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Terravel · Places · Oceania

Australia · Oceania

Kangaroo Island

By Terravel ·

Kangaroo Island, Australia
Photo · Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble · CC BY 2.0

An island sanctuary where Australia's third-largest expanse meets the Southern Ocean, just a narrow strait from the mainland.

Why Kangaroo Island stands out

Kangaroo Island floats in South Australia's embrace, 112 kilometers southwest of Adelaide. Known locally as KI, this vast landmass ranks as Australia's third-largest island, surpassed only by Tasmania and Melville Island. Despite its size, it remains beautifully isolated.

The geography and story of Kangaroo Island

The island's closest point to the mainland is Snapper Point in Backstairs Passage, where just 13.5 kilometers of water separate the island from the Fleurieu Peninsula. This narrow strait has long served as the gateway between two worlds—one wild and untamed, the other domestic and familiar.

Fun fact

Kangaroo Island's nearest point to mainland Australia is closer than many people live to their neighbors, yet the island has remained a distinct ecological refuge for millennia.

Kangaroo Island at a glance

Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Coordinates
35.80°S, 137.30°E
Known for
island

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