Vivonne Bay is located at 61 km/37 mi from Kingscote on the south coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The spot was named by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin who visited the bay in January 1803.
According to a survey among 10,000 beaches, led by Professor Andrew Short, Sydney University’s marine studies center director, the beach at Vivonne Bay has been listed as the best in Australia. The 2011 International surfing contest was held in November 2011 at Vivonne Bay. The long, curved, sandy beach is a superb site for picnics, beach-combing and surfing.
Experienced surfers enjoy the wonderful turquoise waters. The beach can be reached by taking the road just past the Vivonne Bay store. On the other side of the river, Point Ellen provides photographers with spectacular views of the Southern Ocean, sending its waves crashing onto the cliff-face. The bay offers a rocky flat with sand bottom while the tide direction is from the left as well from the right. The swell size starts working at less than 1 m / 3 ft and holds up to 2.5 m+ / 8 ft+ for exquisite surfing on the white waves.
However, bear in mind that the spot is a white shark breeding spot, so you have to watch out for sharks. The Vivonne Bay Camping Ground, situated on Jetty Road, Vivonne Bay, is a unique camping area providing an ideal location for relaxation and easy access to the Western Kangaroo Island attractions. The Vivonne Bay Conservation Park extends westwards along the coast from the western end of the bay.
