American River, A Town in South Australia

Although you can easily get there from Adelaide in just a few hours by road and ferry, American River, on Kangaroo Island is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. On Kangaroo Island, we humans are welcome and can find wonderful American River accommodations, but we make up only a tiny fraction of the island's population. The local wildlife makes up the bulk of the population and is the major attraction for visitors.

How did American River get its strange name? The town of American River rests against an estuary, not a river. The name comes from the first known "tourists"; a group of sealers from the United States. In 1803, they spent four months on the banks of the inlet building a ship from timber they found on the island. These first arrivals are now memorialized by a plaque. What they may have called the "American River" is actually Eastern Cove and not a river at all.

Those American sealers were not there long enough to be considered the first settlers. That distinction goes to a man named Frank Potts. After settling in American River for a time, Potts later went back to the mainland and started one of the earliest vineyards in Langhorne Creek. Potts was followed by John Buick, who built the first permanent house in American River in 1844. Gypsum mining and the establishment of a fish cannery led to the early population growth in American River. However, neither of these enterprises grew to any great extent and the landscape was not damaged greatly.

Aside from oyster farming, tourism is the only major industry on Kangaroo Island today. It remains a peaceful island for a enormous variety of wildlife. Many species that can be found in abundance on Kangaroo Island are endangered or extinct on the Australian mainland. When you stay at American River, you will be virtually living in the midst of all of these Kangaroo Island wildlife species.

If you love the "nightlife", there's plenty of it at American River, but it's not like the nightlife you find on the mainland. If you want something to do at night that you'll never forget, join one of the organized night time wildlife tours that are available in and around American River. For example, at nearby Penneshaw, you can get "up close and personal" with the fascinating little penguins that call the island their home.

Daytime attractions, too, are largely natural. Some of the bird species found on the island include the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo, Black Swans, pelicans, Cape Barren Geese and others that make Kangaroo Island a world renowned bird watcher's destination.

In Eastern Cove alone, there are estimated to be at least 56 different water bird species. The cove's many little islands provide ideal breeding sancturaries for the bird life. The fish, too, abound, their survival assured now the the waters are protected for them by law.

Don't visit American River if you're looking for large resort developments, clubs, casinos and other mainland attractions. If, on the other hand, you want to get away from it all and get back to nature, you will love it. Make American River your base on Kangaroo Island and you will have all the comforts of home in a natural wonderland.

Take a few days off, find American River accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.