Kangaroo Island notches #2 spot on Lonely Planet’s must-visit regions list

Kangaroo Island has been crowned one of the world’s must-visit regions by travel publication Lonely Planet, bringing new international acclaim to its eco-tourism and wellness retreat businesses.

The South Australian island, two hours away from Adelaide by car and ferry, is listed as the #2 region to visit in Lonely Planet‘s new Best in Travel 2024 list.

The publication describes Kangaroo Island as “deceptively vast with a ridiculous amount of stunning coastline,” and a penchant for unique cuisine, wildlife, and beaches that are only now receiving global acclaim.

“As one of the world’s best travel destinations – and the only one in Australia to make the list – this accolade will help put Kangaroo Island, and South Australia, on the must-visit list for travellers across the globe,” said Zoe Bettison, South Australia’s Minister for Tourism.

The Lonely Planet listing comes after the New York Times called Kangaroo Island one of its 52 must-visit locales in 2023, highlighting its “breathtaking ocean views and its status as an ecological haven”.

Plaudits from international media outlets arrive three years into the island’s recovery from the devastating 2019/2020 bushfire season, which burned nearly half the island and devastated its local communities.

The fires destroyed the upmarket Southern Ocean Lodge — but a rebuilt and revitalised version of the hospitality icon, featuring rooms going for as much as $18,000, is expected to reopen in December.

That will put Southern Ocean Lodge on track to capitalise on global travellers inspired by Lonely Planet, which calls January and February the best time of year to visit Kangaroo Island.

Southern Ocean Lodge is hardly the only business to make good on Kangaroo Island’s seclusion, and growing reputation as a regional but refined tourism centre.

The Lonely Planet write-up directs readers to gin-blending classes at Kangaroo Island Spirits, a local distillery that narrowly escaped disaster during the 2019/2020 bushfire season.

Elsewhere, Wander, an Australian ‘pod’ hotel startup backed by Airbnb’s former Australian chief, proudly offers Kangaroo Island accommodation overlooking the Great Australian Bight.

“It is terrific that Kangaroo Island is not only bouncing back from the devastating impacts of bushfires and the pandemic but is going beyond that, hitting a record-breaking $294 million in visitor expenditure and already far exceeding its target set for 2025,” Bettison said.