Single Kayak • Double/Family kayak • Kids kayak
Spend a full day paddling from Penneshaw Beach with kayak hire from the Penneshaw Penguin Centre. Explore sea-swept rock platforms, glance out for little penguins and coastal dolphins, and enjoy a flexible, self-led day on Kangaroo Island’s eastern shore.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Hang tight — photos are loading
This usually takes just a second.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
8 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate: you should be fit enough to paddle intermittently for several hours and manage short carries to the beach
Wildlife
History
Penneshaw developed as a coastal port servicing Kangaroo Island and the Penguin Centre reflects local interest in protecting and interpreting the island’s marine life.
Conservation
Keep distance from nesting penguins, pack out all waste and follow guidance from the Penguin Centre to minimize disturbance and support local conservation efforts.
Penneshaw Penguin Centre
Single Kayak • Double/Family kayak • Kids kayak
Penneshaw Penguin Centre is a small wildlife operator based in Penneshaw, South Australia. The Centre offers a Penguin and Wildlife Night Walking Tour, a 60-minute evening walk led by friendly guides to view the Little Penguins that come ashore. The guided walk includes interpretation about penguin behaviour and habitat and provides opportunities to see other nocturnal animals such as Tammar Wallabies and Brushtail Possums. The experience emphasizes respectful wildlife viewing at night and includes a return visit option if penguins are elusive on the first outing.
Visitors join a short coastal walk with a guide who points out local wildlife and explains natural history relevant to penguins and other species seen. The tour runs in the evening and is timed to coincide with penguin activity, giving participants a practical chance to observe penguins in their natural environment. The Centre operates from Penneshaw and presents a focused, single-tour offering suited to people seeking close penguin encounters and family-friendly wildlife viewing.
Information about booking, meeting times, and what to bring is provided by the Centre at time of reservation. The Centre’s guided night walks are centered on live animal viewing and education, with attention to minimizing disturbance to wildlife. Photographs and reports from past visitors document sightings of Little Penguins, Tammar Wallabies and Brushtail Possums during tours. The Penguin and Wildlife Night Walking Tour lasts sixty minutes and is presented as an evening guided wildlife experience in Penneshaw, South Australia, with guides assisting visitors to observe and learn about local nocturnal species.
Tour Length
60 minutes
Evening guided walk
Location
Penneshaw, South Australia
Local coastal meeting point
Guide Style
Friendly guides
Guided night wildlife walks
Wildlife Seen
Little Penguins +
Also Tammar Wallabies, Brushtail Possums
Reserve the Penguin and Wildlife Night Walking Tour — 60 minutes of evening wildlife viewing in Penneshaw. Bookings include a return option if penguins are not seen.
Check tides and wind
Study local tide and wind forecasts before launch; afternoons can pick up and make return paddling harder.
Wear layered, water-friendly clothing
Expect spray and changing temperatures—quick-dry layers and a wind shell keep you comfortable.
Bring a dry bag
Protect phone, keys and spare clothing in a dry bag; a bright-colored bag improves visibility.
Give wildlife space
Avoid landing near penguin nests and approach marine life slowly and at a distance to reduce disturbance.
Personal flotation device / life jacket
Provided with the hire; wear it at all times on the water for safety.
Dry bag (5–10L)
Keeps electronics and spare layers dry during paddling and beach stops.
Windproof/wet-weather layer
Protects against chill from sea spray and changing coastal weather.
spring|summer|fall|winter
Footwear for rocky landings
Sturdy, water-friendly shoes make short beach carries and rocky exits safer.