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
- 9.6 km return
- Duration
- 3 - 4 hours return
- Suitable for
- Hiking, Trail Running
- Grade 5, Trek
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Park
- Flinders Chase National Park
- Region
- Kangaroo Island
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 14 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
- Day 2, Maupertuis Section
- Day 2 or 3, optional sidetrip to Admirals Arch (below on this page)
- 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 2 or 3, Optional Sidetrip to Admirals Arch
Hakea Campsite to Admirals Arch and return
4 hours, 9km return
This optional sidetrip is well worth it if you have 3-4 hours to spare, either at the end of Day 2, or the start of Day 3. The Cape du Couedic Spur Trail heads south, connecting with the Weirs Cove Hike and onto Admirals Arch Walk. At Weirs Cove see the remains of the flying fox which hauled supplies up the 90 metre cliff from the jetty below, before continuing on your walk with the lighthouse looming ever so closer on the horizon. Passing the lighthouse, built in 1909, continue down to Admirals Arch to see long nosed fur seals basking in the sun on the rocks and inside the cave.
Photos
Views of cliffs from Weirs Cove
The view of Remarkable Rocks from Weirs Cove
View down the to jetty from which food and goods were winched up
View of Cape du Couedic Lighthouse along the Weirs Cove Hike
Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and the kersosene storage building
Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, built 1909
Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
The Cape du Couedic Hike is well marked with signs
Walking along the boardwalk on the Admirals Arch Walk
The boardwalks on the Admirals Arch Walk take you to viewing lookouts, then down stairs into Admirals Arch. Until the stone-walled lookout seen in this photo, the trail is wheelchair accessible. Seals can be seen along this boardwalk.
Watch the seals play and bash in the sun on the Admirals Arch Walk
The rocky inlets with seals lazing in the sun
Admirals Arch
Viewing platforms inside Admirals Arch let you watch the seals