Dolphins and tastings in one day. This Kangaroo Island shore excursion is built around food and drink, with real producer visits plus a photo stop at Pennington Bay where you may spot dolphins and whales. I especially like how it mixes lavender, honey, and spirits tastings into a single guided circuit. One catch: there’s no lunch included, so plan to bring a light bite from the ship or grab something while you have town time.

Because it’s made for cruise passengers arriving in Penneshaw, the pace is tight and the schedule stays on track. The experience feels most enjoyable with an upbeat guide—Caitlin stood out for being personable, and Joel earned praise for clear, fun explanations. Just note: this is not set up for everyone who wants to roam with luggage, since luggage or large bags aren’t allowed.

Quick hits

• Pennington Bay photo stop: time at the coast for dolphin or whale sightings when conditions line up
• Emu Bay Lavender Farm morning tea: lavender scones and a relaxed break
• Clifford’s Honey (Island Beehive): learn about the Ligurian bee and sample different honey varieties
• Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery: see how eucalyptus oil is produced at South Australia’s only commercial distillery
• Bay of Shoals + Kangaroo Island Spirits: wine tasting paired with later liquor tasting (gin, vodka, and more)
• Cruise-only logistics: pickup and drop-off at the SeaLink Ferry Terminal in Penneshaw

Why this Kangaroo Island shore excursion feels different

Most cruise shore excursions on Kangaroo Island fall into one of two buckets: a scenic highlights tour, or a food-and-wine day. This one tries to do both, but it commits to tastings as the main event. You spend the morning and late afternoon at working producers, not just storefronts, so you get context for what you’re actually eating and drinking.

The island’s culinary scene is a big part of why Kangaroo Island is so popular with food lovers. Here, you’ll taste across categories—lavender products, honey, eucalyptus oil (and what it’s used for), wine, and then spirits—so your day doesn’t blur together as one long stop after another.

The other reason it works: it’s designed for cruise timing. Pickup and return happen at the SeaLink Ferry Terminal in Penneshaw, and the day is built to fit a single shore visit window.

The day’s flow: from lavender scones to spirits tasting

Your schedule centers on a guided bus tour, with short-to-medium visits at each stop. The total time is about 7 hours, so you’ll want to treat this as a “guided circuit” rather than a free-form exploration day.

Because the itinerary order can shift slightly between morning and afternoon, think of it as hitting these anchor points:

• Lavender Farm at Emu Bay (morning tea and tastings)
• Island Beehive / Clifford’s Honey (Ligurian bee education and honey sampling)
• Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery (process talk and viewing)
• Pennington Bay (coastal photo time and wildlife spotting opportunities)
• Kingscote (time on the ground)
• Bay of Shoals Wines (wine tasting)
• Kangaroo Island Spirits (liquor tasting)

That structure matters. You get a balanced day: plants and botanicals early (lavender and eucalyptus), local sweetness midday (honey), then classic adult tastings later (wine and spirits). And you do get a meaningful break in town at Kingscote so your brain doesn’t stay stuck in tasting-mode the whole time.

Emu Bay Lavender Farm: your cue that this is a food-first tour

The tour starts with a 45-minute stop at the Emu Bay Lavender Farm. This is where the day turns from “drive and look” into “taste and learn.”

You’ll have morning tea, including lavender scones. If lavender is new to you, this is a good entry point because it’s not just a flavored gimmick—it ties into the island’s broader plant-based products. You’ll also likely pick up how lavender is processed into various products, which helps when you’re later tempted by lavender soaps, oils, or packaged treats.

Practical note: this is typically a bus-tour pace, so treat it like a quick reset. Bring your best walking shoes, but don’t expect a long hike.

Clifford’s Honey at the Island Beehive: learning the story behind the sweetness

Next comes the honey stop—often described as Clifford’s Honey at the Island Beehive. The standout detail here is the focus on the Ligurian bee on Kangaroo Island. That’s not just a trivia fact; it’s the kind of background that makes tasting more interesting.

You’ll sample different honey varieties, and you’ll hear how the island’s beekeeping story developed and how the bees fit into that picture. If you’re a fan of tasting flights, this stop works because it’s built for comparisons—sweetness levels, flavor differences, and texture cues.

Also, honey can be a great souvenir because it packs well in your day bag (unlike delicate foods).

Eucalyptus oil at Emu Ridge: seeing a bush product turned into industry

At Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, you’ll learn about production at South Australia’s only commercial eucalyptus oil distillery. This is one of the more unique stops on the route, because eucalyptus oil isn’t something most visitors experience as a real supply chain.

You’ll hear how the distillation process works. Even if you’re not buying anything, the value is in understanding how a familiar Australian plant ends up as a commercial product—used in cleaning, skincare, and aromatherapy-type applications.

If you like tours where the guide explains how things actually work (not just what to buy), this is a highlight.

Pennington Bay: the coastline stop that gives your camera a reason

Pennington Bay is the coast-time moment. You’ll get a photo-friendly stop where dolphins and whales can often be spotted, depending on conditions. It’s short, but it’s timed well so you get the best chance for wildlife sightings without derailing the tasting schedule.

Even if you don’t see wildlife that day, the photo stop is still worth it. Kangaroo Island’s shores look dramatic, and it’s a nice counterpoint to indoor tastings—salt air, open space, and time to breathe between stops.

If you’re going for photos, keep your phone charged. You’ll also want a light jacket, since coastal weather can change fast.

Kingscote time: where you can catch your breath and plan your extra spending

You’ll have about 1 hour in Kingscote. This is your window to:

• use a shop or café if you want a snack,
• pick up small souvenirs,
• or just walk off a bit of bus time.

This matters because the rest of the day is structured around tasting. Kingscote gives your brain a break, and it’s also a smart place to handle the one item the tour doesn’t provide: lunch.

If you don’t want to hunt around, bring a light lunch from the ship. If you prefer flexibility, use Kingscote time to buy something simple.

Bay of Shoals Wines: a wine tasting that fits the day’s rhythm

In the afternoon, the day shifts to Bay of Shoals Wines for a wine tasting. You’ll typically get a structured sampling, and it’s paced to keep you from feeling rushed even with the rest of the day ahead.

Wine is a perfect “mid-late” stop here because you’ve already tasted honey and botanicals. That makes the wine tasting feel more like part of the same local flavor story rather than a random added detour.

If you’re trying to decide whether to buy something, listen closely during explanations and pay attention to which wines you actually enjoy—not the ones that sound fancy.

Kangaroo Island Spirits: gin, vodka, and the last tasting of the day

The final tasting stop is Kangaroo Island Spirits. Expect gin, vodka, and other liquor tastings. This is where the tour leans into the full food-and-drink theme, ending with strong personality flavors that feel distinctly Australian.

This stop also benefits the day’s structure. After wine tasting, your palate is already “switched on,” and the spirits tasting can feel like a more playful finish.

And because it’s the last stop before returning to Penneshaw, it’s a good time to think about how you’ll pack purchases back to the ship.

Price and value: what $162 buys you (and what it doesn’t)

At $162 per person for a roughly 7-hour shore excursion, the main value comes from what’s included:

• pickup and drop-off at the Penneshaw cruise terminal area
• a live English guide
• transportation during the tour
• all tastings and morning/afternoon tea
• bottled water

That’s a lot bundled together. If you tried to replicate this by yourself—finding producers, timing stops, arranging transport—you’d likely spend more in time, and possibly money.

The main thing not included is lunch. Since tastings and tea are covered, the missing lunch is the one financial wildcard. Plan ahead so you’re not spending your Kingscote hour thinking what to eat while also trying to remember where you’re supposed to be.

A second consideration is the cruise-only nature. This tour is designed for cruise passengers arriving in Penneshaw. If you’re not in that group, you’ll be blocked by the tour’s design.

Who this tour suits best (and who should look elsewhere)

This is a great match if you:

• want a single, guided way to taste Kangaroo Island without managing a schedule,
• enjoy food and liquor tastings as your main goal,
• like having a guide explain how products are made (honey, eucalyptus oil, lavender),
• and want a short coastal stop for wildlife spotting chances.

It might not be ideal if you:

• prefer free roaming with long independent shopping time,
• need to travel with luggage (large bags aren’t allowed),
• or hate alcohol tastings (the tour is built around them, ending with spirits).

If you’re the kind of traveler who loves learning the how behind local products, you’ll likely have a fun day.

Small details that can make or break the experience

These tours work best when you show up ready for their style of day.

Bring:

• water (it’s mentioned as what you should have)

Plan on:

• no lunch provided, so either bring a light lunch or handle food during Kingscote time
• no luggage or large bags, so pack light and keep items easy to carry

And keep your expectations realistic about wildlife:

• Pennington Bay offers chances for dolphins and whales, but it’s not a guarantee.

Finally, if your ship’s arrival is uncertain, protect yourself. Travel insurance is strongly recommended, because the tour’s financial setup includes costs that can’t always be undone quickly at the last minute.

Should you book this Kangaroo Island shore excursion?

Book it if you want a well-paced Penneshaw shore day that’s built around tastings—lavender scones, honey varieties, eucalyptus oil production, plus wine and spirits. It’s a smart option when you want both flavor and a taste of the coast without having to drive yourself or stitch together multiple stops.

Skip it (or consider a different type of shore option) if you’d rather spend the day walking freely, if you’re traveling with large bags, or if you’re not interested in alcohol-focused tastings.

If your cruise stop is a priority and you love local products with a guided explanation, this is the kind of tour that makes the day feel like it had a point—beyond just getting a few photos.

FAQ

Is this Kangaroo Island shore excursion only for cruise passengers?

Yes. It’s designed for cruise ship passengers arriving in Penneshaw, with pickup from the SeaLink Ferry Terminal area in Penneshaw.

Where does the tour pick up and drop off?

It starts and ends at the SeaLink Ferry Terminal in Penneshaw, with pickup and drop-off handled as part of the tour.

How long is the tour?

The duration is listed as 7 hours.

What tastings are included?

You’ll have tastings and tea at multiple stops, including honey sampling, lavender scones and morning tea, wine tasting at Bay of Shoals Wines, and liquor tasting at Kangaroo Island Spirits (including gin and vodka).

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch isn’t included, and it’s recommended that you bring a light lunch from the cruise ship or buy it along the way.

Can I bring luggage or large bags?

No. Luggage or large bags are not allowed on this tour.

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