9 things to see and do at Flinders Chase National Park
No trip to Kangaroo Island is complete without a visit to this iconic park. Try these activities on your next trip.
From world-famous landmarks to one of Australia’s great walks, Flinders Chase National Park really does have something for every visitor.
Located on the western end of the island, 110 kilometres from the main town of Kingscote, the rugged beauty of Flinders Chase will make you feel like you’re a million miles away.
Must-see sights include the iconic Admirals Arch, a beautiful natural rock arch shaped by the powerful Southern Ocean – and a great place for spotting long-nosed fur seals – or the sculptured granite boulders known as Remarkable Rocks.
Stay in a historic lighthouse keeper’s cottage or pitch a tent in one of the park’s four secluded campgrounds.
Flinders Chase is great to visit all year round, but winter is when you’ll see the whales arriving, echidnas mating and maybe even the small goslings of the noisy Cape Barren geese.
Fun fact: Did you know baby echidnas are called puggles and kangaroos, wallabies and possums are called joeys?
Here are 9 ways to explore Flinders Chase National Park, prepared for you by the park’s passionate rangers and Nature Play SA:
Venture along the Woodland Walk and spot the different types of moss and lichen – run your fingers across them and feel their texture.
Listen for the thundering sounds of the Southern Ocean and the haunting calls of the bush stone-curlew or southern boobook owl as you camp the night at the Rocky River Campground.
Look out over the cliffs at the historic Weirs Cove Ruins Lookout. Weirs Cove is where the lighthouse keepers would winch up supplies from ships to service the lighthouse. You can still see the remains of the original jetty and store rooms
From your campground, head to the nearest creek-line to enjoy the evening frog chorus. You may hear the southern brown tree frog or spotted marsh frog.
On a stormy day watch the waves crash over the Casuarina Islets, the two small islets off Cape du Couedic in the Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park. Be sure to take extra care when it’s windy.
In late winter, head along Snake Lagoon Hike where golden wattles have begun to bloom and you may spot a trail of male echidnas following a female, known as an ‘echidna train’.
Put on your gumboots and explore the Heritage Walk just north-west of the visitor centre off Cape du Couedic Road Look up and you may even spot a koala in the trees.
Stay in the lighthouse heritage accommodation at the Cape Borda Lighstation and watch the weather roll in. At night you can see the lighthouse project beams of light across the sea.
Keep your gum boots on and wander around the Black Swamp area which is a great spot to see Cape Barren Geese – why not see how many you can count as they bicker over nesting space? The geese like to nest in the morning flag bush, keep an eye out, you may see one sitting on its nest.
Take a glance at what you might find in Kangaroo Island’s national parks and reserves:
Kangaroo Island parks – Park of the Month
Kangaroo Island’s national parks and reserves are being celebrated as Park of the Month for July. Head to theNational Parks South Australia websiteto find out more about these special places.
This story was originally posted in October 2017.
