Kangaroo Island

Separated from the Australian mainland about 9000 years ago, Kangaroo Island remains one of the most unspoilt natural wonders of the world. Here is an island seven times the size of Singapore, literally crawling with wildlife. Visitors will find seals basking on quiet beaches; koalas munching on gum trees right beside the road; echidnas wandering in search of insects; and kangaroos, goannas, wallabies, penguins and birds at just about every turn.

Half the native bushland on Kangaroo Island remains just as it was when British navigator Matthew Flinders put a name to this untamed wilderness in 1802. One third of the island is protected as conservation and national parks, such as the Flinders Chase National Park, which has a fabulous Visitor Center. Half the island has never been cleared of native vegetation. There are huge weather-sculptured granite boulders at Remarkable Rocks, the snowy-white sand dunes of Little Sahara and lots of secret spots along the island's 480 kilometers of coastline, including several lighthouses.

But beauty comes in many forms: views from seaside cottages and cliff-top cabins; delicate handcrafted glassware; a day at the races in Kingscote. And, of course, there's the wine and food. Take a drive and collect wine, cheeses, oysters and lobsters and indulge on a secluded beach.

Kangaroo Island is just a 30-minute flight south from Adelaide, or less than two-and-a-half hours by car and ferry. The island has four town centers: Kingscote, Penneshaw, Parndana and American River. There's now a major sealed road right around the island, but many smaller roads are narrow, unsealed and edged with scrub. Driving by day or night, visitors should take it easy and allow for slower speeds when calculating travel times.