Kangaroo Island - Seal Bay wildlife sanctuary

Kangaroo Island was part of the Australian mainland until sea levels rose 10,000 years ago. Now, its isolation means it is a safe home to abundant, undisturbed wildlife. One of the best examples of this is Seal Bay, a colony of around 600 rare sea lions. The population here, on the south coast of Kangaroo Island, is believed to represent ten per cent of their kind in all the world. These mammals use the beach as an important resting break and breeding haven between foraging expeditions. Their breaks, of around three days at a time, must be undisturbed as they are essential for their survival.

Here at this beach they are both protected and showcased to travellers. While fishing and swimming are prohibited here, visitors are offered guided tours walking among the sea lions as they loll in the sun on the beach. You can get as close as six metres to these fascinating mammals - take a camera!
For a bit of solitude try nearby Bales Beach, also in the Seal Bay Conservation Park, where you can go for a long walk on a beautiful beach, and stop for a picnic at Bales Cottage Picnic Area.

They are not the only examples of carefree wildlife on the 450 kilometres of coastline on Kangaroo Island. Head for Flinders Chase National Park on the western end of the island, which encompasses many kilometres of rugged coastline and bush, sheltering many New Zealand fur seals, more sea lions, sea eagles and osprey, and bush kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, goannas, platypuses and sleepy koalas.