Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Kingscote
POP 1700
Snoozy seaside Kingscote (pronounced 'kings-coat') is the main settlement on KI, and the
hub of island life. It's a photogenic town with swaying Norfolk Island pines, a couple of
pubs and some decent eateries.
1
Sights & Activities
Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre
ECOTOUR
(
www.kipenguincentre.com.au
;
Kingscote Wharf; adult/child/family $17/6/40, pelican feeding adult/
child $5/3; tours 8.30pm & 9.30pm Oct-Jan & Mar, 7.30pm & 8.30pm Apr-Oct, closed Feb, pelican
feeding 5pm)
Runs one-hour tours of its saltwater aquariums and the local penguin colony,
plus some stargazing if the sky is clear. It also runs informative (and comical)
pelican
feeding
sessions at the adjacent wharf.
Hope Cottage Museum
MUSEUM
(
www.hopecottagemuseum.com
;
Centenary Ave; adult/child $6/2; 1-4pm daily Sep-Jul, Sat only
Aug)
Built on the hill in 1857, this cottage is now a fastidiously maintained National Trust
museum decked out in period style, with a reconstructed lighthouse, an amazing old quilt,
a tiny walled rose garden and KI's first piano.
Kangaroo Island Spirits
DISTILLERY
(KIS;
www.kispirits.com.au
;
856 Playford Hwy, Cygnet River; tastings free, bottles from $35;
11am-5pm Wed-Sun, daily during school holidays)
This fiesty little moonshiner makes small-
batch gin with KI native juniper berries, plus vodka, brandy and liqueurs (try the honey
and walnut version, using organic KI honey).
Island Beehive
APIARY
(
www.island-beehive.com.au
; 1 Acacia Dr, Kingscote; tours adult/child/family $4.50/3/13;
9am-5pm, group tours every 30min 9.30am-4pm)
Runs factory tours where you can study up
on passive, hard-working Ligurian bees and beekeeping, then stock up on by-products
(bee-products?), including delicious organic honey and honeycomb ice cream. Tours for
groups.
Island Pure Sheep Dairy
DAIRY
