The Vivonne Bay is located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 61 kilometres (38 mi) from Kingscote, the island's main town, and was named by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin who visited the bay in January 1803. In a survey of 10,000 beaches by Professor Andrew Short, director of Sydney University's marine studies centre, the beach at Vivonne Bay was adjudged as one of the best in Australia.