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Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK

Waterfront holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK

Exterior
Outdoor dining
Miscellaneous
Property grounds
Miscellaneous

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
American River, SA
  • Place, The Oyster Farm Shop
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Buick Point
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Sealink Ferry Terminal
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Airport, Kangaroo Island, SA (KGC-Kingscote)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Bunk Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK

The house is not modern, but very comfortable with a rustic cottage feel. Most basic amenities provided.

2 bedroom home with great verandah views. Main bedroom with queen bed, second with Double/single bunk & a single bed.
Wood Heater for the cosy winter days.
30 minute drive to Kingscote, Airport and Ferry Terminal at Penneshaw.
Great walking trails & fishing from the wharf or out front of the house.
5 minute walk to Tennis Courts, Playground and Wharf area.
A great place for those wanting to relax and take in all Kangaroo Island has to offer.
Pet Friendly.
The entire property is fenced with a post/rail/wire fence with chicken wire below to secure the smaller dogs.
**There is one step from living area to kitchen/bathroom areas. Possibly not suitable for persons with disabilities.

The kitchen is basic, but should have all amenities.
There is a wood heater, but no air-conditioning (only fans).
There is no WIFI.



The front view is exceptional.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available
Ocean view

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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

About the area

American River

Located in American River, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Prospect Hill and Emu Ridge Farm Eucalyptus Distillery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Beyeria Conservation Park and Nepean Bay Conservation Park. Penneshaw Maritime & Folk Museum and Kingscote Tidal Pool are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in American RiverOpens in a new window
Map
American River, SA

What's nearby

  • The Oyster Farm Shop - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Buick Point - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Kangaroo Island Spirits - 20 min drive - 41.1 km
  • Kingscote Tidal Pool - 25 min drive - 47.7 km
  • Sealink Ferry Terminal - 26 min drive - 47.8 km

Getting around

  • Kangaroo Island, SA (KGC-Kingscote) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Reflections Restaurant - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪The Deck cafe on the wharf - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪The Shed - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Oyster Farm Shop - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪KI Tru Thai - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Swordfish, Pet Friendly SHACK located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of The Oyster Farm Shop and Buick Point. Prospect Hill is 7.9 mi (12.6 km) away.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 50 out of 79 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 79 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 79 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 79 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 79 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Noel H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The location - both scenic and quiet, was perfect. We appreciated the secure yard for our dogs. Will appeal to those who like rustic charm and natural settings. Not modern, but has everything you need.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely long weekend

Great dog friendly accommodation
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessi S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy stay

Great cottage in a beautiful location, rustic with everything you need. Fur baby loved it as well.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Robyn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short KI Stay

Comfortable, Rustic great location really enjoyed the view and stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Cynthia J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Swordfish at American River

Beautiful beach house with amazing views. Cosy fire. Good communication with owner. American River very picturesque, and the locals are so friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

anita p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorable

Swordfish was overall a comfortable ,practical holiday house. The views and location was amazing. Only thing it could do with would be a upgraded air conditioner. Loved our holiday here.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Vikas R.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
The location was really good. However the house was old and was just basic. If you would expect to have a bodywash and a shampoo as a standard it was missing here and there was barely any hand wash and dishwashing liquid left for a 5 night stay. There were food cans and food items in the pantry which had an expiry date back to mid 2024 not that we wanted to use it but they are rotting sitting there. No acknowldedgment of messages by the host for a special request before checkin and after kindly advising that we have checked out. Overall felt no value for the money we spent. There are much better places for this value out there.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Geoff S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great view

Nice older style place that you can have your pet and enjoy the view.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Robyn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Busy

A central location to see the whole island.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kirsty F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute and cozy

Loved your little place! Loved the fireplace. Cozy homely and had everything we needed.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

John H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very memorable stay in a beautifully located warm house

Magic location and view, and a very warm combustion heater. Many thanks Susan, Oscar and I had a great stay. Best, john
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie and Bruno D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

SWORDFISH

Had a lovely stay, we will be back. American River is quiet and amazing
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ray L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

Excellent location. Quiet & cosy. Great views
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Edmond Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay

We loved the location of this property - American River is peaceful and relaxed whilst parkland and waterfront (with bird life) is directly across the quiet road. The property is spacious and comfortable, nothing fancy but had everything we needed and was clean, with a nice outdoor deck at the front to enjoy meals when weather permits. Very happy to have stayed here.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mr & Mrs

Love the location thank you very much
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Swordfish

Absolutely beautiful location, very quite and tranquil with amazing views. The cottage is comfortable and has everything you need, I will be back
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rick D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Swordfish

Highly recommended. Great for a quiet getaway. Property manager was very understanding about a slight mishap too.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Swordfish Accommodation @ American River

A quirky shack. Old but very clean. Great views to the water from the deck. Sliding door to deck needs maintenance, very difficult to open and shut A very quiet area and a short ealk to the Oyster Farm.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

L L.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place for Exploring Kangaroo Island

We were happy to arrive at ‘Swordfish Shack’ and sad to go.Not surprised this pet-friendly home is usually booked out - it is a gem. Lovely views out to Pelican Lagoon, great bush and beach walks, and easy drives to everywhere. Felt at home with all we needed and lots of lovely little touches.We tried to leave it cleaner than we found it because it fit us so well. We would happily return but at least ten days would be ideal.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Pasquale A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pasquale

Property very well organised and fully equipped. Very pet friendly, our Leo enjoyed the safe fenced garden. Amazing view and perfectly located. Highly recommended for family with pets.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Maryorie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

nice old fashioned home

clean and tidy over all, however the kitchen pots and pans need to be clean or change, no serving spoons at all, good location, beautiful views.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tamara A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nailed It!

We had an amazing stay at Swordfish. The location is central to most things on the island and we did a fair bit of driving. The local establishments are an easy walk and the fire place was appreciated as the weather was cooler than normal for our stay. General store very well equipped and oysters from the oyster shop amazing. Loved the outdoor setting out front to enjoy the views.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Simon S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic beach cottage perfect for dogs

Great location with fantastic view ofAmerican River. Well fenced so dogs happily played outside while we travelled the island. Great communal area with all the basics. Bathroom basic but functional and fitted well into the overall ambience of the place giving a shack feeling yet more than just a shack. Great combustion fireplace all adding to the experience. Would be happy to stay again but a few days longer
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

4/10 Poor

naomi b.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Good location, run down place

The house was in a great location however was very dirty on arrival, with lots of dead bugs and other dirt around the place. The house is quite run down but sufficient. It has a nice deck area overlooking the water
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie and Bruno D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

SWORDFISH

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR, the screen doors need replacing, very hard to open, rgs Julie De Nichilo
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

About the host

Hosted by Susan Walsh

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Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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