Tasting tours can be surprisingly educational. I love the honey, eucalyptus, and lavender scone stops, and I also really like how the day ends with gin and wine tastings you can compare side by side. The main tradeoff is it’s a tight, all-day schedule, and lunch isn’t included, so you’ll want to plan for that.

This is built for cruise days: you start from Penneshaw at 9:00 am and the pace is set to get you back in time. The group is kept small (up to 20), and the guides include local personalities like Kaitlyn, Nikki, Lutz, Gary, and Joel, who tend to bring extra context beyond the tastings.

One more practical note: lavender scones and tea/coffee depend on season and whether the lavender farm is open, so your day might feel a bit different in shoulder seasons or in bad weather.

Quick hits before you go

• Honey tastings at Clifford’s Honey Farm: learn about the Ligurian Bee and sample the goods.
• Emu Ridge Eucalyptus distillery visit: watch the eucalyptus story and taste eucalyptus drops plus ciders.
• Lavender farm morning tea: Lavender Scone with tea or coffee when the farm is open.
• Bay of Shoals Wines: a relaxed 1-hour tasting with coastal views.
• Kangaroo Island Spirits gin distillery: rustic tastings of gins, vodkas, and liqueurs.

A cruise-friendly, all-day setup from Penneshaw

If you’re docking in Penneshaw and only have one day on Kangaroo Island, this tour fits that reality. It’s for cruise ship passengers only, it starts at the cruise port area in Penneshaw at 9:00 am, and it runs about 7 hours total.

What makes it work is the mix of drive time and structured stops. You’re not spending the day chasing directions or trying to stitch together separate tickets. Instead, you’re picked up and moved between farms and producers, with each tasting stop timed so you can actually enjoy it instead of rushing through everything.

Also, you don’t just get alcohol. You get a food-and-producer arc: honey first, then eucalyptus, then lavender, then wine and gin. That order matters because it keeps your palate from getting overwhelmed too fast. And since the group max is 20, you’re more likely to have time for questions without the guide getting swamped.

One small caution: meeting points can be confusing on busy port days. Even when the ticket says pickup is from the cruise ship port, it can be near the port area rather than exactly at the gangway. I’d check the exact pickup location details you receive at booking so you’re not hunting in a crowd.

Price and value: what you’re really paying for

At $164.25 per person, you’re not just paying for a ride. You’re paying for transportation plus multiple paid experiences built into the schedule: honey tastings, eucalyptus distillery admission, lavender farm tea (when open), a Bay of Shoals Winery tasting, and Kangaroo Island Spirits tastings.

Lunch is the only major omission. Since you’re sampling several producers, the tour’s model is clear: food and drink are built into the stops, not into one sit-down lunch. That’s good value if you’re the type who actually likes tasting and learning. It’s less good value if you’re hoping for a full meal day with a long break from the tastings.

The reviews-style feedback score for this outing is strong (a 4.5 rating with 91% recommendation), and the most consistent praise centers on two things: the guide’s personality and the number of tasting experiences packed into one day without it feeling chaotic.

Stop 1: Clifford’s Honey Farm and the Ligurian Bee story

Your first tasting stop is Clifford’s Honey Farm, with about 30 minutes here. This is a quick but useful introduction to how Kangaroo Island’s food scene connects to place, not just brands.

You’ll have honey tastings, and you’ll also get a chance to wander in the shop. One detail that stands out in the tour description is the focus on the Ligurian Bee. Even if you’re not a bee-nerd, it gives you a framework for what you’re tasting. You start the day by learning, not by jumping straight into alcohol, and that makes the rest of the route feel more coherent.

Time is limited, so treat this as a tasting-and-meaning stop. If you love honey, you’ll likely want a few minutes extra in the gift shop to compare what you tasted to what’s for sale.

Stop 2: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus and the distillation hands-on feel

Next is Emu Ridge Eucalyptus (about 45 minutes). If you’ve never thought about eucalyptus as more than a smell, this part is a great reset.

You learn the history of the distillery and the distillation process, and you get to try eucalyptus drops. On top of that, you can browse the shop and try some ciders. That cider option is a nice bridge between the non-alcohol tasting theme earlier in the day and the heavier hitters later: gin and wine.

This stop also tends to help the tour make sense geographically. Kangaroo Island’s identity isn’t only wildlife and beaches. Eucalyptus shows another layer: local industry, local ingredients, and a product you can recognize long after you leave.

Practical tip: eucalyptus flavors can be strong. If you’re sensitive to intense menthol or herbal notes, take it slow with the drops so you don’t feel knocked off your palate before the lavender scone break.

Stop 3: Emu Bay Lavender for scones, tea, and a calm hour

Then you head to Emu Bay Lavender for about 1 hour. This is where your day gets a breather.

You’ll do morning tea with a Lavender Scone plus tea or coffee (assuming the farm is open and the season lines up). Even if you’re not a lavender superfan, it’s a pleasant way to taste a local ingredient in a form that’s easy to enjoy. One of the most repeated highlights is how substantial the scones feel, with people calling out the combination of scones plus coffee.

You also get time to wander around the grounds and visit the gift shop. Again, it’s not a long countryside hike. It’s a styled farm visit with time to look and taste. If the weather is rainy, this can feel less scenic, but the tea-and-scone break still holds value.

One small consideration: because this depends on seasonal operations, it’s worth accepting that this might be the one stop where your day changes most.

Kingscote’s one-hour break: shops, lunch, and resetting your legs

After the tastings, you get about 1 hour in Kingscote. This is the closest thing to a free-form moment on the tour.

You can browse shops, visit a cafe, and use the hour for lunch since lunch isn’t included on the tour. I like this setup for cruise passengers because it gives you control at the exact moment your schedule can start to feel long: you can eat something proper, slow down, and then rejoin the group with fresh energy.

If you’re shopping-minded, this is where you’ll likely find the simplest opportunity to pick up souvenirs without rushing. If you’re more sightseeing-minded, treat it as a town reset. You’re still on Kangaroo Island, but in a more human-scale setting than the farms and distilleries.

Bay of Shoals Winery: tasting with coastal views

The Bay of Shoals Winery stop is about 1 hour, and it’s a classic “sit, sip, and take in the setting” moment. The big draw is the vineyard’s overlook of the Bay of Shoals, which helps the tasting feel like more than a quick pour.

Here, you can relax while tasting wines. Many people come to Kangaroo Island for the rugged scenery, but the wine stop reminds you the island also supports serious agriculture and craft production.

Practical note: this is alcohol tasting territory, and the tour sets a minimum drinking age of 18. If you’re traveling with teens or younger children, you should expect that only adults can participate in alcohol tastings.

Also, if you’re doing the gin distillery later, pace yourself. You’ll taste more than once across the day, and the goal is to enjoy the flavors, not to power through.

Kangaroo Island Spirits: gin, vodka, and liqueurs in a rustic distillery

Finally, you’ll visit Kangaroo Island Spirits for about 1 hour. This is the “spirits finish” that rounds out the food-and-drink theme nicely.

The stop is described as a rustic gin distillery where you can enjoy tastings of gins, vodkas, and liqueurs. The structure matters: by the time you arrive here, you’ve already tasted honey, eucalyptus, lavender, and wine. That makes your palate more aware of how botanicals change from one product to the next.

One thing I’d keep in mind: gin can be a love-it-or-not type of flavor for some people. If you’re picky about spirits, this is still a fun stop because you can compare styles across the range of options offered, rather than committing to one drink immediately.

Wildlife and scenery moments you should plan for

Even though this is a tasting tour, it’s not only indoor stops. A repeated highlight is seeing wild wildlife along the way, especially koalas and kangaroos. The best strategy on this kind of day is simple: keep your eyes up, and be ready for quick pull-offs.

Some guides have a habit of stopping quickly when they spot an animal, which turns the drive into a mini safari without turning it into a separate excursion. If the weather is poor, those moments might be harder to catch and the outdoors time can feel less rewarding. Still, the tastings remain the core, and those tend to deliver in most conditions.

Group size, guide quality, and what makes the day feel smooth

Small group size matters on cruise excursions. With a max of 20, the pacing feels more humane than big-bus tours, and you have a better shot at getting your questions answered.

Guide quality is also a big part of why this works. Names that show up with strong praise include Kaitlyn, Nikki, Lutz, Gary, and Joel, and the common thread is clear: they explain the island and the products in a way that feels personal and practical. People also like that the guide keeps the day moving while still creating breathing room at each stop.

There’s one type of risk worth mentioning: if you’re sensitive to vehicle comfort, pay attention. One note called out a vehicle issue (shocks and a rear door sound). That’s not a dealbreaker for most people, but if you’re prone to getting uncomfortable on longer rides, it’s worth mentally preparing.

Should you book this Kangaroo Island tasting tour?

Book it if:

• You want a one-day Kangaroo Island intro that mixes food, drink, and learning.
• You love tastings and don’t need a full lunch built into the itinerary.
• You’re traveling during a cruise window and want something timed to get you back on schedule.

Skip it or choose something else if:

• You’re expecting long scenic wandering or hiking. This is farm-to-farm tasting time, plus a town hour.
• You dislike alcohol-heavy days, since you’ll have both wine and gin tastings.
• You’re visiting at a time when lavender farm operations may be limited, and lavender scones are your main reason for going.

If you do book, my advice is to show up hungry (in a smart way), pace your tastings, and plan your Kingscote lunch. That one hour is your safety valve.

FAQ

How long is the Kangaroo Island shore excursion?

The tour runs for about 7 hours.

What time and where does the tour start?

It starts at 9:00 am from the cruise ship port area in Penneshaw.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but you do get leisure time in Kingscote where you can grab lunch.

What tastings are included?

The tour includes wine tasting and gin tastings. It also includes honey tastings at Clifford’s Honey Farm and tastings connected to eucalyptus distillation at Emu Ridge Eucalyptus.

Is there a stop for sightseeing or time on your own?

Yes. You get about 1 hour in Kingscote for leisure time, shopping, and a cafe visit.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 20 travelers.

What if the cruise tender can’t reach Kangaroo Island due to weather?

Travel insurance is highly recommended. If the captain cancels tenders because of severe weather or other issues, the tour provider notes that they do not offer a refund because of the costs involved in preparing cruise ship tours.