Kelly Hill Conservation Park
The basics
The Kelly Hill caves are only accessible by guided tour and there are two options to choose from. On a Show Cave tour, follow the custom-built boardwalks and learn more about the geological wonder as you admire the cave’s unique rock formations. Alternatively, join an Adventure Cave tour and suit up with a helmet and headlamp for a fun caving expedition. Adventure tours take you deeper underground to explore smaller caves and tunnels, while clambering and crawling over the rocks. Above ground, a number of bushwalks and nature trails set out from the Kelly Hill Visitor Centre. For a longer trek, the Hanson Bay Hike is an 11-mile (18 kilometer) round-trip trail, passing lagoons, woodlands and sand dunes.
Things to know before you go
*Show Cave Tours run several times daily and take one hour; Adventure Cave Tours run once a day and take two hours. *The Kelly Hill Visitor Centre offers guided cave tours, storage lockers, restrooms, a small café and gift shop, and picnic areas. *Access to the caves is possible for wheelchairs, but it’s best to contact the Visitor Centre in advance. *Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty (especially for Adventure tours). *The caves are not accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
How to get there
Kelly Hill Conservation Park is located along the south coast of Kangaroo Island, close to Flinders Chase National Park and the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Cave tours set out from the Kelly Hill Visitor Centre, which is about a one-hour drive from Kingscote or an about 1.5-hour drive from Penneshaw, along the South Coast Road. There’s no public transport to the park, so it’s best to join a guided tour if you don’t have your own transport.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and cave tours typically run between 10am and 4pm. With constant temperatures of 60°F (16°C), visiting the Kelly Hill Caves is possible regardless of the weather outside. Hiking in the park is also possible year-round—pack a picnic in the summer months and set out early to avoid the midday heat; in winter, take advantage of the sheltered picnic areas and look out for wild orchids and fungi along the trails.