After the Kangaroo Island Marathon: The North Coast

The Route: Kingscote → Emu Bay → Stokes Bay → Kingscote Logistics: About 30 to 45 minutes by road from Kingscote to Emu Bay. A hire car is essential, because there is no public transport on the island. Marathon Month: August Duration: 2 nights

Kingscote ──(about 30 to 45 mins by road)──> Emu Bay ──(about 30 mins)──> Stokes Bay
                                                                              │
Kingscote <──(about 45 to 60 mins by road)────────────────────────────────────┘

The Kangaroo Island Marathon finishes in Flinders Chase on a Sunday in August, and the north coast is the opposite of that hilly, exposed course. It is a slower part of the island with long beaches and gravel roads, and a few days here take very little from the legs.

August in the north coast: winter. Days are usually around 10 to 17°C, with strong wind on the beaches and regular rain. Swimming is out. Winter is quiet, with fewer visitors, and some cafés, farm gates and tours operate on reduced hours or close for the season, so check every stop before driving out.

Nights One and Two: Emu Bay

Emu Bay has a long, gently curving beach with firm sand near the water, and a level walk along the shore is the easiest recovery exercise. A stroll of 1 to 2 km on the hard sand is enough, and the wind will decide how long you stay. There is a jetty and a small settlement, and most accommodation is self-catering.

Stokes Bay is a short drive west, with a beach reached through a narrow rock passage that involves a scramble and some steps. Skip it in the first days after the marathon, and choose a simpler beach instead. Farm gates and food producers along the north coast road sell honey, wine and produce, so a drive with a few stops is a good use of a day. Check opening days, because many are seasonal.

For a bed, holiday homes and cabins around Emu Bay suit families and groups, and they are usually self-catering. Book early and check the minimum stay. Kingscote is a fallback for hotel-style stays.

For a meal, stock up in Kingscote before driving north, because restaurants on the north coast are few and hours are limited in winter. Where a cafe or pub is open, book ahead.

Night Two: Farm Gates and Local Producers

The north coast and the roads towards Kingscote are good country for food producers, and August is the quiet season, so check every opening time before driving out. Clifford's Honey Farm and Island Beehive both sell products from the island's Ligurian bees, which have been kept free of disease on Kangaroo Island for more than a century. Kangaroo Island Spirits, near Cygnet River, runs a distillery and tasting room, and Emu Bay Lavender is a farm on the north coast. Winter hours are shorter, and some places close for the season, so treat any listed time as a guide only.

Wildlife on the Road

Kangaroos and wallabies move at dawn and dusk, and the island's roads have no lighting. Keep speeds down after 16:00 in August, when the light fades early, and avoid driving between towns after dark. Koalas can be seen in the eucalypts at several points on the island, including near Hanson Bay in the west, and echidnas cross the roads in cooler weather. A stop to watch wildlife is a low-effort activity, so keep your distance and stay in the car where you can.

Getting Home

Kingscote Airport (KGC) is about 30 to 45 minutes by road from Emu Bay, and it has flights to Adelaide. Penneshaw, for the ferry, is about 75 minutes by road. Allow generous time, and return the hire car with a full tank.