Kangaroo Island

Mark,

For "base camping" the western end of the Island will give you the best location for the "touristy bits". The camping grounds in Flinders Chase National Park are very good. This is a great spot for children especially and a visit to Admiral's Arch is a "must" to see the sea lion colony up close. (Better and safer than Seal Bay)

Now, for shore based fishing, you need to be at the other end of the Island.
Head east from Penneshaw after getting off the ferry, toward Antechamber Bay. I can't remember any specific place but there was an area where you could camp that was in easy walking distance to both a small river, (bream) or the beach for a variety of different small fish species.

There is also some good fishing in places like Vivonne Bay, but I don't know of any specific camping areas to recommend to you.

Many other places around the coastal areas where you can dangle a line, or in your case "wave it", but again I'm not familiar with any specific camping areas to base yourself at.

Proceed immediately to your local Automotive Association, whether you are a member or not. Do not pass GO. Purchase a copy of the RAA (Royal Automobile Associatio os South Australia) map of Kangaroo Island. They collect about $6. On it you will find all the sealed and unsealed roads, and camping sites, with the possible exception of Wilson Road to Neaves Bay on the Dudley Peninsula (ask a local about Neaves one if you are interested in shore to sea fishing, deep gullys just off shore). Car access to beach is available on Western Cove just N/E of the "A Maze", but is at its very best at Emu Bay just North of Kingscote. At the Eastern end of the island camping on the Chapman River outlet on Antechamber Bay is excellent. What you have been told above about the Western end is quite correct. 1/3 of the Island is National Park. One word of warning....getting to and back from the Island with passenger, car & C/T fares is not cheap, and you also need to be sure to pre-book at this time of year. Stay at least a week if you can afford the time. You can book at the same auto association, or Google K.I. SeaLink, or just SeaLink. K.I. is normally cooler than elsewhere in S.A. so you should not fry.

The Chapman river (east end of the island) is usually full (I mean full) of bream around Xmas - so much so that there are signs everywhere warning tourists that when they catch some (not if), most are undersize and those must be returned. Amongst the throng, there are some legals - best baits are small crabs (10 cent size), which can no longer "legally" be collected from the inter tidal mark on any of the stony beaches. Rocky river is a great place as I'm sure others have mentioned. There is a walk through a NP nearby, to a great beach on the coast - can't recall the name.

You guys are GEMS! Thanks. I have the maps but nothing beats personal advice. I've already paid for the ferry (didn't think it too bad) and looking forward to the Bream! By the way, what's the legal limit? I'm usually chasing trout in Vic high country but looking forward to the change.

Thanks for the advice about good places for kids, now I know where to avoid! :-)

Cheers,

Mark