Looking for trails open after the bushfires?
5 Feb 2020: Kangaroo Island was devasted by bushfire in January 2020. Some parks and trails remain closed. View our article of 13 walking trails open post-bushfire.
- Distance
- 12.4 km one way
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Suitable for
- Hiking, Trail Running
- Grade 5, Trek
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Part of a longer trail
- Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
- Park
- Flinders Chase National Park
- Region
- Kangaroo Island
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 26 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
About the Walking Trail
Spend 5 days hiking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail along the spectacular coastline of south-west Kangaroo Island.
We’ve listed each of the 5 sections on a separate entry:
- Day 1, Rocky River Section (below on this page)
- Day 2, Maupertuis Section
- Day 2 or 3, optional sidetrip to Admirals Arch
- Day 3, Sanderson Section
- Day 4, Grassdale Section
- Day 5, Kelly Hill Section
Review of this Trail
In December 2016 we walked and reviewed the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. Read the review.
This section: Day 1, Rocky River Section
Rocky River to Cup Gum Campsite (near Snake Lagoon)
4 hours, 12km
The first day’s hike starts from the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre, following the Platypus Waterholes Walk over Black Swamp, with its ancient history of megafauna, and around the Platypus Waterholes. If you’re there early in the morning sit and wait to catch a glimpse of the shy platypus at one of the eight viewing platforms. Turning west, the trail follows the Rocky River Hike along Rocky River. Watch out for Rosenbergs Goannas (a monitor lizard) on the track. Pause for a moment at the rapids and rockpools along the way, and keep an eye out for wildlife coming into the water to drink. As today’s walk includes other walking trails, anyone can walk this day’s section.
Photos
Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail trailhead outside of the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre
All walks leave from the infomation shelter at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre
Black Swamp Lookout shelter
Walking along the trail of the Playpus Waterholes Walk and the Black Swamp Hike
The interpretive signs on the Playpus Waterholes Walk are very interesting to read
Banksias on the Playpus Waterholes Walk and the Black Swamp Hike
Interpretive signage along the way
The boardwalk across Black Swamp
Silhouette shaps of megafauna that used to live in Black Swamp
Trail map of the Playpus Waterholes Walk. Walkers need to walk anticlockwise (turn right)
Viewing platforms are scattered around the waterhole. Watch and wait quietly to see if you spot the movements of a platypus. Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot one.
Viewing platforms are scattered around the waterhole. Watch and wait quietly to see if you spot the movements of a platypus. Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot one.
The walking path of the Platypus Waterholes Walk is quiet and shady around the waterhole loop
Viewing platform to see how the trees have recovered from the bushfires
The trails are well signposts, so it's easy to stick to your chosen trail route
One of the many Rosenbergs Goannas (a monitor lizard) seen sunning themselves on the walking trail
Kangaroos on the path on the Black Swamp Hike
During dryer times you can walk along the river edge, or when wetter along a higher track. The detour is about 400 metres long
The waterfall along Rocky River is beside the walking trail and easily found and explored
Pools of water on the Rocky River Hike
A kangaroo drinking from one of the rock holes along the Rocky River
Walking along the Black Swamp Hike
There are welcome signs at each campground, with a 'KIWT Guests Only' sign as well
The independent hikers camp sites within Cup Gum Campground. There are 9 camp sites here for the up to 12 people who have booked onto the hike today. 5 are timber tent platforms, and 4 are gravel tent sites, all of various sizes
There are timber tent platforms at Cup Gum Campsite, and in the tour group area of Hakea Campsite. Some like this one feature benches (behind tent). There are bars around the sides and pop-up tent pegs to secure your tent to (bring some string or rope)
Kitchen and dining shelter at Cup Gum Campsite. At each of these shelters there are 4 park benches, a cooking and dishes area, water tanks, filtered water taps and a noticeboard