Kangaroo Island, the little wild Island of Australia. Tips for budget travelers.

A hidden gem.

Almost 2 years ago, my partner and I were starting our farm adventure in Australia to get the precious 2nd Working Holiday Visa.

After a special month in the Barossa Valley, in South Australia (a must-go for wine lovers!), we landed in Kangaroo Island for 2 extra months of Woofing in a Marron farm.

This is a +400gr female marron with eggs.

I can't condense 2 months in only one article, that's why I am just going to present you the Island with a few tips, so I can share the rest later.

Kangaroo Island, is a place with originally a lot of Kangaroos, seriously, that's why the first settlers called it that way. There wasn't any day you couldn't see a wild Kangaroo or Wallaby passing next to you in the bush.

And also a lot of Goannas !

The Island isn't too big, less than 2 hours drive separate one side to other part of the Island, with a few big "cities". We stayed in Parndana, in the center, very small with some small groceries stores, but if you need any grocery or shopping, the best places are Kingscote, or Penneshaw, the famous landing point by ferry.

A baby sea lion, Seal Bay

How to get there




Simple, you have 2 options: the ferry, the most common one with Sealink. More details here. It takes around 45 minutes to get there, it remains the cheapest option.
If you can't drive from Adelaide, a few bus options exist to drive you to the ferry boarding.

By plane: there is a little airport on the Island, in Kingscote, from where you can go to Adelaide. Infos here.

Driving around and transports

Let's talk about the big issue and the reason why a lot of backpackers avoid this destination. The transports ! Well, it's true there isn't any special transport company in Kangaroo Island and renting a car if you travel alone could be expensive. And I am not talking about tours companies that can charge you over 300 Australian Dollars for just a few days.

But I have a few tips for you !

First, the obvious one, share the fees with a group of people. If you have a car, you can take it with you by ferry, and the cost is around 180$ with return. If you divide this amount by 4, it's only 45 each and you avoid a ruining rental! Let's note here than the fuel is more expensive on the Island like pretty much everything else, and having a car will allow you to take some extra groceries with you.

Also, renting a car from Adelaide can be a cheaper option than renting one on the Island, so don't hesitate to do a few prices comparisons before!

If you don't have a car

Kangaroo Island is a place with a lot of farmers and farming properties. Odds are a lot of them have a car or a van they may be able to rent for a few days for a cheaper price. It isn't a common option and it's more like a nice agreement but it can be a great opportunity to meet locals and know more about the place.

Woofing

You don't need a work visa to do Woofing. It's only based on volunteering. Although many people like me do it to get a second year visa, Woofing allow you to stay and eat for free, in exchange of some hours of work in a farm or for an organisation. Farmers are everywhere in Kangaroo Island and if you don't know how to find them, try a pub on a Friday night ;-)
This alternative, more adventurous, is also a solution to save on your stay, hotel, hostel or camping. Besides, it solves the car issue as many farmers have extra utes and cars that may help you visit the Island on your spare time.




What about the visits ?

On the first hand, Kangaroo Island is pricey compared to Adelaide for instance. Fuels tops up, food, extra activities and ferry all together can be a budget.
If you are planning to visit the best places of the Island, parks, cave, and lighthouses, a pass is available that allow unlimited visits for a year! I know, a year is a lot but as I stayed there for 2 months it was a great option to go back to some places such as Seal Bay with the beautiful Sea Lions.
Just a guided visit on the beach to see the Sea Lions is 33$! The pass itself is now 70$...
Of course, if you just have a few days and don't have the intention to visit the lighthouses, just paying as you go could be enough.

Some places are free, such as Little Sahara, but if you are planning a sandboard session, it's another expense as well...

Seal Bay

Emu Bay without Emus but Pelicans!

Weather

I stayed in November December, and left at the beginning of January. In comparison to Adelaide, the Island is a bit cooler and rains are more frequent. Although you can have beautiful and hot days, like in the rest of South Australia, note that Kangaroo Island is more humid.

Top 5 Free things to do in London !

Hello you! Today, I bring you to London, UK, not the one in Canada ;-) Ready?

Travelling shouldn't be synonymous with crazy expenses and ending up broke, there are so many ways to enjoy places on a budget. Let me share with you a few tips.

Let's start with a fact: London is expensive. True. BUT, there are so many ways to visit this crazy city just with an Oyster card in your pocket. I spent over a year in London and I developed a few tricks to enjoy this city for no penny!

Here is my Top 5, but don't hesitate to share more in the comments.

1 - The changing of the guards in Buckingham Palace. You will have to wake up early for that one as the best spots (the fountain, I tell you) are often taken by the early birds or the party birds :-). It is free, it is in every touristic guide and it's full of photos opportunities. Do you need an other reason? 

2 - Parks and gardens. Walking is not boring. From Buckingham Palace, you can wander in the parks spread around the city. The closest one is Green park with its cute squirrels, but also St James Park and so much more! From Primrose Hill, you can relax with a view of the city! Just open a map and you will find so many parks around you.

My favorite gem is Hampstead, less conveniently located but still easily accessible from the transports.

3 - Museums. London is a great city when it's about equal access to culture and museums. The British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, the Tate Modern, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Natural History and Science Museum are some of the best and can occupy a few of your days all together. If you just have to pick one, I would recommend the Natural History and Science Museum, for the architecture and the giant Dinosaur at the entrance. If you feel generous, you can donate a few pounds to support the great work they are doing!

Here is the V&A museum court, a hidden relaxing gem.

4 - A Thames walk. A great way to digest your too big Fish and Chips. You can easily walk along the Thames and discover some of the city's highlights. From the Tate Modern museum, you can walk along the river and you can see St Paul Cathedral, actually located on the other side, in front of the museum. And all along the walk, you can stumble upon a few traditional pubs, hidden commercial areas, the Town Hall, interesting for the architecture and the view. You will land next to the Tower Bridge with some nice hidden streets around the area. On sunny days, you can relax among tourists and locals on the nice grass around.

5 - Visit markets. I know this one is tough and full of temptations. But those places are also full of browsing and meeting opportunities. From the crazy Cyberdog shop in Camden Town, the Horse Tunnel in Camden Market to the vintage and not so vintage shops in Portobello Road, the possibilities are endless! In the Eastern suburbs, you will enjoy Brick Lane market on Sundays and discover London's new wave with its cool street art scene.

Street art scene can be found everywhere in London. It's free, but a donation is always appreciated ;-)

Bonus: Window shopping. So you are too broke to spend your money in Primark, but you can still walk. There are so many window shopping opportunities in London. Selfridges' windows in Oxford Street are always sophisticated. I remember the beautiful decorations at Christmas time but also for the Queen Diamond Jubilee as it was such an event! Some pics here.

Harrods is also a great spot for too expensive food corners and its Egyptian stairs.

Eye catching shops fronts in Camden Town.

Cyberdog shop in Camden Market, one of the most entertaining shops!

To know more about London's endless activities and shows, visit Time Out London, always updated and so interesting. 

For great deals, look at Groupon as well, you may find some discounted prices for city tours for example.