Kangaroo Island ‘is Australia’s Galapagos’

Travellers booking a holiday to Australia this summer may wish to head to Kangaroo Island, named the “must-see” attraction for people visiting the country for the first time, it has been announced.

Travellers booking a holiday to Australia this summer may wish to head to Kangaroo Island, named the “must-see” attraction for people visiting the country for the first time, it has been announced.

Often heralded the Galapagos of Australia, the island is the “best place” in the country for wildlife lovers, according to the tourist board.

Kangaroo Island is the third largest island in Australia and it is home to many native wild animals including koalas, platypus, goannas, penguins, sea lions, seals, wallabies and of course kangaroos.

There are 21 wildlife parks on the island and near to a third of the land is “pristine wilderness” or conservation area.

For those interested in the history of the destination, it is also home to the oldest lighthouse in Australia – Cape Willoughby – which was built in 1852. Visitors may also wish to visit the Maritime and Folk museum that has documented many of the ships that have been wrecked along the coastline of the island.

Kangaroo Island is seven times the size of Singapore and is home to only 4,400 people so there are many empty beaches to be explored.

Between June and August, baby koalas and wallabies begin to emerge from their mother’s pouches to ride on their backs.