Early Explorers & Maritime History Tour

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Early Explorers & Maritime History Tour

Cultural and Theme Tours
Nature and wildlife
2 min guests
10 max guests

Highlights

  • Climb Prospect Hill for breathtaking views of the mainland, tracing the footsteps of early explorers.
  • Explore Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, South Australia's first, and uncover its rich maritime history from 1852.
  • Savour a gourmet picnic lunch at Chapman River, with time for a refreshing swim and beach walk.
  • Spot endangered Glossy Black Cockatoos at American River while learning about the island's fascinating sealers.

The Eastern end of Kangaroo Island abounds in stories of maritime history and early European exploration. Including Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, Prospect Hill and Pennington Bay, this tour explores the travels of early explorers, Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders, and the lives of the American Sealers on this island in 1802.

Your Kangaroos Island Touring Company Guide will collect you from your accommodation and start by heading to Prospect Hill. A climbing the steps to one of the highest points on the Island will reward you with a view back to the mainland from where Matthew Flinders named Mt Lofty, in Adelaide 1802. Visit Pennington Bay, before heading to Cape Willoughby for a private guided tour of the first lighthouse built in South Australia in 1852.

Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch at Chapman River, where there will be time for a swim and beach walk at Antechamber Bay, before heading to Penneshaw to see the local township and Frenchman’s Rock. The final stop at American River, home to endangered Glossy Black Cockatoos, to learn more about the early American sealers, before returning to your accommodation.

Itinerary highlights

Cape Willoughby Lighthouse

A private guided tour of the first light house built in South Australia, in 1852.

Prospect Hill

Climb to the top of one of the highest points on the Island and be rewarded with a view back to the mainland.

American River

Home to the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo and location of the early American sealers camp during the 1800’s.

Tour details

  • Cultural and Theme Tours
  • Nature and wildlife
  • Customised
  • Full Day
  • Land – Motorised
  • Land – Self Propelled
  • Chauffeured Tour
  • Private Tour
  • Basic

Features

Service facilities

  • Family Friendly
  • Non Smoking
  • Public Toilet
Accessibility

Disabled access available, contact operator for details.

Operation information

Kangaroo Island Touring Company

The Kangaroo Island Touring Company offers bespoke private tours, with a focus on regenerative travel, sustainability, luxury, and authentic immersive nature based experiences on Kangaroo Island, and their signature personalised service.

Their guides are Kangaroo Island locals, accredited naturalist guides who share their passion for all that makes Kangaroo Island special. Their Mercedes Benz and Lexus tour vehicles are globally recognised brands synonymous with luxury and reliability, ensuring the best in passenger comfort whilst exploring the Island. Sit back, relax and allow their team the pleasure of hosting you.

Tour fees include National Park fees and gourmet picnic lunches served in natural bush settings, prepared with fresh, seasonal produce and accompanied by South Australian wine or beer.

As they only offer private tours, this means they’re able to curate an experience suited to guests’ interests and fitness, ensuring the best possible experience, and in the best tour vehicles in the market.

Kangaroo Island Touring Company believe the best of holiday is about balancing experiences, with time to relax. With this in mind, their tours are no more than 7.5 hours duration, providing guests the opportunity to also relax, reconnect, and enjoy where they are staying, whilst still having the time to experience the best of the Island’s attractions.

Tags

  • Art & Culture
  • History & Heritage
  • Nature & Wildlife

Accreditations

  • EcoStar Accreditation
  • Quality Tourism Accreditation
  • Sustainable Tourism Accreditation by ATIC

Memberships

  • Australian Tourism Export Council
  • Tourism Industry Council of SA
  • SA – Tourism Kangaroo Island

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