Images: Supplied. Pictured: Cape Willoughby and Lighthouse by Quentin Chester
Kangaroo Island has long been treated as a destination that requires a little planning, but one part of the island could change the way South Australians think about a KI getaway.
The Dudley Peninsula, on the easternmost end of the island, is emerging as a destination in its own right, with wineries, beaches, wildlife, hiking trails, art, history and coastal adventures packed into a relatively small corner of the island.
At just under 400 square kilometres, the Dudley Peninsula is less than a quarter of the size of the Fleurieu Peninsula, yet it offers enough to fill a weekend without needing to drive across the rest of Kangaroo Island.
That’s the thinking behind a new self-guided road trip created by Cove Landing owners Susan Craig and Mark Simpkin, who believe the Dudley could become a destination South Australians visit regularly rather than saving KI for a major annual holiday.
The couple have both had lifelong connections with Kangaroo Island, from bushwalking, diving and boating to Mark’s earlier work on the island.
After selling their mainland property, they built Cove Landing in Penneshaw as part of their semi-retirement plans. But after welcoming guests, they noticed a recurring question. “What is there to do around here before we head over to the other side of the Island?” visitors would ask.
The answer, they discovered, was quite a lot.
Susan says there is a perception that seeing Kangaroo Island means taking several days off work, waiting for the school holidays or carefully planning a longer trip, particularly because many of the island’s most heavily promoted attractions are towards the western end.
That part of the island is around 157 kilometres from Penneshaw. While Susan agrees the full Kangaroo Island experience is worth the time, she believes the Dudley can offer something different, a spontaneous one or two-night escape more comparable to jumping in the car for a weekend in the Barossa, Clare Valley or the Southern Flinders.
“You can basically shoot over, hop over to KI, and spend the weekend there without having to drive everywhere for hours on end, and really get a beautifully fulfilling experience in the two days,” she said.
The couple’s Dudley Road Trip starts at Cove Landing and heads along the historic Old Binney’s Track, a tree-lined route beside Baudin Conservation Park.
From there, visitors can stop at Dudley Wines overlooking Backstairs Passage before continuing to Chapman River and its mouth at Antechamber Bay, where four kilometres of pristine beach stretches along the coast.
The route then heads towards Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, the oldest operational lighthouse in South Australia, before continuing to False Cape Wines and Mount Thisby Lookout.
The climb to the Mount Thisby lookout ends with 360-degree views across the Dudley Peninsula, Southern Ocean and American River lagoons.
The final leg is a beach-hopping route back towards Penneshaw, taking in Strawbridge Point, Island Beach, Brown Beach, Baudin Beach and American Beach.
And visitors don’t necessarily need a car to experience Penneshaw itself. Within walking distance of the ferry and Cove Landing are Christmas Cove Marina, the maritime museum, the outdoor Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail, the local golf course, pub, casual eateries, pizza venues and a new saloon bar.
There’s also the Penguin Centre, Hog Bay Beach, conservation areas and cliff-top walks, as well as Ocean Safari boat and snorkelling charters.
Wildlife is another constant, with kangaroos and wallabies, penguins, dolphins, wedge-tailed eagles and glossy black cockatoos among the species visitors may encounter.
The growing collection of attractions is also being matched by new investment.
The Cliffs Kangaroo Island golf course is due to open later this year, offering a high-end tourism golf experience overlooking the Southern Ocean, while the proposed Art Museum of Kangaroo Island would add another cultural attraction overlooking Backstairs Passage.
At Cape Willoughby, construction is underway on a $5 million visitor centre upgrade, with the new facility expected to open next year.
For Susan, encouraging people to explore the Dudley isn’t just about attracting more guests to one holiday property. She hopes more regular visitation will benefit accommodation providers, restaurants, wineries and other tourism businesses across the peninsula.
It could also help spread tourism beyond the traditional peak periods, giving local businesses a more consistent flow of visitors throughout the year.
“South Australian residents could indeed become the cornerstone of support for KI Tourism, with peak season international and interstate visitors being the icing on top,” she said.
And perhaps that is the real discovery. The Dudley Peninsula isn’t a new island at all. It has always been there, tucked into the eastern corner of Kangaroo Island.
But for South Australians looking for somewhere they can return to again and again, rather than a destination reserved for one big holiday, it might just be time to see it differently.
Check out Susan’s Cove Landing Marina Apartments, here.
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