KIWT: Admirals Arch Hike Trip Side (9km)

For those walking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail from end to end, this optional side trip from Hakea Campsite is well worth setting aside a few hours to explore. Allow around three to four hours for the full experience, either at the end of Day 2 or the start of Day 3, when your legs are fresh and the light is soft across the coastline. The Cape du Couedic Spur Trail heads south from Hakea Campsite, linking with the Weirs Cove Hike before continuing to the Admirals Arch Walk, offering a memorable glimpse into the island’s maritime and natural heritage.

The track to Weirs Cove leads you across exposed coastal terrain, where wind-sculpted vegetation clings to rocky slopes. The view opens to reveal the remnants of the old flying fox system that once winched supplies up nearly ninety metres of sheer cliff from the jetty below. It’s easy to imagine the isolation of the lighthouse keepers who depended on these deliveries in such a remote and unforgiving place. As you continue, the outline of the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse gradually comes into view, its solid stone tower standing guard against the Southern Ocean. Built in 1909, it remains a striking feature of the landscape, a symbol of resilience in an environment shaped by wind and sea.

Beyond the lighthouse, the path descends toward Admirals Arch, one of Kangaroo Island’s most remarkable natural formations. The boardwalk is wide and wheelchair accessible, winding along the headland with constant ocean views and regular sightings of long-nosed fur seals resting on the rocks below. Their playful calls and the crash of the surf fill the air as you approach the arch itself.

The final section involves a series of steps leading down into the cavern where Admirals Arch reveals its full grandeur. Sunlight filters through openings in the rock, casting moving patterns on the sea-sculpted walls. A viewing platform offers a perfect vantage point to watch the seal colony in action, diving and gliding effortlessly through the water. When it’s time to return, you can retrace the trail back to Hakea Campsite or take the shorter, more direct route via the access road. Either way, this side trip adds a rewarding layer to your wilderness experience, blending history, geology, and wildlife in a way that few places can.