Accommodation ranges from basic hostel rooms, bed and breakfasts to motel style, centred mostly around Penneshaw and Kingscote but with some in the bays on the south and north coast. A large range of rental home accommodation caters to groups of friends or families; search for holiday-home accommodation at Stayz.

Kingscote

• Central Backpackers A clean hostel with a friendly atmosphere, only three minutes walk to the penguin colony, beach and pelican feeding. Doubles are around $60 and dorm beds are available.
• Kangaroo Island Seaview Motel Offers a wide range of room types; double rooms start at $75, oceanview units at $135, suites and apartments are around $155.
• Queenscliffe Hotel Opened in 1884, this is the island’s oldest hotel. It offers basic accommodation from $60 a night for a single room, or $80 for a double.
• Aurora Ozone Hotel Located on the beautiful Kingscote foreshore this is an all round excellent place to stay. Rooms range from about $130-$480 depending on season and room type.

Other Areas

• Southern Ocean Lodge A splurge destination for very special occasions at $1,000 plus for a nights stay! The lodge sits dramatically along the cliff edge of Hanson Bay providing absolutely stunning views. Huge communal dining, drinking and relaxing area, glass walled bathrooms, beautiful interiors and a spa retreat. Hmmm. Not bad. Got an anniversary coming up?
• Aquamarine A spacious and private self-contained cottage with three bedrooms on a safe swimming beach in Baudin Beach, 10 km west of the Penneshaw ferry terminal. Price ranges from $140 to $240 per night for up to seven people.
• Kangaroo Island Lodge A homey sort of hotel in American River. It's clean and cosy, not particularly modern, but in a great setting with helpful staff. Rooms for two people range from $100-$240 a night.

Campgrounds

Lots of people camp on Kangaroo Island, and there are three types of campgrounds to stay in: private caravan parks, public council-run campgrounds within the towns or Park Service-run campgrounds in the National Parks.

The privately run caravan parks provide cooking facilities, bathrooms, an on-site manager and can be booked in advance. There's one just south of Kingscote, the Kingscote Nepean Bay Tourist Park, and one at the entrance to Flinders Chase National Park, the Western KI Caravan Park.

The public campgrounds have limited facilities and work on a first-come first-served basis, so you can't book them. They are however inexpensive, costing between $5-$15 a night. There are sites at American River, Browns Beach, Emu Bay, Vivonne Bay and Western River. For all details on public campsites visit the Kangaroo Island Council website.

The public parks service campgrounds also have limited facilities but generally provide toilets and picnic tables, some with showers and barbeques. They're located in Flinders Chase National Park, Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and Lashmar Conservation Park, with some lighthouse cottages available for rent at Cape Borda and Cape Willoughby. There are some first-come first-served campsites with self-register terminals, but mostly you must book ahead. Camping fees range from $6-$25 a night. For all further information and to book refer to the park websites in the links.