As we approach the end of 2025, we are taking a moment to catch our breath. It has been another massive year for us at Exceptional Kangaroo Island.
From major team appointments and expanding families to new luxury accommodation and rare wildlife rescues, there is plenty to update you on. Whether you are planning a trip for 2026 or just love keeping up with Kangaroo Island life, here is what has been happening in our world.
Team News: New Leaders and New Arrivals
Leadership & Staffing Update: Welcoming Our New General Manager, Dave Bell
Craig and Janet are pleased to welcome David “Dave” Bell to the leadership team as General Manager. After 36 years at the helm, they decided it was time to bring in someone to assist in leading the business to the next stage. Janet will continue with her role of Catering Director, working with chef Mel and the catering crew, and Craig remains as Managing Director, collaborating with Blair on the marketing front and leading product development.
Dave has worked extensively in tourism and hospitality roles both in Australia and the UK for over 20 years. He landed on Kangaroo Island for the first time in 2020 and has since settled in his own slice of paradise on the island. Dave and his wife Broc (along with their trusty canine companion, ‘Roo’) love the outdoors, wildlife, and fully embrace and enjoy all that Kangaroo Island has to offer. We’re thrilled to have him on board, leading the Exceptional Kangaroo Island team!
There have been some other changes to the team. In the office Carina has moved on after many years with us, and joining Kathy, Jamie and Belinda is Deb. We also welcomed back dynamic couple Vici and Mark. Vici is also in the office, and Mark is an enthusiastic guide with a hiking and birdwatching specialty.
Janet has largely handed over the kitchen to Mel who is assisted by Volkert, Doris, Yolande, Mandy and Nanette.
We still have Steve in a maintenance role, and the guiding team now includes: Tim, David, Dave F, Shauna, Yulia, Rick, Lee, Roberta, Franck, Mar, Vanessa, Cheryl and Martin. Craig and Dave B are also helping out on the guiding front in between other jobs.
Language skills within our guide team now includes French (Franck), Spanish (Mar) and Portuguese (Roberta).
Double Trouble: Blair & Liv Welcome Louis and Oscar
We are excited to welcome our two newest recruits – Louis and Oscar – who are Blair and Liv’s identical twin boys who arrived on schedule on the first of July and have rapidly become crowd favourites within the Exceptional Kangaroo Island team. Clearly their arrival has been a factor in the restructure that has added significant responsibilities for cuddles and entertainment for proud grandparents Janet and Craig.
A New Story To Tell: Lee Returns to Guiding after an Unintentional Break!
One of our long-term guides, Lee Berryman, had an awfully close encounter with a Great White Shark on the 7th of October whilst surfing at a popular break south of D’Estrees Bay. Lee was surfing with another local and was grabbed by a 3 metre Great White. He managed to discourage the shark with a few punches and got away. When he was paddling back to shore, a couple of fur-seals swam past – so it may well have been the case of mistaken identity.
The result was a series of deep lacerations that were repaired by the local medical team and a couple of months where Lee would much rather have been hosting guests and telling stories than a long, slow recuperation.
This is only the third such encounter recorded here on Kangaroo Island and Lee was also present at one of these other events! All were surfers, all were close to sea-lion colonies and it’s unlikely that any of us will be joining Lee for a swim any time soon. We look forward to welcoming him back to work in early December.
Tourism Australia Update: Craig and Blair Visit TA in Sydney
Craig and Blair recently attended ‘South Australia Uncorked‘, the South Australian Tourism Commission’s annual ITO event, where they met with more than 30 key inbound partners, sharing many of the same updates you are reading in this newsletter!
The following day, Craig and Blair took the opportunity to visit Tourism Australia Head Office, catching up with the Executive Team, along with various departments including Industry Relations, Public Relations, Social Media and more. Discussions included plans for the Australian Tourism Exchange 2026 to be held in Adelaide, some ideas for content, and the status of our markets and strong forward bookings. Thanks to the entire TA team for their hospitality.
Operational Updates
Lunchsite Update: Our New Flinders Chase National Park Private Camp
The Exceptional Kangaroo Island team, led by Steve and Tim, recently completed a new private day-use camp in the backblocks of Flinders Chase National Park. This site has 3 handcrafted timber trestle tables with seating, a stainless steel prep table, a water tank and a propane barbecue, and a massive 70 square metres of shade and all-weather protection.
This facility enhances our flexibility for alfresco dining experiences, complementing our existing facilities across two properties in the Cygnet River valley. Wildlife encounters within the private camp precinct include short-beaked echidnas, Kangaroo Island kangaroos, koalas, tammar wallabies and a range of bird species.
After-hours Protocols: Key Changes You Need To Know
Industrial changes within Australia have placed tight parameters around employees’ right to disconnect out of hours. This has implications for our after-hours customer service, and we have made changes to ensure our workplace is compliant.
Our system now has the following components:
Telephone
Telephone calls received after 5 pm on business days (Monday to Friday, excluding South Australian Public Holidays) are answered by a message service. The options are:
- Leave a message, and we will respond as soon as possible on the next business day; or
- Connect to the after-hours urgent service line, which will be answered up until 8 pm weekdays and between 9 am and 8 pm on weekends and Public Holidays.
Emails received outside of standard business hours will be responded to on the next business day. So far most enquiries that have come through after hours are for customers wanting to know pick-up times for touring on the following day.
Client documents updates
Client documents should be updated with the following however this is influenced by logistics, given current share tour accommodations can be up to 50 kilometres apart. Precise schedules are emailed to all accommodation venues the day before each tour. Please check with your hosts or Reception for specific tour departure times.
Accommodation Updates
Working with Accommodation Partners: How Do We Choose Them?
There are many accommodation choices on Kangaroo Island. We offer a select range of properties that can be packaged for shared tours, and a wider range that can be used for private touring.
The selection criteria includes:
- trade-friendly rates
- dinner, bed and breakfast options
- an appropriate International standard for our guests
- willingness to partner with Exceptional Kangaroo Island
For shared touring, another important requirement is that the accommodation is based within a 25-minute drive of our base.
Note we often have independent travellers choosing accommodation more remote who have a rental car and we can then choose a convenient meeting point to connect with our share tours.
If clients choose to tour privately, this open up a wider range of options, including Southern Ocean Lodge, One Kangaroo Island, Ecopia Retreat, Cliff House, and Immerse Kangaroo Island.
A couple of properties that we love but have chosen not to partner with for private touring simply because of logistics are Cabn at Cape St Albans and Sea Dragon Lodge. These beautiful places are at the extreme east end of the Island and we have found the additional travel impost on our guides is not sustainable. This is not a reflection of the quality of the experience provided by these properties – simply the reality imposed by logistics.
Dining at The River Suites: Samphire Restaurant
Samphire Restaurant, associated with the high-end The River Suites accommodation at American River on Kangaroo Island, offers an intimate and exclusive degustation dining experience that champions local produce. The culinary philosophy centres on cooking over wood and charcoal, utilising rustic cooking techniques that contrast with the elegant hosting and presentation of the island’s finest ingredients, including fresh seafood like American River oysters, marron, and local meats. The dining is highly personalised, often limited to a single sitting per evening for a small number of guests to ensure dedicated service and attention. Guests enjoy this refined, multi-course journey in an elegant setting with panoramic views of Eastern Cove and Pelican Lagoon.
We have been fortunate to have experienced the generous hospitality of Chef Nicolas Arriola and partner Dhea, and many of our guests have enjoyed the totally renewed accommodation experience. What was once Wanderer’s Rest, the newly reopened boutique property, was completely stripped to the rafters and built anew. The elegant and contemporary interiors wrap guests in comfort, and a clever design with connected balconies allows the eight rooms to be presented as four interconnected pairs.
New Luxury Villas: Mercure KI Lodge to Launch This Month
1834 Hotels is adding to the luxury accommodation sector on Kangaroo Island with the launch of eight new standalone villas at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge in American River. Scheduled to welcome guests in later this month (December 2025), this expansion adds to the existing 38 rooms with a significant step-up in room amenity.
The contemporary, elevated villas, constructed by Wabi Systems, are designed for maximum seclusion and comfort, featuring king-sized beds, private viewing decks, and expansive double-glazed windows that frame the tranquil waters of Eastern Cove. Guests will be able to join Exceptional Kangaroo Island’s small group touring programme or customise a private experience to suit their own interests.
Farewell Stranraer Homestead: The End of an Era
It is with sadness that we announce that the legendary hospitality of the Wheaton Family at Stranraer Homesteadcomes to a close at the end of June 2026. The fully catered dining experience with everything made from scratch by Lyn has been enjoyed by so many of our guests over the years. Another element so many travellers commented on is the deep connection of Lyn and Graham to the local community, with so much of the family and Kangaroo Island’s history displayed on the limestone walls.
Lyn and Graham have always been fabulous partners to us and the travel trade, willingly hosting famils and supporting all of our marketing efforts.
Thank you Lyn and Graham for your fabulous service – you will be missed.
Providence Guest House: To be Listed for Sale, Bookings Honoured Until April 2026
Hosting couple, Tony and Liane Drummond of Providence Guest House, have decided to retire from their hospitality role. The 25-hectare/60-acre property has two dwellings, including the 3-bedroom all-en-suite guest house with expansive gardens, courtyard, country kitchen and generous living spaces. It has been a popular hosted accommodation venue for many years, under the names Molly’s Run and Providence Guest House.
It will be listed for sale shortly, with bookings honoured up to 12 April 2026. Should a buyer be found who wants to continue with high-end hosting, we will provide an update as soon as details come to hand.
One Kangaroo Island: New Hosted Walcowrie Experience
One Kangaroo Island has recently introduced a fully hosted and catered experience at its sister property, Walcowrie. In a significant move for the ultra-luxury market, the owners have committed to a policy of one booking at a time across the entire estate. This guarantees that guests securing Walcowrie enjoy total privacy, with the adjacent One KI property remaining vacant of other accommodation guests.
The new Walcowrie Hosted Experience offers the “best of both worlds” for larger groups and families. Guests enjoy the expansive 5-bedroom, 4-ensuite layout of the Walcowrie residence, which features vast infinity decks, an outdoor bath, and direct north-facing beach access. In the evenings, guests take a scenic 100m stroll along the beach to One KI, which serves as their “private restaurant” for exquisite three-course dinners prepared by a private chef.
Hosted by owners Hugh and Coreena Rischbieth, the experience is deeply rooted in the island’s ecology. The property serves as a regenerative sanctuary where kangaroos, wallabies, and eagle rays are part of the daily landscape.
This offering is particularly notable for the family travel market. Walcowrie welcomes children of all ages, making it a rare find for multi-generational travellers seeking high-end service, inclusive of premium hospitality, without compromising on family flexibility.
Ecopia Retreat: Enhanced Capacity and Curated Dining
Ecopia Retreat continues to refine its eco-luxury offering, introducing expanded capacity and a tiered dining program to its private 150-acre wildlife sanctuary. The five-star property now showcases accommodation across four independent dwellings: two Villas (couples), The Residence (up to 6 guests), and The Rise (up to 4 guests). Please note, The Rise is a loft-style retreat, with its bathroom downstairs and both bedrooms accessible via a steep and narrow spiral staircase, that may be challenging for guests with mobility restrictions, or older guests. With a total capacity of 14 guests (or 10, without utilising The Rise), the combined inventory is now perfectly positioned as an exclusive-use option for multi-generational families or small groups.
Ecopia’s flexible catering options continue to be a guest favourite, offering curated produce hampers, chef-prepared meals ready to heat and serve, or the ultimate indulgence of an exclusive chef-hosted fine-dining experience. This personalised approach consistently enhances the Ecopia stay.
Owners Rob and Yael’s nearly two decades of land restoration have resulted in a thriving ecosystem, offering guests an immersive connection to local wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas. Centrally located, Ecopia serves as an ideal base for efficient private touring with Exceptional Kangaroo Island, balancing high-end comfort with deep nature conservation.
Major Redevelopment: Kangaroo Island Seaview
Kangaroo Island Seaview in Kingscote is undergoing an extensive, multi-million dollar redevelopment and rebrand, transitioning the historic property into a modern, coastal-luxe destination. The scope is comprehensive, involving the demolition of the 1970s wing to make way for new structures and a full refurbishment of the heritage buildings. This expansion will see the accommodation capacity more than double, adding 42 new suites (28 premium and 14 standard) for a total capacity of over 100 guests.
Upon reopening in late 2026, the fully transformed property will offer an elevated guest experience, blending its century-long heritage with a fresh, contemporary coastal aesthetic. The development includes the reinstatement of a signature dining experience which will accommodate up to 100 guests, along with new reception areas, extensive landscaping and gardens. Owner Yen Aun Leow has also incorporated a strong focus on eco-friendly and sustainable practices throughout the renovation, committing the new Seaview to high environmental and Quality Tourism standards.
New Look and Name: Ozone Hotel
The Ozone Hotel, formerly known as the Aurora Ozone Hotel has completed the next phase of its ongoing rejuvenation program, successfully blending its rich, century-old heritage with refined coastal elegance. In August, the property unveiled a renamed Parsons Restaurant in tribute to the hotel’s original architect. The dining experience is complemented by the newly created Winch Bar, which transitions from a bright morning lounge to a sophisticated evening bar.
Guests are already enjoying refurbished accommodations, including the Heritage Seaview, Heritage Standard, and 10 Studio Seaview rooms, all with views over Nepean Bay. Critical infrastructure works include a new sprinkler system in the Heritage wing and a large solar panel/system across the Chapman and Flinders Buildings, affirm the hotel’s commitment to safety and sustainability.
This investment underscores the hotel’s dedication to an exceptional hospitality experience, with renovations set to continue through 2026. The next phase includes soft refurbishments of all Executive and Poolside Rooms, completed by the end of April 2026. In mid-2026, the hotel will upgrade the arrival experience, with a new Reception and hotel entrance, alongside the development of three additional Heritage Seaview rooms.
Destination Updates
On the Horizon: The Cliffs Kangaroo Island Nears Completion
The highly anticipated debut of The Cliffs Kangaroo Island is rapidly approaching, with the project firmly on track to redefine destination golf in Australia. Designed by Darius Oliver, the dramatic links-style course, situated atop the limestone cliffs, is well-advanced, supported by fully operational infrastructure and a secure water supply. After a year of steady construction, the team has confirmed that limited “preview play” is scheduled for March 2026, leading up to the grand official opening of the full course later in the year.
We recently got a first-hand look at the site’s transformation when Craig visited The Cliffs in November as a guest of CEO Sam Atkins. Walking the course provided a firsthand preview of the layout’s scale and the condition of the already-grassed holes. Seeing the progress up close confirms the development is on track; with clubhouse construction set to begin shortly, The Cliffs is poised to become a bucket-list destination for golfers worldwide.
Wildlife & Tour Highlights
A Prickly Situation: Willoughby the Echidna Puggle
We recently experienced a rare close encounter with a baby short-beaked echidna, known as a “puggle”, when former team member Michael found one injured on Willoughby Road on the east end of Kangaroo Island. This puggle was later named Willoughby, as a nod to the road where it was found.
It was dropped into our care, awaiting collection by world echidna specialist, Dr Peggy Rismiller. Peggy assessed the condition of Willoughby and has been giving updates on the continued progress. Peggy believes the most likely explanation as to how Willoughby came to be found outside of a nursery burrow is that a Rosenberg’s goanna dug it out with the intent to eat it. Having been rescued, she/he (gender is tough to determine at this early age) is suckling well – having learned to slurp up the milk formula from Peggy’s hand – and gaining weight.
A video of Willoughby feeding can be viewed below. Peggy is a guest favourite for those itineraries that include a “Day in the Life of a Wildlife Researcher” experience as an enriching element to a custom private tour.
Extended Photo Safari: Craig Hosts Renowned Wildlife Photographer Suzi Eszterhas
Craig recently had the pleasure of hosting a group of 10 guests who were travelling with photographer Suzi Eszterhas, on a 12-day trip that included Adelaide for the grey-headed flying foxes and birdlife, Kangaroo Island for a suite of wild encounters and then on to the spectacular Flinders Ranges with our friends at Rawnsley Park. Given there was plenty of time to spend with so many species across almost two weeks, the encounters and some of the photography were remarkable. Craig enjoyed having the chance to spend time with a host of species including yellow-footed rock wallabies, red kangaroos, Gidgee skinks, elegant parrots, euros, emus and more.