← Kangaroo Island Marathon·Day trip

Seal Bay: A Boardwalk and a Beach of Sea Lions

A 900 m boardwalk return to a beach where Australian sea lions haul out, the gentlest wildlife stop on the island.

DurationDay trip
TransitDrive, about 45 min from Kingscote
DepartsKingscote

After the Kangaroo Island Marathon: Seal Bay

The Route: Kingscote → Seal Bay Conservation Park → Kingscote Logistics: About 45 minutes by road from Kingscote, and roughly 85 km from the marathon finish. There is no public transport, so use a hire car or a tour. Marathon Month: August Duration: Day trip

Kingscote ──(about 45 mins by road)──> Seal Bay Conservation Park
                                              │
Kingscote <──(about 45 mins by road)──────────┘

The Kangaroo Island Marathon finishes inside Flinders Chase National Park on a Sunday in August, and the first thing most runners want the next day is a short, level walk with a reward. Seal Bay is that walk.

August in Seal Bay: winter. Days are usually between about 10 and 17°C, and wind and rain are both likely, so bring a warm layer and a waterproof. The Australian sea lions live on this beach all year, so August is as good as any other month, and the winter light is soft. Check the current opening times at parks.sa.gov.au before setting out. The park's usual hours are 9am to 5pm daily, but tours and access can change.

The accessible boardwalk is a 900 m return route that runs from the visitor centre to a viewing platform above the beach. The surface is a fixed boardwalk with a gentle gradient, and it is suitable for wheelchairs and prams. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes at post-marathon pace. Sea lions can be anywhere on the beach, and you must keep the required distance. Guided tours onto the beach are available at additional cost, and the walking on soft sand is harder than it looks after 42 km, so check the tour details and choose the boardwalk if you are unsure.

The visitor centre has a small exhibition and a cafe. Prices vary by season, so check the entry and tour prices on the park website before you go.

From Seal Bay the drive back to Kingscote passes farmland and has few facilities, so fuel the car and take snacks. Sunset is early in August, and driving at dusk raises the chance of kangaroos and wallabies on the road, so aim to be back in Kingscote before dark.