built at American River. The resort will include a four-storey hotel, 10 seven-storey accommodation lodges, cabins, a restaurant, a spa and a swimming pool. There will also be a conference facility for 400 people, restaurant and bar, and a two-kilometre pedestrian loop.
“We are targeting high-end tourists from around the world and they love places like Kangaroo Island,” said Tourism Minister, Leon Bignell.
The new resort, which is about a 30-minute drive from SeaLink’s Penneshaw ferry terminal, will create about 160 temporary jobs during construction, and a further 280 once the resort is operational five years from now.
Conservationists have previously warned the project could damage the environment, but Kangaroo Island mayor Peter Clements has said changes have been made to the project to mitigate concerns.
Last June, the Kangaroo Island Economic Development Outlook was launched, detailing a pipeline of projects over the next five years, collectively valued at $170 million. These included an $18 million upgrade to the local airport, and the Government is now said to be in talks with Qantas about organising direct flights to the island.
As the huge new resort was given the green light, Planning Minister John Rau told the Adelaide Advertiser that it would attract tourists from around the world.
“In just a few years, Kangaroo Island is set to have an upgraded airport and a more diverse range of tourism experiences,” he said. “We have unlocked the potential that we know has always existed.”
Kangaroo Island, which has some 500 kilometres of coastline is famed for its pristine beaches, native bushland, and its incredible wildlife. SeaLink ferries says it can accept any size of caravan or motorhome but warns grey nomads and other travellers that those towing a van longer than five metres might find some places inaccessible.
The Sealink website says the crossing takes 45 minutes. Caravans or trailers and the towing vehicle are charged separately, according to individual overall lengths. A return trip with a tow vehicle and a caravan less than four metres is $392. It says passengers with caravans or motorhomes longer than five metres or higher than 2.3 metres need to contact them directly to get a price.
There are a number of council campgrounds that are suitable for caravans on the island, including one at American River where the new resort will be built. There is also good camping in national parks and conservation parks, and several privately owned caravan parks.
According to official statistics, Kangaroo Island had 132,000 visitors in the 12 months to September 2016, 42,000 of whom were foreign tourists.
· Have you been to Kangaroo Island? Would you recommend the experience to other grey nomads? Comment below.
The fares for the boat trip across with a caravan is probably one of the dearest per kilometre any where.
The South Australian Government need to lobby the Federal Government to make the crossing part of the Federal Highway. This will bring the price down to a reasonable price.
One of the best places in all of Australia to visit but the ferry costs for a larger rig (I am 16.6 metres overall) make the journey prohibitive.
Don’t think I will be going any time soon. A return trip with a tow vehicle and a caravan less than four metres is $392, what are they quoting on here!! a Goggomobile towing a wheelbarrow? My caravan is 9 metres long including the draw-bar and the tow vehicle is 5 metres giving a total length of 14 metres let alone the height of the van at 3 metres.
The trip to Kangaroo Island would cost me a king’s fortune.
We’ve lived in Adelaide for 34 years and have never been to KI as it’s so expensive to get there. They really don’t make it easy even for Adelaidens any way will spend my money on more nicer places in South Australia and beyond. I think they only want rich tourists to go.
Same for me to expensive for 14 metres car and caravan. Wegive a miss
The wording is wrong. It is expensive with a caravan. A vehicle, 5m or less and 2 passengers would be about $392.00 return. We get ‘family&friends’ discount but only slightly cheaper. The last I heard it cost friends $800 odd return. But there are plenty of facilities on KI and the Island is well worth the visit.
Sure, go for one day then it may well be expensive. Go for a week or longer and you get good value for money and actually get to experience what Kangaroo Island has to offer. Very large island. People come from the other side of the world to experience it. A real jewel in South Australia’s tourism crown and well worth the investment in time and money.
Competition is the name of the game. If some European ship came out here they would soon drop their prices. They charge exhorbitant prices because they can.
It is a wonderful place, we visit every year and have done for the last 40 odd years. But having a 10m motorhome and a tow vehicle it costs us over $800 return.(we drive the car on seperately) If we didn’t have free accommodation with friends when we get there it wouldn’t be worth the trip. The ferry is privately owned and is very expensive even for residents to go to town for dentist, specialists, shopping etc., The SA government really should do something so the Seakink doesn’t have monopoly on transport to and from KI.
Recommend beautiful K.I. So many pristine beaches amazing scenery. There is a fantastic caravan park called Western KI Caravan Park at the western end of the island, wildlife abounds, great facilities only about 4 kms to Flinders Chase N.P. and the famous Remarkables. One of the most beautiful and untouched places left in Australia.