A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna
Architecturally designed Nautilus provides tasteful and luxurious accommodation for up to 4 guests. High quality fittings and furnishings, original art work and super comfortable beds compliment the property. There is a generous deck to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings and sea views. Abundant native birds visit the birdbath and Blue Wrens chase tasty morsels under the trees. Guests will enjoy a spacious, light filled living area with combustion heater and air conditioning. Bedrooms are spacious and comfortable, they consist of one with pillow top king bed and one with twin king single beds, both with ceiling fans and built in robes. The sitting area is comfortable, with an airconditioner for speedy temperature control and combustion heater for cosy days.Large sofas and a flat screen TV with DVD player. Kitchen is fully equipped with brand new appliances, making for very easy catering. Linen is provided for guests. This includes all sheet sets, pillowslips, bath & hand towels, bath mats,face washers & tea towels.
Nautilus is a 15 minute drive from the ferry port of Penneshaw, and approximately 30 minutes from Kingscote airport. The local area is a haven for wildlife, leisurely walks often result in sighting an echidna ambling along or wallabies feeding on the local grasses and hopping slowly off as you approach. The deck overlooks a small valley which is home to many native birds as well as the wallabies. Relaxing outside you will often see the blue wrens chasing insects or a vibrant robin in the trees.
As property owners we have been providing quality self contained accommodation in Island Beach since 2006. We are fully accredited by the South Australian Tourism Industry Council and pride ourselves on the high quality of our service and maintenance. We make every endeavour to ensure our guests have a great experience while staying at the Island Beach Escape properties - Nautilus, Cassini & Beachcomber.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Water view
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Air conditioner, fire or heaters are not to be left on when house is unoccupied. Failure to adhere to this will result in loss of bond.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit
About the area
Island Beach
Located in Island Beach, this holiday home is in a rural area and by the sea. Dudley Conservation Park and Pelican Lagoon Conservation Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Penneshaw Maritime & Folk Museum and Kingscote Tidal Pool. Island Beehive and Exceptional Kangaroo Island are also worth visiting. Looking to get your feet wet? Snorkelling, fishing and swimming adventures can be found near the property.
Pelican Lagoon Conservation Park - 3 min drive - 3.0 km
Kangaroo Island Gateway Visitor Information Centre - Penneshaw - 13 min drive - 21.0 km
Sealink Ferry Terminal - 13 min drive - 21.8 km
Kingscote Tidal Pool - 29 min drive - 56.2 km
Seal Bay Conservation Park - 49 min drive - 99.5 km
Getting around
Kangaroo Island, SA (KGC-Kingscote) - 28 min drive
Restaurants
Oyster Farm Shop - 20 min drive
The Shed - 21 min drive
Samphire Restaurant - 19 min drive
The Deck cafe on the wharf - 20 min drive
Reflections Restaurant - 21 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna?
As of 9 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna on 9 May 2026 start from NZ$389, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is A quiet beach retreat with abundant flora and fauna located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) from Pelican Lagoon Conservation Park and within 9 miles (15 km) of Dudley Conservation Park and Prospect Hill. Penneshaw Maritime & Folk Museum and Kangaroo Island Gateway Visitor Information Centre - Penneshaw are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
A beautiful home hidden in the dunes with view of the water. Hosts were excellent, communication was exceptional. Home was very modern and neat, and fireplace was beautiful for winter.
Daniel B.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 July 2025
Thank you Daniel, so pleased you enjoyed your stay. Sorry we didn’t get to meet you but hopefully if you do come back in summer we would love to catch up.
So happy you enjoyed your stay and found the location to be just what you wanted. We are so lucky to have many of our little native creatures on our doorstep, so glad you got to meet one of them
House was amazing,clean,everything you could need.Made very welcome by owners.
Wildlife fantastic.Great stay. Beaches are outstanding.
Lynn B.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 November 2024
Thank you Lynn. It was great to meet you both and seeing those beautiful photos Peter took of the wildlife - they leave my iPhone shots for dead! Great to know you really enjoyed your stay.
Fantastic accommodation and so close to a beautiful tranquil beach. Also it’s positioned fairly centrally on the island which makes it easy to get around
Paul J.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Michael C.
14 March 2017
Fantastic property!
My wife and I stayed at Nautilus with our two daughters, and couldn't have been happier with our choice. Island Beach is a great location, and Nautilus is perfect for a small family or two couples. The house is virtually brand new and modern, and is only a short stroll to the beach.
Michael C.
Response from VrboOwner on 2 April 2020
Thank you for choosing to stay with us. We are very happy you had such a great family holiday and the little girls enjoyed their time at the beach. We would love to have you stay with us again.
Great property with all the comforts of home. Very welcoming hosts who checked in on our stay which was a really lovely personal touch. Unfortunately the weather didn’t allow for us to utilise the beach (which could be seen from the verandah) but the view was still nice to wake up to and enjoy.
Bec W.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 20 January 2024
Thank you for your review Bec, so pleased you enjoyed your stay despite the less than summer weather. The deck is a lovely secluded spot to enjoy the view all year round. We hope to see you again so that you can spend time on the beach and further exploring the island.
This house has an absolutely stunning view of the beach and was a short walk to the beach front. We loved our stay! The house was exceptionally clean and communication was fantastic. We would highly recommend. The beach was honestly the most beautiful beach on kangaroo island and we would definitely stay here again.
heather f.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 9 January 2023
Thank you Heather for your lovely review. I know we might be biased but we think Island Beach is just perfect too.
You were lovely guests and left the property neat and tidy. We would love to welcome you back to stay.
Wonderful house, so well setup and welcoming. Blissful outlook and very peaceful. Excellent all around. Hosts were marvellous- and even welcomed us with a lovely bottle of KI wine.
Amanda P.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2023
Thank you Amanda, it was great to meet you and Sandra and see how much you enjoyed your time staying with us at Island Beach and exploring KI. We would love to welcome you back any time.
Beautiful accommodation, very well appointed, nice views, close to the beautiful Island Beach and a gorgeous wood fire just right for the cold winter nights.
Plus, very, very comfy bed in the main bedroom.
The hosts were super nice, oferred assistance (not that any was required, everything was just right) and gave us some local produce as a welcome gift.
Antoaneta B.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2022
Thank you Antoaneta for your lovely review. We were so happy you enjoyed your time with us at Nautilus. Winter can be such a lovely time on the island with the cosy wood fire and rugging up to go walking. Many guests have commented on the comfy bed which is great feedback.
You were such perfect guests and left the property in a very neat and tidy manner. We would love to host you again if you return to KI.
Stunning views over turquoise waters and a white-sand beach. An extremely comfortable modern abode, very comfortable beds. No beach towels or face towels, so bring your own!
Jessica T.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 20 January 2024
So happy you enjoyed your time with us and experiencing the lovely view and beach. Unfortunately the laundry service is not able to supply beach towels so we do ask guests to bring their own.
Unbelievable location, fabulous accommodation. Everything was perfect just what was advertised. We would definitely come again and book this house.
Thankyou
Leoni B.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2023
Thank you Leoni, so happy you enjoyed your stay at Nautilus and beautiful Kangaroo Island. We would love to welcome you back again
We felt so comfortable in this property. It had everything one needed, situated in a quiet area with a wonderful empty beach with dolphins and water birds. Birds and kangaroos visiting the property as one sat on the beach.
The owners Fiona and Brooke were friendly and helpful.
We couldn't fault this property and would highly recommend it.
julia B.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 April 2024
Thank you Julia, it is great to hear how much you enjoyed your stay and all our local wildlife. We hope to see you again if you visit Kangaroo Island.
The property is fresh and modern. The location was perfect for our stay - peaceful, with a very short stroll to the beach (which we had to ourselves), but not too far away from the township of Penneshaw.
We will be returning for sure, only for longer!
Brooke S.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 April 2024
So great to hear how much you enjoyed your stay. We loved meeting you and really look forward to welcoming you back. You were great guests.
Well appointed property with all you need for a comfortable stay. Easy access to a beautiful beach you can almost call your own. We didn’t share it with another soul. Even had a welcoming party from the local wildlife in the morning.
Craig B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2023
Thank you Craig, thrilled you enjoyed your time with us and had a good Kangaroo Island welcome by the locals.
Brooke and Fiona’s accommodation was absolutely perfect. Welcoming and spacious with everything we needed. The kitchen was wonderful and the beds exceptionally comfortable. The beach was a minute’s walk away, a gorgeous sprawling bay. Communication was excellent and the hosts were more than flexible and accommodating when our ferry to the mainland was cancelled. Highly recommended.
Vicki M.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2023
Thank you Vicki for your lovely review. I am so happy you enjoyed your time, you definitely got out and about exploring the island and visiting the attractions. We did feel very relieved when Matt said you got on a ferry later that day. We would love to have you back again.
We absolutely loved our stay.
Have been to kangaroo Island nearly every year for the past 20 years and this was hands down the best property we have stayed in.
The house was so clean and tidy.
The kids loved seeing the kangaroos and birds come up close each evening. Was such a close walk to get down onto the quiet beach. Water was calm and safe for the kids to swim and paddle board.
Couldn't fault a thing. The house had absolutely everything we needed. Lovely deck to sit out on and enjoy our meals.
Absolute perfection
Leading up to our wedding had been very hectic and we very much needed a refreshing break so we chose the holiday house for our honeymoon...We were not disappointed.. The house was in an idyllic spot, was very private and was equipped with everything we needed.. Being cold, we enjoyed making up the log fire and watching the kangaroos gathering around the deck outside to consume the root vegetables we left each night for them.. We explored the island but also vegged out when we wanted.. The house enabled us to totally relax and we couldn't have picked a nicer place.. Our hosts were so friendly and popped in one day to say hello plus remind us that if we needed anything we could get in touch.. An overall wonderful experience 😊
Henk R.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 24 June 2022
Thank you for your lovely review Henk. We were delighted to meet you both and see that you enjoyed just relaxing around the property and winding down after a very busy time as well as getting out and about.
I hope you returned home feeling refreshed. We would love to host you again anytime you decide to head south.
We had 6 nights at Nautilus and am glad we chose this location on Kangaroo Island. Brooke and Fiona were extremely helpful with information and guidance, both before arrival and during our stay. The website information for this accommodation was also excellent and we used that a lot. A lovely home to stay in with everything you could need.
Set back from the beach the house is a clean and bright two bedroom one bathroom weatherboard with glimpses of the sea. About 15 minutes from Penshaw it is a great place to unwind. Very comfortable bed and all the amenities that you would need as a base to explore KI.
Serena A.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 12 January 2023
Thank you Serena,
So happy you enjoyed your time at Nautilus. It is a great spot to step off and
About the host
Hosted by Fiona McLeay
Our family have enjoyed Island Beach for over 25 years and since 2006 have provided quality self contained guest accommodation at our Island Beach properties. . We have seen a significant interest in Kangaroo Island from both local holiday makers and international travellers. We enjoy providing our guests with a positive experience, and assisting them with their holiday planning. Personally I enjoy outdoor things - walking, swimming, fishing and exploring. I also have a keen interest in art and spend time working on projects here at Island Beach. I also enjoy food and wine, and spending time with my family and friends
Why they chose this property
We built Nautilus in 2016 as a little sister to our other property Cassini. Nautilus is designed to provide luxury accommodation for smaller families or couples. It is part of our "Island Beach Escape" group of 3 beach properties at Island Beach. I personally love staying at Nautilus as it is very light and airy, has a fantastic deck where I spend many hours with my "Birds of Kangaroo Island" book identifying the numerous birds that drink from our birdbath or gather in the trees.
What makes this property unique
Nautilus has all the modern “essentials” we love but it sits so comfortably in the bush setting. We have maintained the native flora which in turn brings the local wildlife. We have Kangaroos, Wallabies, Blue Wrens, Scarlet Robins and Honeyeaters regularly visiting our “bird bath” for a drink or quick bath.