IF IT could wear a cap, the new Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail would now have a feather in it: leading international travel guide Lonely Planet has listed it as one of the world’s top new travel destinations in 2017, placing it at number three.
The $5.8 million Wilderness Trail opened last October. Since then, hundreds of people have booked to walk the five-day, four-night adventure, which stretches for 61 kilometres along the south-west coast of the island through Flinders Chase National Park before finishing at the stunning Kelly Hill Caves.
A variety of options will soon be available from commercial tour operators ranging from basic backpacker tours to gourmet food and wine and basic to luxury off-trail accommodation.
The trail has also been mapped by Google and is available on Google Street View, so anyone around the world who can’t visit the South Australian island can still marvel at the natural wonders and fauna.
Tourism Minister Ian Hunter said at the official opening he was heartened by the level of interest in the trail shown from schools, tourism operators and hiking and sporting groups. He looked forward to a time when the trail was as popular as New Zealand’s Milford Track and Tasmania’s Three Capes Track.