The house is 300m from the sea at Penneshaw, on Kangaroo Island, and is tucked in a peaceful valley on the edge of the town and surrounded by bush. Kangaroos and wallabies are common visitors, and local wildlife includes dolphins, seals, whales, penguins, superb blue wrens, wedgetail eagles and the rare glossy-black cockatoo.

A large shaded deck overlooks the sea, and all bedrooms have sea views and sliding doors to the veranda. It's only a five minute walk to Penneshaw's pretty beach, where I keep two kayaks for exploring the coastline and enjoying occasional encounters with our local dolphin pod.

Kangaroo Island has an abundance of wildlife, with one-quarter of the island set aside as conservation park or wilderness reserve. There are beautiful beaches along the north coast while the more rugged south coast offers surfing and fresh air all the way from the Antarctic. It is Australia's third largest island, 150km in length and 4,400 sq km in area.

Penneshaw is small but has a post office, pub and petrol station, two cafes and a well-stocked general store. Evening meals are available at several restaurants and the pub. As there is no public transport on the island a car is essential. Visitors can either bring a car from the mainland or or rent one on the island.

Several wineries offer lunch platters of local produce and have beautiful views of the water. Fishing is good, and day trips can be arranged with tour operators. A drive to Flinders Chase National Park at the western end of the island is a must.

The island is beautiful at any time of the year but favourite months to visit are spring (Sept/Oct/Nov) and autumn (March/April/May). January and February are hot but there are many beaches to choose from for a swim.