It is separated from the mainland by Investigator Strait. Most of the people on the island work as farmers, growing wheat, barley, and oats, and raising sheep and cattle. Other industries include fishing and the production of honey, yacca gum, eucalyptus oil, salt, and gypsum. Tourism is one of the main sources of income on the island. The island's largest national park is Flinders Chase.
Tourists can see fairy penguins and enjoy the rugged natural coastline.
The island is linked to Adelaide by a regular air service. The main towns are Kingscote, Parndana, and Penneshaw. The British explorer Matthew Flinders discovered the island in 1802 and named it in gratitude for the large number of kangaroos his men killed for food. The French explorer Nicolas Baudin sailed around the island in 1803. Before 1836, there was no official settlement in the area.