After the Kangaroo Island Marathon: Penneshaw

The Route: Kingscote → Penneshaw → Cape Jervis (ferry) → Adelaide Logistics: About 45 minutes by road from Kingscote to Penneshaw. The SeaLink ferry to Cape Jervis takes about 45 minutes, and Adelaide is roughly 90 minutes further by road or coach. Check the timetable and reserve vehicle space early. Marathon Month: August Duration: 1 night

Kingscote ──(about 45 mins by road)──> Penneshaw ──(about 45 mins SeaLink ferry)──> Cape Jervis ──(about 90 mins)──> Adelaide
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Adelaide Airport (ADL) <──(about 20 to 30 mins by taxi or bus)─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Kangaroo Island Marathon is on a Sunday in August. Penneshaw is the sensible last night on the island, because the ferry leaves from the town and there is no need to drive across the island on the morning of departure.

August in Penneshaw: winter. Days are usually in the low to mid teens Celsius, with wind off Backstairs Passage and frequent showers. The ferry can be rough in poor weather, so keep the timetable flexible and check for cancellations. Winter is quiet, so restaurants and cellar doors may keep shorter hours.

Night One: Penneshaw

Penneshaw is small, with a main street of a few hundred metres above the ferry terminal. The streets are flat near the waterfront and rise gently towards the town. Little penguins come ashore at the Penneshaw Penguin Centre in the evening, and guided tours run at dusk. Check current times and prices before you go, and book ahead in busy periods.

Cape Willoughby Lighthouse is on the eastern end of the peninsula, about 30 minutes by road, and it is the oldest lighthouse in South Australia. Tours involve stairs and a walk from the car park, so check what is required and pick a short option. Dudley Wines is a cellar door on the road towards the lighthouse with views over Backstairs Passage. Check opening hours in winter, because smaller producers close on some days.

For a bed, Penneshaw has a small choice of motels, holiday units and a hotel. Book early and confirm the check-in time against the ferry departure.

For a meal, the local pub and a few cafés serve seafood and pub meals, and opening hours in winter are limited, so check the day before. Book dinner on the night you arrive.

The Ferry Crossing

The SeaLink ferry from Penneshaw to Cape Jervis takes about 45 minutes and carries both foot passengers and vehicles. The strait, Backstairs Passage, can be rough in winter, and sailings are occasionally delayed or cancelled in strong wind, so do not book a same-day international connection on the mainland. Foot passengers board from the terminal at Penneshaw, which has seating and toilets. Vehicle passengers should arrive at the terminal well before departure, because check-in cut-offs are enforced. If you are on the organiser's package, the coach connection at Cape Jervis is part of the ticket. Check current times and vehicle requirements at sealink.com.au.

An Easy Afternoon Before the Boat

The foreshore at Penneshaw has a short, level path along the beach, and a lookout above the town gives a view across the passage to the mainland on a clear day. It is a gentle way to spend an hour with legs that are still sore. Sunset comes early in August, so aim to finish any walk before the light fades.

Eating and Sleeping in Winter

Penneshaw is a small town, and in August its choice of open places is limited. The hotel and one or two cafés keep regular hours, and the general store sells basics, so buy food for the evening if you arrive late. Accommodation runs from motels and holiday units to self-contained cottages. Some are closed for the season, so ring ahead. Confirm check-in times against your ferry sailing, because late arrivals can be difficult in a small town.

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