Accommodation

Flinders Chase National Park and Ravine Des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area

Flinders Chase National Park is a must for any Kangaroo Island parks adventure. This vast area of wilderness features the iconic Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and a long-nosed fur seal colony.

Sitting high on ancient rocky platforms above the sea, Remarkable Rocks’ surreal shapes and golden orange colours provide extraordinary photo opportunities. Admirals Arch at Cape du Couedic is not only an impressive rock arch, weather worn over thousands of years, it’s also home to a colony of long-nosed fur seals.

Flinders Chase National Park is recovering naturally following the 2019-20 summer bushfires, which burnt 96 per cent of the park (and the Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area). Bushfires have played an integral part in shaping the ecology of the Australian landscape for millions of years. Many native plant species are adapted to survive, regenerate and thrive after fire and much of the park is regaining its green cloak of coastal health, mallee woodland and eucalypt forest. Goannas, koalas, eagles, kangaroos and echidnas are regularly spotted in the park.

Visitors can be part of the bushfire recovery journey by driving re-opened roads, including Cape du Couedic Road (and the wavy section which has become one of the most insta-famous roads in South Australia), visiting Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and Weirs Cove and camping at West Bay and Harvey’s Return.

The heritage-listed May’s Homestead (sleeps 4) and Postman’s Cottage (sleeps 2) have been beautifully restored and now provide a distinctive heritage accommodation experience for visitors. Both properties are located at Rocky River, close enough to be booked together for sharing by a group, but far enough apart to be private. Guests can use the cosy self-contained accommodation as their base while exploring the western end of Kangaroo Island. Postman’s Cottage has been designed with accessibility in mind.

A selection of shorter trails have re-opened, including the Ravine des Casoars and Cape du Couedic hikes and the more challenging Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.

Must-have rebuild works are being fast-tracked in Flinders Chase National Park. While they’re underway, you’ll find temporary facilities such as portable toilets at Rocky River.

Entry fees apply. There is a 24-hour wifi payment hotspot at Rocky River, 5 km inside the park entrance, but given the remote location the connection can be slow and it's best to pay day entry before you go. NPWS staff are in the park daily from 9am to 5pm.

Take care driving at all times and particularly at dawn and dusk, pack enough water and snacks for your visit, and leave no trace. This will give our bushland the best chance of recovery.

The park has limited toilets, there is no food or drink available for purchase throughout the park.

Vivonne Bay General Store is the closest supplier of food, drinks and fuel and the Western KI Caravan Park sells basic food, drinks and ice cream.

Pets, including dogs, are not permitted in the park.

Download the park map. Download the National Parks of Kangaroo Island Visitor Guide: May 2022.

  • Harvey Return campground

    This camp­ground is the old land­ing site for the light­sta­tion and is near the his­toric light keep­ers’ ceme­tery. Cape Bor­da Light­house is with­in walk­ing dis­tance. The camp­sites pro­vides very min­i­mal shade and wind protection.

    Access: 2WD and 4WD
    Suit­able for: tents, select­ed sites suit­able for camper trail­ers and camper vans
    Facil­i­ties: long-drop toi­let, pic­nic area
    Camp­fires: not allowed
    Num­ber of camp­sites: 8 allo­cat­ed campsites
    Elec­tric­i­ty: unpowered

  • Mays Homestead

    This her­itage-list­ed cot­tage offers con­tem­po­rary and relaxed self-con­tained accom­mo­da­tion for up to four guests. Stun­ning­ly restored and updat­ed, the cot­tage fea­tures a cosy lounge room, full kitchen/​dining, two bed­rooms, and a spa­cious bathroom.

    Take the oppor­tu­ni­ty to dis­con­nect from the busy world (there is no wifi or TV and phone recep­tion is lim­it­ed), and con­nect with your loved ones – board games and cards are provided.

    There is reverse-cycle air-con­di­tion­ing in the kitchen/​dining and lounge room, and a wood-fired com­bus­tion heater in the lounge room.

    Enjoy out­door din­ing on the large paved deck and gath­er­ing around the fire pit in the cool­er months (fire restric­tions apply), while Cape Bar­ren geese and kan­ga­roos graze just steps away.

    Show­er chair and acces­si­bil­i­ty ramp avail­able on request – con­tact Flinders Chase Nation­al Park pri­or to your vis­it on (+618) 8553 4444.

  • Postmans Cottage

    This her­itage-list­ed cot­tage offers cosy self-con­tained accom­mo­da­tion for up to two guests. Stun­ning­ly restored and updat­ed, the cot­tage fea­tures an open-plan lounge, din­ing and kitchen, one bed­room with a queen size bed, and a spa­cious ensuite bathroom.

    Designed with acces­si­bil­i­ty in mind, the cot­tage has step-free access through­out, spa­cious rooms, acces­si­ble bath­room with roll-in show­er, wall-mount­ed show­er chair and on-site dis­abled park­ing. Portable show­er chair avail­able on request – con­tact Flinders Chase Nation­al Park pri­or to your vis­it on (+618) 8553 4444. For more infor­ma­tion, check the Acces­si­bil­i­ty web page.

    The ful­ly equipped kitchen includes an oven with 4‑burner stove­top, fridge/​freezer, microwave, ket­tle, toast­er, cof­fee plunger (BYO fan­cy cof­fee), cook­ing uten­sils, pots and pans, glass­ware, crock­ery and cut­lery. Cook­ing basics (tea, instant cof­fee, sug­ar, oil, salt and pep­per) are provided.

    Take the oppor­tu­ni­ty to dis­con­nect from the busy world (there is no wifi or TV and phone recep­tion is lim­it­ed), and con­nect with your loved ones – board games and cards are provided.

    Enjoy out­door din­ing on the large paved deck and gath­er­ing around the fire pit in the cool­er months (fire restric­tions apply), while Cape Bar­ren geese and kan­ga­roos graze just steps away.

  • West Bay Campground (4WD)

    Locat­ed at the west­ern end of the park, this seclud­ed camp­ground set with­in a stun­ning coastal land­scape is a short walk from a tran­quil bay. There is very min­i­mal shade at these campsites.

    Access: 4WD only
    Suit­able for: tents and camper trailers
    Facil­i­ties: long drop toi­let, pic­nic area
    Campfires:not allowed 
    Num­ber of camp­sites: 8 allo­cat­ed campsites
    Elec­tric­i­ty: unpowered