I just found the coolest thing - free R/T domestic ticket between Australian cities if you are an Amex Platinum card member!

So now I am seeing a lot of good posts about Kangaroo Island. I think thinking of taking a week extra off of work without pay...maybe adding another city and Kangaroo Island tour -- are there kangaroos there? Can somebody tell me more about the island?! Thanks!

You know I have never been to Kangaroo Island but strange enough it seems more famous to me for Koalas than Kangaroos!

I have been to KI, wasn't too impressed but will bow to those who took a guided tour (we didn't) and enjoyed it. We didn't see any kangaroos, as it happens, but that doesn't prove anything.

You don't have to go to KI to see roos, though, that's for sure. They can be found all over Australia, incluing a short walk from my house in suburban Canberra, the national capital. In fact they greatly outnumber the human population. KI is somewhat out of the way of Australia's major tourist-attracting localities but can be combined with a visit to the city of Adelaide and nearby wine producing areas like the Barossa Valley.

I have been to KI twice and enjoyed it very much. Our first visit was a one-day tour (flight to/from Adelaide and bus tour). This worked out well for us as we were able to see some of the highlights of the island--the sea lions at Seal Bay, the sand dunes, the Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch, the Kelly Hill Cave, and parts of Finders Chase National Park. On our second trip, we took the ferry over and stayed for 3 days/2 nights. In addition to the things we had seen before (which we took our time exploring this time), we saw the brown pelicans, took a long hike in Flinders Chase National Park and saw a little fairy penquin on his own, and spent a good deal of time watching the koalas at the koala lane (ask for directions as we never saw it on any map). However, we never did see any kangaroos, but, like Neil Oz, I always saw plenty near my house in Canberra too.
I think 2 or 3 days on KI would be enough and the rest of your "bonus" week could be spent in and around Adelaide--a lovely city with some interesting places surrounding it as well.

Whoops, my kids just reminded me that we did see kangaroos in Flinders Chase National Park on our first visit to KI. That was a long time ago and I had forgotten about that. They were rather "tame" kangaroos as you could buy food for them at the park and were allowed to hand feed them. I'm not sure that is permitted anymore. We also saw an echidna in the park on that trip, but that is rather unusual.

We did a guided tour in November and came across a field with lots of roos. In fact, we got out and walked up fairly close to them---even caught a couple of young joeys boxing each other. It's one of our favorite experiences we were able to capture on video! We also spotted some out on a bush walk early one morning. Also, saw a few wallabies along with loads of fairy penquins out on a nocturnal tour, koalas, glossy blacks and even an echidnea! Had a great time--two full days of touring should find you plenty of wildlife! I would suggest a tour though because if it wasn't for an experienced guide, we would have missed everything!

I have to add that before our trip to KI, I had expectations of kangaroos bounding all around and koalas dripping out of trees! Even though that's not the case, we still had a wonderful time. We saw the above mentioned "must-sees" (Devil's Marbles, Admiral's Arch)and spent the remainder of the time on a sort of scavenger hunt for wildlife! Although it wasn't what I expected, it was still one of our favorite experiences in Australia!

I agree with Neil on Kangaroo Island and am underwhelmed seeing that more of the same can be seen in just about any other place in Australia which does not need an expensive trip to get to. I guess that each and every day I drive through the country roads around where I live I see kangaroos/ wallabies /possums/ bandicoots/ a variety of colourful parrots / bell birds, whip birds / bower birds etc etc going to a dryish part of the country and paying for the experience is not my idea of a good choice of attractions.

Maybe our disillusion with KI started when we forked out the outrageous, unconscionable fare for the Sealink ferry. This operator currently has the nerve to charge (return) $158 for your car plus $78 per adult passenger - thus, car and 2 adults, $314! Bear in mind that you can almost spit the distance between Cape Jervis and KI. This has to be one of Australia's premier ripoffs.

By way of contrast, I just made an online booking for the MV 'Coho', which runs between Port Angeles (Washington State) and Victoria (British Columbia). Again, car plus 2 adults, and for a substantially longer journey US$63.50 or about AU$83, including booking fee - thus, return would be about $AU166 or less than half what the larcenous Sealink service is charging.

We had a fantastic three nights in Kangaroo Island between Christmas and NYE. We self drove and had some great beaches all to ourselves as well as hiking trails with very few other people. We did see more koalas than kangaroos. It is a very relaxing place to enjoy the outdoors. If you enjoy wildlife and the ocean without crowds you will love Kangaroo Island

My daughter & I camped on KI for 10 days a couple of Easters ago. Loved the place. THere are lots of wallabies & kangaroos plus zillions of possums. You have to be very careful about driving at night as the animals literally jump out in front of the car.
The sea lions are amazing - you walk right down on the beach with them & there are fur seals at the bottom of the island at Admiral's Arch. See the Remarkable Rocks on the way. It is a lot larger than I expected.

We visited the honeyfarm and sheep dairyas well as the marron (similar to a fresh water lobster) farm. Great food.

Anyone have details about the R/T domestic ticket for Amex Plats? Is there a link?