Qantas have announced that Qantaslink  will be offering direct flights from Adelaide and Melbourne into Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island.  The Adelaide to Kingscote flights will be operated 5 times a week, with the Melbourne to Kingscote flights operating twice each week.

QantasLink will be using their 74-seat Q400 and 50-seat Dash 8 Q300 aircraft.  Over 20,000 seats a year will be available on its new Kangaroo Island routes.

This will be a major advantage for visitors that are travelling by Qantas and their Oneworld partners, as they can now check their bags in from anywhere in Australia and pick them up when they arrive at Kingscote Airport.  It also means that transit times are likely to be reduced as the Kangaroo Island flights will connect directly with many other domestic and international flights, thus reducing wait times.   For those guests travelling to Kangaroo Island from Melbourne, the travel time will be significantly reduced as it will now be a single direct flight, eliminating the Adelaide to Kingscote leg completely.

The reduced travel times will be a major benefit for many overseas visitors that often have a limited time to spend in Australia and are trying to see as much as possible.

When visitors arrive at Kingscote Airport they will need to arrange some form of transport as the island is quite large, taking at least 2 hours to drive from one end of the island to the other.  Hertz and Budget are the only car hire firms on the island and reservations need to be made well in advance of your arrival to ensure that you get a car.  They both have offices at Kingscote Airport.

Some Hotels offer transfers as an option to their respective properties.  KI Transfers offers a public transfer service.  For guests staying at Sea Dragon Lodge, they can book a private car transfer to and from the Airport.

If you are not planning on hiring a car, you will need to book on a tour if you want to see most of the island highlights.  There are several bus tour operators on the island including Sealink and Odyssey Tours.  These need to be pre-booked well in advance to ensure on getting a seat.  Guests staying at Sea Dragon Lodge can book private Luxury 4WD Toursthat cater exclusively for Lodge guests.  These tours are completely private with the itineraries tailored to suit your interests.

If you are looking for luxury accommodation during your stay on Kangaroo Island, then consider Sea Dragon Lodge, a boutique luxury retreat located about 50 minutes from Kingscote Airport.  Sea Dragon Lodge is a Qantas accommodation partner and can be booked on the Qantas website at the same time that customers book their Qantas flights to Kangaroo Island.