The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail and Kelly Hill Conservation Park will reopen this weekend after infrastructure within the parks was destroyed in the 2019-20 bushfires.
Saturday’s reopening follows a $4.2 million upgrade to the trail and a $2.3 million project to enhance the Conservation Park.
The trail is a world-class, 61km, 5 day walking experience giving visitors access to some of the most rugged, remote and spectacular coastlines in South Australia.
Located in the southwest of Kangaroo Island, it passes through Flinders Chase National Park, Kelly Hill Conservation Park and the Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area
Four campsites along the trail have reopened, each with a slow-combustion fire, extra protection from the elements, solar lighting and a cooking area. Walker numbers are limited each day and bookings are essential.
Kelly Hill Conservation Park will also reopen on Saturday 16 December. The park is known for its limestone cave system, an amazing reflection of the islands’ geology.
A new visitor experience at Kelly Hill includes an audio-visual tour of the caves, which new lighting to showcase the ornate stalagmites and stalactites. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the caves, above-ground self-guided tours, walks and picnic facilities.
Kangaroo Island’s tourism industry contributes about $187 million each year to the regional economy, employing about 1500 people directly or indirectly.
Lonely Planet and the New York Times have both named Kangaroo Island on their lists of the world’s top destinations to visit.
The 2019-20 Kangaroo Island bushfires burnt 211,474 hectares of land ¬- almost half of the island - and destroyed much of the built infrastructure at Flinders Chase National Park and Kelly Hill Conservation Park.
Meanwhile, construction of the $19.5 million new Flinders Chase Visitor Centre is progressing ahead of its opening in 2024.
The centre will include immersive displays of the island’s unique stories, national park visitor information and a cafe and retail space in an ecologically sustainable building.
For trail bookings, visit https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/experiences/kiwt
To book tours of the Kelly Hill Caves, visit https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/kelly-hill-conservation-park
Quotes
Attributable to Susan Close
Kangaroo Island’s remote landscapes and abundant wildlife make it one of the best nature-based tourism destinations in the world.
The reopening of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail and Kelly Hill Conservation Park means more people will be able to experience the beauty of the island and learn about its ecology and geology.
The recovery from the devastating 2019-20 bushfires is ongoing and the state government is committed to rebuilding infrastructure in a way that is sensitive to Kangaroo Island’s unique environment.
Attributable to Alana Binns, Kangaroo Island Tourism and Commercial Services Manager
We are very excited to welcome people back to the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail and the improved visitor experience at Kelly Hill Conservation Park.
It’s taken a lot of work to replace and upgrade the infrastructure that was destroyed in the bushfires.
These two attractions are an important part of the tourism offering on Kangaroo Island and the school holidays are the perfect time to explore the island’s pristine environment and wildlife.
