The trouble that grey nomads can have booking crossings to and from Tassie in peak season is well documented, but it seems some of the same issues are now being experienced by travellers heading to Kangaroo Island,
It’s just three years or so since more than half of the South Australian island was devastated by bushfires, and many koalas and other animals were killed.
The recovery though has been remarkable and tourist numbers are again booming, so much so that it’s putting a strain on local road infrastructure … and on the ferry services.
Lisa Marshall, the Events Manager at local business, Kangaroo Island Spirits, told the ABC that there had been a 20% increase in tourists travelling over opposed to this time last year.
Kangaroo Island's stinning coastline has drawn international recognition. PIC: Judith West / Pixabay
A figure that Ms Marshall said was reported by the island’s main ferry operator, SeaLink.
“I know, for myself as a local, I tried to get off the island and that was very impossible with booking ferries,” she said. “The ferries are full quite often now, there’s not very many spots so you have to book a fair bit in advance … that is becoming a problem.”
The profile of Kangaroo Island has been given a further boost in recent weeks with it receiving several tourism accolades.
It has just been named as one of 50 destinations in The World’s Greatest Places of 2023 by Time Magazine. And that follows on from a New York Times mention in its Top 10 Places to Visit in 2023, and after Tourism Australia crowned Kangaroo Island’s Stokes Bay as the Best Australian Beach.
Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly told the ABC he welcomed the latest acknowledgement, saying the island’s natural attractions … its coastline, beaches, native bush and animals … had made people sit up and take notice, as well as its distilleries and wineries.
However, he said while the widespread recognition was a blessing for the tourism industry, it came at a cost.
He told the ABC the island’s road infrastructure was in need of upgrading.
“Our roads are still a nightmare,” he said. “That’s a major thing, which we as a little council simply can’t cope with, I’ve spoken to the federal minister on that … I would like to see a federal state program of infrastructure put in on the roads particularly so we can cope with the numbers, that’s critical for us.”
Mayor Pengilly said though stressed that he was very grateful for the support the island had already received from the federal and state governments ’and that really helped get us back on our feet’.
He told the ABC that the island just wanted to put the devastation from the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires behind them.
“We’re getting there,” he said. “People that were burnt out really want to get on with their lives … that doesn’t matter whether it’s farmers or businesses, or people that lost their businesses; people just want to move on.”
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Visited the island on a conducted coach tour in Feb 23 ,fabulous island and people .surprised how big it was and how many sheep! And large wheat farms .
We’ve just had a wonderful 9 nights there. Could have stayed longer. Loved it, it’s so beautiful and there’s lots to do and see over a relatively small area.
Are dogs permitted on ferry and island? We would love to see it.
Or you can tour around York and Eyre peninsulars that have identical scenery and better infrastructure and save the extortionate ferry fares
Quite right Tony, about the cost of the ferry. I was one of the many volunteer F.F,s who fought the K.I. fires, it is a beautiful island, and to return as a visitor is a wonderful experience. It is a shame in my opinion the greed of the ferry company, makes it the most expensive ferry crossing in the world.