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Virtualtripping discoves Kangaroo Island and it’s little penguins, Australia.
By Mark on July 14, 2010
Now again I like to write a post about places that I myself have never heard of, now to some people it might be surprising to others not at all, so here we go, this is a post about Kangaroo Island, this is the third-largest island in Australia, behind the Islands of Tasmania and Melville Island. It is located about 112 kilometres (70 mi) southwest of Adelaide, and is at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. It is though alot closer to mainland Australia than you may think, the closest point to the mainland, is 13 kilometres (8 mi) offshore from Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. It is quite a big island in the way that it is 150 km (93 mi) long and between 900 m (980 yd) and 57 km (35 mi) wide, its area covering 4,405 km2 (1,701 sq mi). The coastline of the island is 540 kilometres (340 mi) long and highest altitude is 307 m (1,010 ft). It is separated from Yorke Peninsula to the northwest by Investigator Strait and from Cape Jervis to the northeast by Backstairs Passage. In the 2006 census the island had a population of 4,259.
The largest town on the island is known as Kingscote. Located in the north-east of the island, this is a well established tourist centre, and also the administrative and communications centre. But the most extraordinary thing about this island is that you would think it was known for Kangaroos, but it is actually known for being the home to a colony of the smallest penguins in the world, the Little Penguin, Sea Lions and Koala Bears. Kangaroo Island is also known for being South Australia’s oldest European settlement. The 2006 census said that the population of Kingscote was 1,692.
Now as I was saying earlier this island belongs to the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) they are the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, itself is about 43 cm (16 in) tall, is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile. They have other names as well they are known as Fairy Penguins in Australia, because of their tiny size. If you go to New Zealand, you will find they call them Little Blue Penguins, or just Blue Penguins, this is because they have a slate-blue plumage, and they are called Kororā in Māori, in New Zealand to.
If you are lucky enough to visit Kangaroo Island, there is plenty to see for example you have: Seal Bay with ranger guided walks among basking Australian sea lions, Flinders Chase National Park which includes Remarkable Rocks, Admiral’s Arch, lighthouses at Cape Borda and Cape du Couedic, and multiple walking trails and camping areas. Cape Willoughby, Kelly Hill Caves, Little Sahara, huge sand dunes on the south coast. The lookout Mount Thisby (officially designated Prospect Hill in 2002 to honour Matthew Flinders’ original naming) with a 360 degree view around the island. There is also Murray Lagoon with its abundant aquatic bird life, Parndana Wildlife Park and of course Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre (formerly Kangaroo Island Marine Centre) at Kingscote. These attractions really do seem to be working as they often bring anything up to 140,000 visitors each year, with international visitors, primarily from Europe, accounting for more than 25% of these visit.
- Learn about Kangaroo Island on Wikipedia:
- Learn about Kingscote Town on Wikipedia:
- Learn about South Australia on Wikipedia:
- Learn about Australia on Wikipedia:
- Find Kangaroo Island on Google Maps:
- Find Kingscote Town on Google Maps:
- Find South Australia on Google Maps:
- Find Australia on Google Maps:
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Nick Ramsay, exploring the world from a zabuton in Japan.