South Australia Practical Information

Penneshaw and Kingscote, KI’s largest towns, lie on the northeastern coast of the island. Most of the south, west, and north ends of the island are relatively unpopulated and do not have basic services like hospitals, ATMs, and supermarkets (except for Parndana and Vivonne Bay). Before you venture away from the island’s east end, make sure you’ve stocked up on cash, food, toiletries, and anything else you might need from the civilized world.

• Tourist Offices: KI Gateway Visitors Information Centre (☎08 8553 1185), on Howard Dr. in Penneshaw. A 7min. walk from the port. After-hours board outside the office has maps and information. Open M-F 9am-5pm, Sa-Su 10am-4pm. Kingscote Gift Shop, 78 Dauncey St. (☎08 8553 2165), at the corner of Dauncey and Commercial St. Open M-F 9am-5:30pm, Sa-Su 9am-5pm. Flinders Chase National Park Visitors Center (☎08 8559 7235), on South Coast Rd. Provides maps for the national park’s drives and walks and sells day passes and camping permits. Park entry $8, concessions $6.50, children $4.50, families $21. Open daily 9am-5pm.
• Tours: Most tours are led by friendly, knowledgeable guides and make sure to hit all the “must-see” sights. The majority are based out of Adelaide, and it’s advisable to make arrangements before you even leave the mainland. However, the YHA in Penneshaw advertises last-minute or standby-option tours at a discount.
• • Surf and Sun (☎1800 786 386 or 0400 881 565; www.surfandsun.com.au) boasts 2- and 3-day 4WD wildlife tours, including sandboarding at Little Sahara, guided tours of Seal Bay, fishing, penguin tours, and beach time. The 3-day tour includes a surf lesson at Fleurieu Peninsula’s Middleton Beach before heading to KI. 2-day $340, 3-day $399. Includes pickup from Adelaide, ferry, meals, accommodations, and park entrances. 13-person max.
  • CampWild Adventures (☎1800 444 321; www.campwild.com.au) offers 2- and 3-day RV adventure tours, including sandboarding at Little Sahara, snorkeling at Vivonne Bay, visits to Remarkable Rocks, and hiking in Flinders Chase. 3-day tour includes stops in the Fleurieu Peninsula. 2-day ($335) departs odd dates 6am; 3-day ($415) departs even dates 10am. Both include pickup in Adelaide, ferry, meals, accommodations, and park entrance. 13-person max.
  • SeaLink KI Adventure Tours (☎08 13 13 01; www.sealink.com.au/tours_backpacker) whisks you away on 2-day backpacker tours. The Adventure Tour hits all the major sights with fishing and surfing, while the Beach Wilderness Tour hits fewer sights with a more relaxed pace and tanning time. Adventure Tour ($379) departs Adelaide Dec.-Mar. daily 6:45am; Apr. and Nov. M, W-Th, Sa 6:45am; May-Oct. M, Th, Sa 6:45am. Beach Wilderness Tour ($257) departs Adelaide daily 3:45pm. Includes pickup from Adelaide, ferry, meals, and accommodations. 23-person max.

• Library: Kingscote Library, 41 Dauncey St. (☎08 8553 4516). Free Internet. Open M-W and F 9am-5pm, Th 9am-7pm, Sa 9am-noon.
• Police: ☎13 14 44 or 08 8553 2018. At Dauncy and Drew St. in Kingscote.
• Pharmacy: At the corner of Dauncey and Murray St. (☎08 8553 2153). Open M-F 8:30am-5:30pm, Sa 9am-noon.
• Medical Services: The island’s only hospital (☎08 8553 4200) is located in Kingscote, nesteld into the town’s Esplanade.
• Internet Access: Kingscote Library (see Library). Community Business Center, in Penneshaw’s Dudley Center, on the way to the KI Gateway Visitors Information Centre from the port. $3.50 per 30min.
• Post Office: Penneshaw, in the Dudley Center. Open M-F 9am-5pm, Sa 9am-noon. Kingscote (☎08 8553 2122), on Dauncey St. Open M-F 9am-5pm. Postal Codes: 5222 (Penneshaw); 5223 (Kingscote).