Southern exposure
Southern Ocean Lodge Kangaroo Island reopens.
Photography by George Apostolidis
11 January 2024
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After an intensive four-year journey encompassing meticulous planning, innovative design, and dedicated construction efforts, Southern Ocean Lodge, the flagship property of Baillie Lodges, has reopened on the stunning south coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
Max Pritchard, the original architect of Southern Ocean Lodge, and his team spearheaded the property’s recreation, ensuring the inclusion of beloved features while adding carefully considered enhancements for a new era of Kangaroo Island travel.
The revamped Southern Ocean Lodge maintains a footprint close to the original, with the iconic Great Room commanding attention on the island’s limestone cliffs and 23 luxurious suites gracefully tracing the coastline.
In a strategic design adjustment, guest suites now face southeast, providing panoramic views of the Southern Ocean and the picturesque coastal wilderness. Each suite features private decks, an EcoSmart fireplace, and an indulgent sink-in bathtub.
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A noteworthy addition is the ultra-premium Ocean Pavilion, ingeniously crafted to serve as a four-bedroom owner’s residence or two separate two-bedroom suites, creating the ultimate Kangaroo Island hideaway for families and friends.
The Great Room terrace now features a wet-edge pool, and the expanded Southern Spa offers three treatment rooms, a gymnasium, sauna, and hot and cold plunge pools.
In line with the evolving travel landscape and environmental considerations, Southern Ocean Lodge establishes new benchmarks for sustainability in the tourism industry. The clever design incorporates cutting-edge technologies, including boosted rainwater capture and solar power generation, alongside smart building materials and a remote-controlled sprinkler system.
The surrounding natural environment is rejuvenated with 45,000 biodiverse native plants propagated onsite, forming a natural buffer from the wilderness.
Guests arriving at Southern Ocean Lodge can experience a virtually guided welcome through the Baillie Lodges Luxury Redefined podcast. This podcast features interviews with key figures involved in the lodge’s recreation, including Baillie Lodges founders James and Hayley, Southern Ocean Lodge General Managers Alison Heath and John Hird, architect Max Pritchard, as well as local artists, winemakers, and food producers, providing an ideal prelude to their journey to the lodge.
James Baillie, founder of Baillie Lodges, expressed both privilege and emotion on the occasion of opening the recreated Southern Ocean Lodge, emphasizing the team’s gratitude for the opportunity to present a refreshed and forward-looking lodge. Reflecting on the original lodge’s impact, he spoke of the chance to rebuild it for the next generation of travellers and a sustainable future.
Hayley Baillie, co-founder, highlighted the rewarding collaboration with the original lodge’s local suppliers and the discovery of new contributors to the region, including food and beverage producers, artists, and designers.
She expressed eagerness to showcase the depth and diversity of Southern Australia and Kangaroo Island to the world and to foster meaningful partnerships with local communities once again.
With the same generosity as the original experience, encompassing all dining, the renowned open bar, five signature Kangaroo Island experiences, and airport transfers—rates at Southern Ocean Lodge begin at AU$3,400 per couple per night.
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