Kangaroo Island - Walk with sea lions

Kangaroo Island, a wilderness refuge with a unusual past off the coast of South Australia, is the best place in Australia to view sea lions. Seal Bay Conservation Park on the island is home to a population of up to 600 Australian sea lions, which can be observed at close quarters on ranger-guided tours. Seal Bay is 40 minutes away from Kangaroo Island's main town, Kingscote. The conservation park was proclaimed in 1972 to help protect the Australian sea lion in its natural habitat.

Kangaroo Island, believed to have been inhabited by Aborigines as far back as 10,000 years ago, was discovered by Europeans in 1802 when English captain Matthew Flinders was navigating the southern coast of Australia. It was settled later that century by sealers, escaped convicts and runaway sailors, who sought refuge on the food-rich island.

The island is a lot quieter now, but no less fascinating. National Parks and Wildlife South Australia (NPWSA) rangers guide tours along Seal Bay beach, where you can encounter sea lions resting after their long fishing trips. A boardwalk enables visitors to view the animals at a safe distance with minimal disturbance. There's a visitor centre as well.

One part of Seal Bay Conservation Park, Bales Bay, is a delightful beach with sheltered barbecue facilities. Not far away you'll find Little Sahara, with its incredible inland sand dunes. Part of this geological monument lies within the reserve and forms some of the largest inland sand dune systems on Kangaroo Island.