Holiday houses in Vivonne Bay

Located on the south side of Kangaroo Island, Vivonne Bay is home to one of Australia’s best beaches and most fertile wildlife habitats. Its namesake crescent beach is a vision of crystalline waters and white sand, a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing. With a jetty claiming the south end of the bay and sand dunes off to the north, Vivonne Bay is a postcard-perfect destination to snorkel the rock pools, reconnect with nature, or do some epic cray fishing.

The island is well-protected by wildlife conservancies, so you’re all but guaranteed to spot koalas, wallabies, and kangaroos, and more. The area is home to the Vivonne Bay Conservation Park and Seal Bay Conservation Park, home to Australia's third largest sea lion colony.

Vivonne Bay never gets too hot or too cold, and keeps a pretty consistent temperature throughout the year. Summer is the perfect time to visit the beaches. Consider staying in your accommodation in Vivonne Bay in the spring so you can see the native flowers bloom, or winter, when the climate is mild and wet and the island is teeming with new life. Autumn is a good time for running buffs, when the local marathon zig-zags its way around Flinders Chase National Park. From June to September, mammals like to make a grand entrance, so you might see fur seal colonies and sea lions basking in the warm sun, babies peeking out from their mothers’ pouches, and get a glimpse of southern white whales emerging from the deep.

Little Sahara Adventure Centre

Five minutes outside of town, this eco-park is made up of vast stretches of sand dunes that resemble a desert landscape. Walking over them is fun enough, but to really get the full effect, hire a toboggan or sandboard and slide or surf your way down the oversized sand dunes to your heart’s delight.

Flinders Chase National Park

Just a 30-minute drive from Vivonne Bay sits Flinders Chase National Park, home to two of the island’s best sites: the unusual rock formation, Admirals Arch, and the aptly-named Remarkable Rocks. The park is also teeming with wildlife, like koala bears and kangaroos, plus loads of native plants and attractions like the historic Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and the glorious Rocky River.

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Twenty minutes east of Vivonne Bay is Seal Bay, home to the third-largest colony of sea lions in Australia. Experienced guides can lead you on a tour, or you can do a self-guided tour along the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk lined with educational signs on sea lions behaviours and habits.