Single Kayak • Double/Family kayak • Kids kayak
Short on time but craving coastal wildlife? Rent a kayak from the Penneshaw Penguin Centre and spend three hours paddling Penneshaw Beach, scanning kelp beds and rocky shores for little penguins and sea lions. Self-guided, wildlife-aware, and ideal for a half-day sea-level perspective on Kangaroo Island.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
moderate
Duration
3 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness: able to paddle for several hours and perform basic self-rescue; confident swimmer recommended
Wildlife
History
The Penneshaw Penguin Centre is a local conservation hub focused on coastal species, and Penneshaw serves as a historic ferry gateway to Kangaroo Island’s eastern headlands.
Conservation
Paddlers are asked to avoid landing near nesting sites, keep noise low around wildlife, and pack out all rubbish to protect fragile shore habitats.
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
Penneshaw is exposed to changing conditions; review tide tables and the local wind forecast before launch.
Give penguins space
Keep distance from known haul-outs, avoid loud noises, and don’t land near nesting scrapes or rock ledges.
Secure valuables
Use a waterproof dry bag for phones, keys and cameras—trolleys move kayaks only across short sand, not through surf.
Supervise children
Children must be supervised at all times; Penneshaw Beach is not lifeguarded and kayaks are self-guided hires.
Waterproof dry bag
Protects electronics and clothing from splash and unexpected swamping.
Sun hat and sunscreen
Essential for prolonged sun exposure on reflective water surfaces.
summer
Water shoes
Good traction for launching across rocks or wet sand and protecting feet in rock pools.
spring
Light waterproof jacket
Windproof protection that keeps you dry during cool sea breezes or light rain.
winter