Things to do with kids in Kangaroo Island

A 900-metre return boardwalk winds through the dunes to platforms above a colony of endangered Australian sea lions. Beach access is paused to protect the colony, so a roaming guide answers questions on the boardwalk instead. It opens 9am to 5pm, about 45 minutes from Kingscote, and tickets are sold at the visitor centre.

Strange golden-orange rock shapes perch on an ancient rocky platform above the sea in Flinders Chase National Park. An accessible boardwalk leads out from the car park, with accessible toilets at the start. Park entry fees apply, and the rocks can close in storms with damaging winds.

A boardwalk at Cape du Couedic leads down to a weathered rock arch and a breeding colony of long-nosed fur seals. The last part is steep with steps, but seats and lookouts along the way give good views for anyone who stops early. Pay park fees at the Flinders Chase visitor centre, where there's also a café.

Tours start with a guided walk above ground, then head down about 40 steep steps into caves of stalactites and helictites. Inside, narration and a light display tell the caves' story. You can only enter on a booked tour, and no food is sold at the park, so pack lunch.

Little Sahara is a field of sand dunes covering more than two square kilometres near Vivonne Bay. Hire a sandboard to ride standing up, or a toboggan to slide down sitting. Staff give tips on staying safe before you head out, and the dunes come in different sizes and steepness.

A passage of natural rock tunnels leads to a shallow pool walled in by rock, where fish swim in calm water. Kids can paddle and snorkel without waves breaking over them. The open beach beyond is rough and not recommended for swimming.

This horseshoe-shaped beach runs for six kilometres, with a jetty at one end and dunes at the other. Swim west of the main car park and along the jetty beach, where waves are gentler. East of the car park, reefs and rips make the water unsafe.

A short drive west of Kingscote, Emu Bay has a four-kilometre beach of calm, turquoise water for swimming and snorkelling. Look for the stacked, lichen-covered rocks of the Emu Bay Shale, thought to be over 500 million years old. There's a car park, a playground and a picnic ground.

Matthew Flinders climbed this steep sand hill in 1802 to get his bearings. Today 500 steps lead to a lookout over Pelican Lagoon and Pennington Bay. It's a solid climb for small legs, so take water and plenty of rests.