Seeing Wild Sea Lions in Australia

Location: Seal Bay, Australia

Recommended by Natalie & Steve of Curious Campers

The Australian sea lion is an endangered species, there are only 10, 000 left in the wild living along the south and west coasts of Australia. One of the largest colonies is on the south coast of Kangaroo Island just off the coast of South Australia. Kangaroo Island is a beautiful, rugged location known for its spectacular coastline, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife. Access to the Island is via a ferry that leaves multiple times a day from Cape Jervis.

The 800-strong sea lion colony at Seal Bay Conservation Park is on the south coast of Kangaroo Island. It is one of the best places to see these beautiful creatures and features of the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park.

How do I know it’s ethical?

In the past, visitors could drive to Seal Bay and walk along the beach getting as close to the sea lions as they liked. Fortunately, for both the sea lions and the public, the site is now managed. Access to the beach is only in small groups and under the supervision of a guide. At some times of the year, or if the sea lions are lying too close to the steps leading to the beach, you can’t get onto the sand at all – the sea lions have right of way!

Infrastructure is now also in place so visitors can watch from a safe distance. Where walking on the beach used to be the only option, boardwalks now keep visitors and sea lions well apart while still offering great views. Seal Bay Conservation Park has won awards for eco-tourism from Tourism South Australia and Advanced ECO certification by Ecotourism Australia.

Description of the Experience

Watching the sea lions at rest and play is a fabulous experience. See pups surfing into the beach from the ocean, mothers nursing their young or resting and the big males, too lazy to walk, roll down the dunes towards the water. There is always something going on, the longer you watch, the more you see.

There are three ways you can enjoy the sea lions at Seal Bay. The first is to watch them on a self-guided tour from the 900m boardwalk that takes you along the sea cliffs, through the dunes to a viewing platform that look down the beach. It is a great vantage point, there are sea lions everywhere and if the weather is poor, they come right up under the boardwalk to rest.

For a closer look, you can join a park ranger for a guided walk along onto the beach. The tours are a great way to get more information about the challenges facing the population. For the ultimate experience, there is also a Research Tour where you can go behind the scenes for a firsthand look at how the colony is managed.

Company/ Cost: 

Seal Bay Conservation Park is managed by National Parks South Australia. Access cost starts at around AUD$20 per adult for the self-guided boardwalk.

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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.

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