The remote wilderness of Kangaroo Island is one thing that draws travellers from all over South Australia. Being able to enjoy a view of a lifetime with not a single soul in sight, in modern-day travel, this sounds almost too good to be true. Nevertheless, there are still untouched places of paradise just waiting to be discovered across the globe, one of which is the incredible Kangaroo Island. One of the best spots on this magical island and one that is a particularly good Kangaroo Island sunset spot is Red Banks Viewpoint.
Hidden away on the popular northern coast of Kangaroo Island, the special sunset spot of the red cliffs remains undiscovered by a majority of Kangaroo Island visitors. This means it is the perfect spot for solitude, reflection, and relaxation during your trip of a lifetime to this unbelievable island. This is your ultimate guide to one of Kangaroos Island’s best sunset locations, the Red Banks Viewpoint.
Included in this guide is the following information. Each of these points will be discussed in greater detail later in the post.
How to Get to Red Banks Viewpoint
What to Expect at Redbank Viewpoint
When to Visit Red Banks Viewpoint
How to Prepare for Your Trip to Kangaroo Island
What to Pack
How to Get There
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Red Banks Viewpoint – Kangaroo Island’s Secret Sunset Spot
How to Get to the Red Cliffs on Kangaroo Island
The beautiful, untouched and completely isolated cliffside viewpoint at Red Banks can be found roughly 20km East of Napean Bay. It is easy to find if you use GPS by simply following the map towards the point “Red Banks”. It can also be found at the coordinates shown below.
Red Bank Cliff Coordinates – 35°44’11.5″S 137°43’05.5″E
Heading East on Hogbay Road, you want to turn left onto Red Banks Road. This road continues straight for 11km, where you turn left onto Flea Castle Road. This road becomes slightly muddier and is surrounded by beautiful old trees. Follow this road straight for 3km, with the view of the sea coming up ahead of you. When you reach a dead-end, you have arrived at Kangaroo Island’s secret sunset spot.
Despite the road to the red cliffs not being “sealed” with bitumen (tarmac), it is a relatively flat road to drive on. We managed to drive our old campervan along with it quite comfortably at 40-50km/h, which is fast compared to most dirt tracks. You do not need a 4wd to visit Red Banks Viewpoint, although you will need to drive slowly to avoid damaging your car.
Endless beaches to yourself at the Red Bank beach.
One of the best things about the view from Red Banks is simply how unspoiled it is. There are no buildings around, no toilets or cafes. There is not even a car park to spoil the view. This makes it the perfect location to escape the busy, eastern side of Kangaroo Island and enjoy a sunset to remember.
The one downside of the remoteness of this location is the safety aspect with regards to accessing the beach. There is no formal pathway leading to the beach, instead, you will have to follow a steep and slippery dirt path through a water eroded gully. This spot is therefore not suitable for young children or people with accessibility requirements.
When you arrive at the viewpoint, the upper level features a very narrow and quite dangerous pathway to the view at the end. Take this part with extreme caution and be wary of erosion and collapsing cliff edges. The safest place to admire the view is from the beach below, which you will be able to reach via the dirt path to your right.
Red Bank beach from above.One final warning is to beware of the flies here at Red Banks Viewpoint. The road leading you to this point has a very justifiable name, Flea Castle Road. You will be ambushed by flies the second you leave your car and they will not leave you alone.. These flies are not biting insects, however, they are incredibly irritating. Bring a bug spray or net to protect you from the beasts.
When to Visit the Red Cliffs on Kangaroo Island
Despite the danger and annoying insects, the view from the Red Banks Viewpoint at the correct time is worth all of the trouble of getting there. There is no better place to admire the sun setting on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island than at this clifftop viewpoint.
The unique colour of the cliffs means that the golden glow of the last hour of daylight gives the red cliffs a spectacular light show of gold and orange. Definitely a sunset to remember!
The stunning colours of Red Bank beach at sunset.
Before you set off on your adventure of a lifetime to Kangaroo Island, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. These include sorting out travel insurance, transport to and around the island, packing for your trip and finding the best place to stay. All of these will be discussed below in more detail.
Applying for an Australian Visa
If you have yet to leave for Australia then this is a section of interest for you. There are a LOT of different visa options for people arriving into Australia, from tourist visas to permanent residence visas. The most common visas, however, are the 3-month tourist visa and the Working Holiday Visa.
If you are only visiting Australia for a short period of time then a tourist visa is your best option. These are easily obtained and relatively cheap, costing roughly $140AUD, and allow you to stay in the country for up to 12months. These can be applied for on the government website here.
If you wish to work and travel in Australia, a working holiday visa is your best option. These cost around $480AUD and allow you to stay in Australia for up to 12months, whilst working and earning money to travel. This visa also gives you the opportunity to extend your stay in Australia by up to 24months by working in certain job sectors.
For all of the information you need to know about the Australian Working Holiday Visa, read our full guide over here.
Applying for an Australian Visa
If you have yet to leave for Australia then this is a section of interest for you. There are a LOT of different visa options for people arriving into Australia, from tourist visas to permanent residence visas. The most common visas, however, are the 3-month tourist visa and the Working Holiday Visa.
If you are only visiting Australia for a short period of time then a tourist visa is your best option. These are easily obtained and relatively cheap, costing roughly $140AUD, and allow you to stay in the country for up to 12months. These can be applied for on the government website here.
If you wish to work and travel in Australia, a working holiday visa is your best option. These cost around $480AUD and allow you to stay in Australia for up to 12months, whilst working and earning money to travel. This visa also gives you the opportunity to extend your stay in Australia by up to 24months by working in certain job sectors.
For all of the information you need to know about the Australian Working Holiday Visa, read our full guide over here.
What to Pack for Kangaroo Island
Being an island, Kangaroo Island will be at risk of experiencing some mixed weather. Depending on the season your visiting will depend on what you pack. At the least, we would always recommend, a warm layer, a waterproof and, of course, suncream!
During the summer months, Kangaroo Island can reach temperatures in the 30’s, meaning it should be warm enough to get in the water for a swim. This also means that you will need plenty of lightweight clothing for getting around and exploring in the heat of the midday sun.
In the winter months, you would need to be very brave to get in the water as the temperatures average at half that of summer, peaking at around 14 degrees Celcius. Warm layers and a waterproof is a must for these months!
If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you pack as much sunscreen as you can. The sun in Australia is strong, and even the darkest skin tones can get easily burnt. No matter what the season is or how warm you may feel, you should always wear sunscreen in Australia.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around Kangaroo Island, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7 Mirrorless Camera
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Kangaroo Island
Regardless of what type of trip you are heading on, one thing that is essential for everybody is good travel insurance. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime and unexpected hospital bills will ruin a holiday. Remove the stress from your next adventure and get covered for the worst.
World Nomads Travel Insurance provides budget reliable travel insurance that will keep you covered for any level of adventure.
You can get your quote before you leave on your trip right here.
How to get to Kangaroo Island
Unfortunately, getting to Kangaroo Island is the reason that it is not as popular as many other areas in Australia. There are only two options for getting to the island (and only one if you wish to bring your own vehicle). With a larger vehicle and passenger ferry and a smaller passenger-only ferry operating to the island, the prices of transport are very monopolised, resulting in the most expensive ferry per metre of travel in the world.
Sealink FerrySea Link offers passenger and vehicle crossings from the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula on mainland Australia to Penneshaw on the island. This is an expensive option, however, by bringing your own vehicle it means when you arrive onto the island you can get straight into exploring.
This ferry leaves 5 times a day and takes 45 minutes to get across.
Browse the best option for getting to KI on this ferry right here.
Did you know – The Kangaroo Island ferry is the most expensive ferry in the world per distance!
Kangaroo Island Direct Ferry
This ferry leaves for KI 4 times a week, so is much less regular than the SeaLink option. It is also only a passenger ferry, meaning yu will not be able to bring your own transport with you. This ferry is a much cheaper option if you are wanting to go across as a passenger only, however, once you are on the island you will need to pay a lot more money for transport.
You can browse the ferry tickets and transport options available from KIC right here.Airplane
Flying to Kangaroo Island is another option, however, this can be an expensive option and you would be restricted on your luggage. Flights from Adelaide tend to go for roughly $150 each way. You will also need to organise a method of transport for getting around the island when you arrive.
Browse your options for flying to Kangaroo Island right here.
How to Get Around Kangaroo Island
When it comes to getting around the island you have a few different options available. If you did not bring your own transport, you can rent a car or campervan and tur the island yourself at your own pace. This is the best option if you are not short on time, as it means you can dictate the pace of your adventure.
Private Tours
As for getting around the island, a 4wd is advisable, however not necessary. Many of the beautiful beaches are off the beaten track and can be up to 20km of gravel roads. The same goes for a lot of campsites in the more isolated areas, so beware if you are using a hired campervan or bringing your own.
There are car hire services available when you arrive at Penneshaw or you can book this as a package with your ferry. We would recommend hiring a campervan during your trip on Kangaroo Island due to the flexibility it gives you. You can park up wherever you are and cook your next meal, not wasting any time travelling back and forward.
Organised Tours
The last option for getting around Kangaroo Island is to book yourself onto a Kangaroo Island tour and enjoy a more relaxed and controlled adventure around the island. This can either be with a private car driver or an organised group tour.
The organised group tours will take you to the most popular sights on the island and will show you all of the best things you can see in a short period of time. The advantage of these kinds of tours is the efficiency of getting around and the information provided about the island. Your tour guide will be able to tell you a lot of interesting things about the sights that you are visiting that you would not learn on your own.
The downside of tours is the lack of flexibility in your schedule. You will be herded from one location to the next, on as quick a schedule as possible in order to ensure that you see the maximum number of sights as quickly as you can.
Private tours are available for booking online or in visitor centres around the island. These tours will give you the same benefits of a group tour with less of the stringent timeline as if you want to spend more time somewhere you have that option. There are lots of different tours available, however we have listed a few below.
No matter what your taste in accommodation might be, KI has you covered. Whether you love luxurious villas or cozy cottages, or even a night under the stars in the wilderness of the island, here are the best accommodation options on Kangaroo Island.
Luxury – Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat lies right on the entrance to Flinders Chase National Park. This environmentally friendly accommodation offers free wifi in an area that is limited with mobile service in a beautiful natural setting.
You can book your stay at Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat here.Mid-Range – Mercure Kangaroo Island is situated in the American River region on the island and offers free wifi, a pool and some amazing views over the calm sea.
You can book your stay at Mercure Kangaroo Island here.Budget – Flinders Chase Farm is located at the west end of the island and offers great accommodation nearby to the island’s most popular attractions.
You can book your stay at Flinders Chase Farm here.Browse all of the other hotels and villas that are available on Kangaroo Island right here.
If the suggested campsites in this itinerary don’t suit your needs, check out our guide to Kangaroo Island Camping for other campgrounds and caravan parks.
Another sunset over the paradise of Kangaroo Island.
So there you have it, the ultimate guide to Red Bank Viewpoint, Kangaroo Island’s best sunset spot. If you are visiting this breathtaking island and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was! What wildlife did you see on your trip? What was your favourite thing about Kangaroo Island? Let us know in the comments below!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to tour with. Sharing is caring and we want to inspire as many people as we can to visit this unbelievable part of the world.
If you are planning an Australia trip soon then check out our other Australia content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from Kangaroo Island and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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Included in this guide is the following information. Each of these points will be discussed in greater detail later in the post.
