KI Brewery owner Mike Holden calls out SeaLink’s monopoly and says the cost of getting to the island is out of reach for the average Aussie
It should’ve been the perfect October long weekend on Kangaroo Island – sunshine, good crowds, and cold beers. But for Mike Holden from Kangaroo Island Brewery, the conversations with his brew loving customers all ended in a similar way
“We’ve loved it here, but we probably won’t come back.”
Why? The Sealink ferry.
A 45-minute, 16-kilometre trip that costs over $800 for two adults and two kids in the family car. For many, that’s a deal-breaker.
Mike opened Kangaroo Island Brewery back in 2009. He’s poured more pints than most and heard every story there is about life on the island. But after years of hearing the same complaint, he’s decided to act. This week, he put his money – and his beer – where his mouth is.
“Moving forward, Kangaroo Island Brewery is not providing Sealink or Kelsian with any of its products,” he wrote on Facebook.
“This company restricts the business that Kangaroo Island can do and we won’t stand by while Sealink/Kelsian continue to determine our future.”
“People love this island, but the ferry kills access — through cost and unavailability.”
And in true country style, he’s backing his words with action, offering a free beer to anyone who shows a Sealink ticket on the day.
Kangaroo Island Brewing calling out Sealink marks one of the strongest public protests yet – tapping into a long-simmering island frustration.
“KI is held hostage,” Mike told Greater SA. “Tourism is our bread and butter, but if the cost of getting here drives people away, what future do we have?”
Shops in Kingscote are closing. Families are rethinking trips. Locals who once dreamed of living here say they’d never risk being cut off.
Mike lives in Emu Bay, where he jokes that if the population doubled, there’d be two people walking on the beach instead of one. There’s room for growth, but without affordable access, that growth will never come.
And while Sealink is an Australian success story, making a whopping $54 million profit last year, Mike points out the irony.
“That’s great for them. But without us – the businesses and people who keep KI alive – they don’t have an island to show.”
He wants to see the ferry back in public hands. Or at least for the State Government to subsidise fares, because right now, the ferry’s pricing the average Aussie out of visiting their own backyard.
The ferry is, in many ways, an extension of South Road. It’s the only connection linking South Australians to their own island. If we treat it like essential infrastructure, then it deserves the same kind of state support roads get.
What people are saying
“When it’s cheaper to go overseas than visit your own state, something’s wrong.”
That single comment from a visitor sums up what so many others are saying – people love Kangaroo Island, but the cost of getting there is turning affection into frustration.
The rest of the comments tell the same story…
- “It’s cheaper to go from the UK to France six times than to Kangaroo Island once.”
- “I wanted to volunteer after the fires — $2,000 return for my vehicle and caravan. Didn’t go.”
- “More expensive for a 45-minute crossing than the 3-hour Cook Strait in NZ.”
- “We used to go every year. Haven’t been back since prices doubled.”
- “The government should subsidise this like they do in Queensland. A 45-minute trip there is $72 with a subsidy.”
- “Isn’t KI part of South Australia? Shouldn’t it be free like the Murray River ferries?”
The message couldn’t be clearer.. it’s not the island putting people off, it’s the price.
What happens next
Mike isn’t out for a fight. He’s out for change.
His passion for Kangaroo Island and its people is palpable. He’s willing to put his neck on the line, because the alternative – doing nothing – isn’t an option anymore.
He says it’s time to move past complaints and start pushing for action, beginning with the state government taking a serious look at the cost of access.
The ferry is the island’s lifeline – and right now, that lifeline comes with a premium few can afford. If something doesn’t give, Mike fears the long-term damage to the island’s economy will be irreversible.
He also knows, like many regional South Aussies, that if you want to see change, you have to get off your arse and make it happen.
Watch this space – with Mike leading the charge, there’s no doubt this savvy and passionate Kangaroo Islander will keep the conversation going..
For more stories from Kangaroo Island, click here
