Get a luxury escape in pristine wilderness of Kangaroo Island in South Australia

REGION: Kangaroo Island

You'd be lucky if you find the furry koala gazing straight at you as you take its picture at the Hanson Bay Sanctuary and Western KI Caravan Park. These cute creatures sleep on an average of 20-22 hours (no wonder the population is depleting) and wake up to only eat.

Now, surely that's unlike the kangaroos who love to eat as they hop about and turn toward you if you call out to them (kangaroos are wild animals, so maintaining a distance is advisable, says the guide at Southern Ocean Lodge of Kangaroo Island).

This cut-away island is a short sea plane flight away from Adelaide and offers the purest, tastiest honey. You will soon notice that this is an ideal place to get up close and personal with a wide range of rare animals and birds.

Apart from kangaroos and koalas, one can also see wallabies (small kangaroo-like animals), goannas, echidnas, brush-tailed possums, and platypus, along with over 270 species of birds, including the rare glossy black cockatoo.

So, when you make yourself comfortable at the luxurious settings of the Southern Ocean Lodge and sip on a freshly prepared mocktail with locally produced seasonal herbs, you can witness a resident pod of dolphins pop up and about in a playful manner.

Located at Kangaroo Island, the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie is the world's first hospital dedicated to the care and preservation of koalas. One can visit the hospital, or even take part in the volunteer programme, which has hosted people from all over the world.

While on an guided tour, watch the pelicans and see giant cuttlefish, seahorses and little penguins at Kingscote Wharf. Try the bushwalk past the ducks, swans and waders of Murray Lagoon in Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park. Enjoy!

LOCAL ATTRACTION: Koalas sit together as if posing for a family picture while you stare in awe.

TWO-GETHER: Spot a dolphin as you sip on a fresh orangy mocktail.


UP, CLOSE & PERSONAL: Kangaroos are curious beings and like to see what you have to offer.