10 Of The Best Airbnbs On Kangaroo Island

Dreaming of a break fuelled by great food and wine, interspersed with nature-based activities and accommodation that feels like home? Here are some of the best Airbnbs on Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island offers much in the way of accommodation. There are incredible luxury stays, and beautiful camping spots and we’ve previously shared our absolute top places to stay, but if you’re after that home-away-from-home feeling you just can’t beat an Airbnb stay. From a quirky cottage in Kingscote to a tried-and-tested eco villa in a wildlife sanctuary, we’ve rounded up the best Airbnbs to book on Kangaroo Island for families, lovers of luxury, romantics, those wanting water views and group getaways, too.

Kangaroo Island Airbnbs with water views

1. Grass Tree North Coast

Stare out at the sea, stretched like a piece of shining blue fabric, from this charming, contemporary cottage set amid a grove of gums and grass trees at Grass Tree North Coast .

Large picture windows frame the sea and sky and highlight the sculptural silhouette of the trees, their twisted limbs outstretched toward the sky. Inside the charming space is all corrugated iron and upcycled timbers with soaring ceilings and a dark and moody designer kitchen.

Sleeps: Grass Tree North Coast accommodates nine guests.

Charming Grass Tree North Coast, Airbnb Villa, Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — This contemporary cottage is set amid a grove of gums and grass trees at Grass Tree North Coast.

2. Blue Seas

Blue Seas is a contemporary retreat that has slick wood and corrugated iron curves, a Flinstones-like exterior and oversized porthole windows that let in an abundance of natural light. Highly coveted at the D’Estrees Bay beach house are the sun-loungers on the deck, which you will want to remain glued to for days. The only traffic you will see from here is the boats gliding through the Southern Ocean.

Sleeps: Blue Seas accommodates six guests.

Blue Seas, Airbnb Villa, Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — Blue Seas is a contemporary retreat that has slick wood and corrugated iron curves.

Best Airbnbs on Kangaroo Island for families

3. Blakeney Holiday Home

The outside world looks pretty bright from the lounge room of this functional family home , which boasts some of the best views of Emu Bay. Watch the sea ripple against the shore from the deck, build sandcastles on the beach with your toddler, flick your teen the free wi-fi code and give your in-laws the best bedroom.

Sleeps: Blakeney Holiday Home accommodates eight guests comfortably.

Blakeney Holiday House Airbnb Kangaroo Island — Blakeney Holiday House is a cosy family home with incredible views of Emu Bay.

4. Nat’s Retreat

The sun sends glints of light glittering off the water that arcs around Nat’s Retreat , the oldest inhabited house in South Australia. History buffs will love the fact the faithfully restored house, located on a headland overlooking Antechamber Bay, was built more than two centuries ago by pioneering English sailor Nat Thomas. Kick back on the veranda, lounge on the lawn, or bounce down to the beach to swim with the dolphins.

Sleeps: Nat’s Retreat is located on a working farm and sleeps eight.

Nat’s Retreat, Airbnb Villa in Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — Nat’s Retreat is the oldest inhabited house in South Australia.

Best Airbnbs on Kangaroo Island for romance

5. The Nest

Ready to pop the question? You can propose in style when you book a stay at The Nest , on Kangaroo Island, which sets the scene for romance with its outdoor hot tub and log fire.

It matters not if you get cold feet as you can still spend the weekend swanning about in fluffy robes, curled up with a good book in the window nook, and admiring the view from the glass-fronted sauna. Stay put and enjoy the seclusion of this private escape or explore nearby Lathami Conservation Park.

Sleeps: The Nest accommodates two guests.

The Nest Airbnb Kangaroo Island - bay window — Stay put and enjoy the seclusion of this private escape.

The Nest Airbnb Kangaroo Island - private hot tub — Soak up the romance in the outdoor hot tub.

6. Wandering Souls Exclusive bell tent

Visit the Bay of Shoals winery, stock up on wines from the cellar door, and then wander over to your Wandering Souls exclusive bell tent where you can bunker down for the night.

You can choose between tents such as the Harper, which has a Hamptons Coast feel, the Romani Traveller, much-loved by boho types, or the Matilda tent, which has contemporary Australian accents. If you’re more of a hardcore camper, there are plenty of places to camp on Kangaroo Island.

Sleeps: The bell tents accommodate two guests.

Inside the bell tents of Wandering Souls Kangaroo Island — Bunker down for the night in your Wandering Souls bell tent.

Best Airbnbs on Kangaroo Island for luxury

7. Ecopia Retreat

You are more likely to cross paths with the resident echidnas during your stay at Ecopia Retreat than guests staying in the second cabin. The off-grid contemporary villas are in a dream location for nature lovers with panoramic views of the lacquered green landscape, which bristles with native grasses, like stubble on a chin. These single-level, self-contained properties feature gleaming wood floors, a cosy wood fireplace, and a freestanding bath.

Sleeps: The cabins accommodate two guests.

Ecopia RetreatAirbnb Villa in Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — Ecopia Retreat is in a dream location for nature lovers.

8. Copperstone Kangaroo Island

Commandeer the best spot on the couch at Copperstone KI , an architecturally up-to-the-minute beach house overlooking Emu Bay. Standout features include the ocean views from every room, the indoor and outdoor fireplaces and underfloor heating. The house comprises two pavilions with sliding glass doors that open out onto a deck with ocean views. The property may or may not be favoured by privacy-seeking celebrities aiming to avoid the paparazzi.

Sleeps: Copperstone Kangaroo Island accommodates up to eight guests.

Copperstone KI, Airbnb Villa in Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — Commandeer the best spot on the couch at Copperstone KI.

Best Airbnbs on Kangaroo Island for groups

9. The Harbourmaster

The Harbourmaster makes the most of Kangaroo Island’s open landscape with views that take in beautiful Hog Bay. The stylish holiday home sleeps 10 guests, and has convivial communal spaces, making it perfect for a group getaway. You can choose to fish, surf, swim or eat and drink your way around Kangaroo Island or simply sunbathe on the patio. Watch out for the wallabies and kangaroos that bound by at dawn and dusk.

Sleeps: The Harbourmaster accommodates 10 guests.

The Harbourmaster, Airbnb Villa in Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — The stylish holiday home is perfect for a group getaway.

10. Secluded Grass Tree KI Coastal Retreat

Groups will have Secluded Grass Tree KI Coastal Retreat on the Dudley Peninsula to themselves. And, best of all, each person can carve off and choose their own adventure: go surfing or sailing or stay on terra firma and pursue energetic bush walks, a tour of the local wineries, or a local cookery lesson, just a few of the many wonderful things to do while on Kangaroo Island. Turn the lights off at night and step outside to enjoy the natural spectacle of being under a ceiling of stars.

Sleeps: Secluded Grass Tree KI Coastal Retreat accommodates up to 10 guests.

Secluded Grass Tree KI Coastal Retreat, Airbnb Villa in Kangaroo Island, SA, Australia — Groups will have Secluded Grass Tree KI Coastal Retreat on the Dudley Peninsula to themselves.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

10 of the best Airbnbs on Kangaroo Island