Kangaroo Island and Adelaide questions

I'm hoping to visit Adelaide for a few days pre-cruise in April 2018. The cruise leaves from Sydney. Let me know if this sounds doable, or if I'm out of my mind in some way.

Arrive Adelaide Sunday afternoon via Melbourne.

Sunday - relax, sleep, try to get used to a 16 hour time change.

Monday - Adelaide city tour and Barossa Valley (combo tour I found)

Tuesday - Day trip to Kangaroo Island, or maybe a two day trip?? :confused: The day trips start at the crack of dawn and return around midnight or something like that, which might be a bit much but I don't know what to do with all my extra luggage if I went over night. just leave it in an unused Adelaide hotel room so I pay for two hotels that night :confused:

Wednesday - either day two of Kangaroo Island, or something else. Suggestions??

Thursday morning fly to Sydney

Friday - cruise

Just an FYI. I've been to Australia before and spent time in Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Brisbane and want to see something different this time.

I haven't done the Kangaroo Island trip, and initially I would suggest doing it as a two day trip.

But then factor in the luggage hassle and the short amount of time you have in Adelaide, I say do the one day intense tour and on the Wednesday do something else.

Depending on your interests, I'd suggest:

McLaren Vale if you like wine (much better wineries than the Barossa IMO :))

Trip to Hahndorf & Stirling (if your Monday tour doesn't go there)

Visit the Central Market in the city if you like food

Do a walk around North Adelaide if you like buildings

Go to Glenelg by tram, visit the zoo, go the art gallery and the museum

I've been to Kangaroo Island twice. The first trip was a one-day guided tour and we were able to see a lot in just that one day--Seal Bay, Little Sahara, Kelly Hill Cave, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and Flinders Chase NP.

The second time we went, we were there for two nights/three days on our own. We, of course, were able to see a lot more and do a lot more in a leisurely way. If you go for one night, would you pay for two days of touring or rent a car? (We rented a car.)

So, I think either option is fine, depending on your interests, your budget, etc.

Is the overnight tour via air? If so, I see why you are concerned about the excess luggage as Rex Airline has very strict requirements (and steep charges) for excess baggage. Thus, it might make more sense to do the one day trip so that you don't have that headache.

If the overnight tour is via the ferry, I don't see what the problem would be taking your luggage with you. It might be a hassle for you to deal with your excess luggage, but the ferry can store it for you during the voyage and return it to you when you arrive on KI.

Finally, should you do the one day tour and need something to do on Wednesday, in addition to MadWoofter's excellent suggestions, you might enjoy going to the Cleland Wildlife Park. It's got a great collection of native animals and we really enjoyed our half-day there. (And if you just have to hold a koala, it's one of the few places in Australia where you can do it. Koala-holding is only legal in South Australia and Queensland.)

I was bored on KI.. and for bags i took one. all that was allowed.. plus carry on weight much less. check bag think 17 kilos and carry on 7 or 11. .somehow it a blurr between all the flying i did. i always leave suitcases at a hotel i am going back too. plus i understand the airport stores bags for a fee.

I would want more than one day in Barassa. i had 1.5 days and did ten wineries and 2 lunches.. would i have done more. also had the best wines with a private guide.

Tuesday - Day trip to Kangaroo Island, or maybe a two day trip?? :confused: The day trips start at the crack of dawn and return around midnight or something like that, which might be a bit much but I don't know what to do with all my extra luggage if I went over night. just leave it in an unused Adelaide hotel room so I pay for two hotels that night :confused:

Wednesday - either day two of Kangaroo Island, or something else.

 

Loved Kangaroo Island, we did it ourselves over 2 nights. But if you were to do the overnighter, could you ask your hotel to store your luggage for the night? If I read correctly you would still need a hotel for the Monday Night and then the Wednesday night, so they may store it for you??? Worth asking.

Allow two days for Kangaroo Island . Book 1 night Adelaide, followed by a night at Kangaroo Island then another night at Adelaide.

If you book the same Adelaide hotel you will only pay for 2 nights, and tey will be happy to cloak your large bags for you . You just take smakk bags to Kangaroo island . then you fly Adelaide direct to Sydney with Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar or Tiger .

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll revisit this thread when the trip gets closer and I know for sure how many days I'll be able to do in Adelaide (will depend on work and whether I can take that much time off).

I think the McLaren Vale options sounds good - I also read somewhere else that it's better than Barossa, but I'm not exactly a wine expert so I'd probably be happy with either :o

I've held a Koala before, at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary near Brisbane, so it's not a priority this time around, although I do love them. My Dad brought me a stuffed koala from Sydney when I was a baby. Dad was on leave for a couple weeks when he was in Vietnam during the war. I still have that koala, although he's not in very good shape these days :(

I will definitely be taking the ferry to Kangaroo Island and not flying - the difference in price is quite a lot, and I have cruise expenses to think of :D

I agree with visits to

Glenelg and Central Markets, also support two days for KI.

For something different and if you want a small town/regional feel you could consider staying in Victor Harbour and doing the McLaren Vale/Fleurieu Peninsula wineries. You are then closer to the launch point for Kangaroo Island if you are going over on the ferry. One of my favourite parts of Australia, very different from the main tourist places. D'Arry's Verandah is a must do for lunch.