I've gotten conflicting advice about the advisability of a 2-day visit to Kangaroo Island in mid-August. We know it will be cold, but one travel professional told us that the weather should be otherwise fine, while another told us to definitely avoid KI because it is likely to be very rainy and windy. Any first-hand advice would be much appreciated. By the way, our purpose in the KI visit would be for our 2 kids to see wildlife, particularly kangaroos and koalas. The rest of our trip would center on Sydney and the Queensland area (Port Douglas, Daintree). So, if KI is not a good idea at that time of year, could we see those animals elsewhere on our trip?

Mandelieu,

Well, as travel professional #3, I'd side with #2 - although that said, who can predict the weather anywhere these days!?? I mean it snowed in LA a few months ago and that hasn't happened in 25 years!

You, and your kids, (what are their ages?) can see wildlife of all kinds in both Sydney and Cairns with no problem at all.

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

One word...GO!

We went in late August. It was a bit rainy and very windy, but well worth it! For myself and my hubby, it was tops for our Australia trip. We went to Sydney, Adelaide, Uluru (sp?), Palm Cove/Cairns and KI. By far KI had the most wildlife you will see in it's natural environment. We got to see: Kangaroos, koalas, seals, sea lions, whales, birds, a king snake (i think it was a king--it was big and the tour guide told us it was deadly), echidna (sp?). It was so awesome.

So to see all that and not be in a zoo, bring a sweater and a poncho and enjoy the trip.

PS We went to the Daintree and we did not see as much wildlife. Very beautiful but very buggy (bring good insect repellant) We saw Crocs on a river and some lizards and such, but not like what I described above at KI!

mandelieu, the weather could be nasty, or reasonably nice. Either way, it's not enough to send the animals into hiding, so they will still be able to be seen. This and the Atherton Tablelands (not the Daintree area, touted though it may be) out of Cairns offer the best wildlife viewing in Australia. You will also be able to see kangaroos and koalas in the wild just out of Melbourne with Echidna Walkabout, plus a lot of other stuff. Melbourne may be logistically a little easier, but the weather likely a bit worse. Don't forget that Ki has penguins as well, always a treat to see.

My first visit to KI with my family was during the month of July. We did a day trip from Adelaide and had a fabulous time even though it was windy near the coast and a bit chilly. We saw wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, emus, sea lions and an echidna. We also saw a neat cave, climbed on sand dunes in the middle of the island, saw some amazing rock formations and had a good Aussie BBQ for lunch. It was a very memorable trip.

Alliegator,

Your snake was a black tiger snake - only other choice is a pygmy copperhear. Both elapids (front fanged venomous) but pretty retiring and easy going here on KI.

Craig