mcdanielism

Hi All,

So as part of a larger trip, I have taken ideas from these forums and decided to skip Ayers Rock and instead try to visit Kangaroo Island and Flinders Ranges.

I will be driving the Great Ocean Road for about 3 days, and was thinking of continuing on to Kangaroo Ferry crossing point (Cape Jervis), and then from there up to Flinders Ranges.

I have 8 days total for Great Ocean Road, Kangaroo, and Flinders.

Day 1 - Melbourne Drive out to Great Ocean Road - stay Apollo Bay
Day 2 - Great Ocean Road - stay at Port Cambell
Day 3 - Great Ocean Road to Port Cambell to Cape Jervis - that's 9 hours which is a little rough in one day - take 7 pm ferry to Kangaroo Island - stay overnight
Day 4 - Explore Kangaroo Island for most of day, ferry then drive to Adelaide (1.5 drive). Stay overnight there
Day 5 - Drive to Flinders Ranges - 6 hours!
Day 6 - Flinders Ranges - Wilpena Pound
Day 7 - Flinders Ranges - other stuff
Day 8 - Flinders (some time here) then drive back to Adelaide for flight out next day

Any thoughts of how to do this better? Am I trying to do too much?

Should I shorten Ocean Road part to give more time in Kangaroo?

Tough, there is just too many great things to explore and not enough time.

Thanks for any help.

Chris

Patty

I can't help with the Great Ocean Road or Flinders Ranges but were you planning to take a rental car to Kangaroo Island? I believe most rental car contracts prohibit that. We flew from Adelaide and rented a car on the island.

Melnq8

I've never been to Kangaroo Island, but I have driven to Port Jervis. It seems to me that since getting there is such an effort, one would want to stay longer if they went. You've not even allocated a full day to Kangaroo Island, which considering the cost and effort to get there seems a bit of a waste.

Keep in mind that driving after dusk in the country isn't wise, due to the abundance of nocturnal wildlife. You have a couple of late traveling days - driving to Cape Jervis and then driving from Kangaroo Island to Adelaide late in the day - hitting a kangaroo can ruin a holiday.

As for Flinders Ranges - we really enjoyed our time there, we stayed at Rawnsley Park which isn't far from Wilpena Pound.

I don't think it makes sense to shorten the GOR - you might feel rushed as it is.

I've attached the link to my trip report from our visit to South Australia in 2009 - it was a fantastic trip. It may give you some ideas on what to see/do in Flinders Ranges.

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...-australia.cfm

Good luck with your planning.

huddoshols

I have been to all of these places, as I live in Adelaide. I have driven the Great Ocean Rd from Mel through to Adelaide. Been to Kangaroo Island several times and driven around the Flinders Ranges. The drive from Mel is a long one. I don't think you want to be rushed in trying to get to destinations. It seems alot of your plan involves daily driving. If I was you I would skip either Kangaroo Island or The Flinders. It will take you more than a day to see much of Kangaroo Island. Likewise with The Flinders. We too stayed at Rawnsley Park and spent several days walking while enjoying the local activities. I would prefer to spend more time enjoying one spot than rushing in order to try and see several. Post any further questions.

traveler318

Haven't been to the Flinders Ranges nor the Great Ocean Road, just Kangaroo Island. I would say your current plan with barely a day on KI isn't worth the effort to get there. We spent two full days/nights and Kangaroo Island and wished we had spent longer. We saw the highlights, but would have liked time to spend taking longer "bush walks" rather than getting back on the road to the next spot. We did enjoy it very much, saw lots of wildlife, etc. So like the other say, my opinion is that if your time is limited, drop one place.

peterSale

The roads on KI are mostly unsealed and of pisolite an iron oxide nodule. It is like driving on ball bearings. It takes much longer than you think to get from place to place.

I would therefore skip the Flinders Ranges and spend more time on KI. We spent 10 day sna could easily double it.

If you drive from Port Campbell to Cape Jervis in 9 hours you will miss heaps of things on the way such as the Bay of islands, Tower Hill, Mt Gambbier (and the other volcanoes) the Coorong and the Murray. Just to name the most obvious.

I would suggest you take your time and see these. Then spend more time on KI before a dawdle to Adelaide through the wineries and Hallet Cove - a great glaciated landscape. You could also stop at Maslin Beach the first nudist beach in Australia if you are inclined.

Any of the three main parts of your intinerary are worth a week each at least. You will find that you will be doing an awful lot of driving and not much doing. You will see heaps but not experience much.

Where are you getting your "travel times"? They seem very short. You could do it in those times if you share the driving and only stop for fuel.

mcdanielism

Hi, thanks for the responses. You have confirmed what I thought, I'm trying to do too much. Yup, I put travel times for to remember. Good point, of course that will be longer if i stop to get gas, stretch, take a picture.... I would rather not be rushed too. Just wish i had 16 weeks, and unlimited supplies of money for this trip! I'm acting on assumption that I may never be able to get back to Australia.

If you had to choose though, would you do 3 or 4 days on Kangaroo Island, or Flinders Ranges? And why?

Thanks.

Chris

huddoshols

What do you intend to see with both locations? Will you be out walking? What sort of accom are you after? Are you happy to do things by yourself or tour? Have you read anything about either locations?

Melnq8

Well, if I had to choose, I'd choose the Flinders Ranges. In fact, we did. When planning our trip to SA, we considered Kangaroo Island, but after reading several lukewarm reports about it, we decided to give it a pass. Did we make a mistake? We'll never know, but we thoroughly enjoyed the Flinders Ranges - we're hikers though - we were there primarily to hike - and Flinders is a good place to hike. It's also an excellent place to see wildlife.

Whether or not I'd choose the Flinders in October is another question altogether - we don't care for the heat, especially hiking in it, so October might be a little warm for my tastes.

Cooper Pedy was my absolute favorite place in SA and that's high praise, as we liked every place we visited in SA.

You really can't go wrong - choose what sounds good to you and go from there.

RalphR

Loved the Flinders Ranges! A beautiful and relatively undiscovered part of Australia. Greatly enjoyed the wine in the Clare Valley en route.

peterSale

I would choose KI for two reasons. First it is closer to the Great Ocean Road.

Secondly there is more variety. You can do great walks. Walk on the beach with sea lions; visit caves; see penguins up close (ravine de casoars walk); light houses; sheep shearing; try sheep cheese; walk among the remarkables etc. etc. Everything is relatively close together.

We have just come back from the Flinders and whilst they are lovely and there is much to see and do the things are further apart.