Mr & Mrs Smith

Southern Ocean Lodge's restaurant is the island's top dining spot, and with all meals included you may not want to venture elsewhere. If you're en route to or from the hotel, though, it's worth checking out the local seafood. Marron are freshwater crayfish (technically Cherax cainii), a species from Western Australia that has been introduced to Kangaroo Island for commercial farming. The Marron Café (+61 (0)8 8559 4128) – pretty much in the geographic centre of the island – is the place to try some. Like crayfish and lobster it’s a delicate taste, enhanced by the array of preparations the kitchen here comes up with. There’s also a cellar door for Two Wheeler Creek Wines here. Open daily from 11am to 4.30pm at Harriet Road, off Playford Highway.

Penneshaw Hotel (+61 (0)8 8553 1042) on the corner of North Terrace and Thomas Wilson Street is a rough-and-tumble fishermen’s boozer that’s had a makeover. It’s reliable for a pub lunch, a low-key dinner of King George whiting or kangaroo sausages, or a quick beer while you wait for the ferry to Cape Jervis.

The casual, open-sided Rock Pool Café (+61 (0)8 8559 2277) might be open when you visit, or it might not – it runs on a bit of a whim, and is usually closed in winter, but when it is open you can bet the cheery chef will be cooking something local for lunch (seafood more often than not). The coffee’s not bad either. Find it at Foreshore, Stokes Bay, on the island's north shore.

KI’s wildlife is world class, and if you’ve never seen a kangaroo, wallaby, echidna, possum, koala, goanna or New Zealand fur seal before, this is your chance. Flinders Chase and Kelly Hill National Parks offer a wealth of animal-watching activities. Try a trip to nearby Seal Bay to see its sea lion colony or opt for a Kangas & Kanapés sunset session and sip bubbly while you eyeball those bouncing critters. If you'd rather just chill out nearer to home, then head for the inhouse Southern Spa Retreat, perched on a secluded cliff separated from the main lodge by a long, wiggly boardwalk. A circular-plan building, its rooms peel off like orange segments, each with its own massage table, steam room, rainshower or relaxation area. Drawing on Australian heritage, the spa makes use of acclaimed Dreamtime-inspired Li'Tya spa treatment products and Aboriginal massage techniques. For a local flavour, island-produced natural beauty ingredients are a star attraction, too, including Bay of Shoals Mineral Salts, Australian pink clay, eucalyptus, lavender and Ligurian honey. Start in the steam room and wrap up with a rainshower to emerge refreshed and reinvigorated. If the super-fresh sea air hasn't already soothed away your stress!

February The annual Kangaroo Island Cup (events@kin.net.au) takes place in mid-February at the Cygnet River Race course near Kingscote. The horses do their thing, and everyone gets festive and fashionable in the party tents. May to October Penneshaw Farmers Market (+61 (0)8 8553 1185) occupies Penneshaw Oval the first Sunday of the month from May to October, plus sundry other dates between November and April; call for details. October The Kangaroo Island Art Feast (www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/artfeast.aspx) is an annual celebration of all things artsy, craftsy and islander, with plenty of local food, wine and musical talent thrown into the mix at venues across the island. November Kangaroo Island Speed Shears (www.kispeedshears.com.au) happens over three days in Parndana, and is Australia’s richest sheep-shearing competition. The Shearers & Shedhand Ball kicks things off, with the dubious sport of marron racing also making an appearance.