Just 14 kilometres from the mainland, Australia’s third-largest island teems with life. At around 150 kilometres long and 57 kilometres wide and with more than one-third of the area protected through an extensive network of parks and reserves, Kangaroo Island provides a truly unique experience within a concentrated natural environment.

A KALEIDOSCOPE OF LIFE

Wildlife has thrived in this isolated and largely untouched environment. Protected from invasive species such as foxes and rabbits, Kangaroo Island provides refuge for 58 threatened plant and animal, many of which have become extinct on the mainland.

Kangaroo Island is hometo morethan 260 species of birds and over 1000 species of native plants. Many plants flower year round, with spectacular spring wildflower displays creating golden carpets of wattle interlaced with scarlet bottlebrushes, pink grevilleas and purple fringe lilies. Sixty species of orchids flower almost year-round.

The clear waters around Kangaroo Island reveal a marine paradise. Seals, sea lions, sea dragons, dolphins, whales and over 270 different species offish all inhabit the rocks, bays and inlets of the Island.

NATURE’S OWN MODERN ART SCULPTURES - THERE’S NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT

Kangaroo Island’s Remarkable Rocks have been sculpted and carved forthe past 500 million years by the strong southern winds, sea and rain. Covered by bright orange lichen the smooth, rounded hollows and natural beauty of the rocks contrast starkly against the backdrop of the deep blue southern ocean.

WALK AMONGST THE SEA LIONS

Seal Bay is home to a colony of around 1,000 endangered Australian sea lions — the most endangered species of sea lion in the world.

The Australian sea lion can grow upto two and half metres long and weigh upto 300 kilograms. Its streamlined body is designed for swimming the ocean currents and it can dive to depths of 300 metres in search of food. Females give birth to a single pup every 18 months and will nurse them for up to a year — defending them aggressively against predators.

Seal Bay provides an important refuge forthe sea lions after being hunted to near extinction duringthe last century. Guided tours provide visitors with a unique opportunity to walk among the seals and sea lions on the beach. Remember that it is important to respect these wild creatures and their environment - listen to your guide and make sure you stay a safe distance from them at all times.

GLOSSY BLACK COCKATOO

An endangered subspecies of the glossy black cockatoo - Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus - is found only on Kangaroo Island in an area of just 100 square kilometres. Dependent on the drooping sheoaktree as its sole food source, this medium size bird was once on the brink of extinction, with past clearing of its habitat seeing a drastic decline in numbers. Around 300 individual birds remain inthewild.

The cockatoo is now making a comebackthanksto local conservation efforts. An active program is underway on Kangaroo Island involving government and the local community to replant habitat, protect existingfood trees and build nest boxes, helping to increase the chance of long-term survival forthe species.

THE TAMMAR WALLABY - A SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY HELPING LIVES

Driven to extinction on mainland South Australia through land clearing and predation by cats and foxes, the tammar wallaby thrives on the island.The size of a house cat, this amazing wallaby can survive by drinking sea water if freshwater is unavailable. Ateam of Australian scientists studying howthese wallabies protecttheir new-born infants from disease has found a unique compound in their milk. Shown to be 100 times more effective than drugs such as penicillin, the compound has great potential for future use as an antibiotic.