Luxury eco-lodge opens for business

Southern Ocean Lodge, the much anticipated and eagerly awaited world class wilderness lodge on Kangaroo Island, is now open. Kangaroo Island, widely regarded as Australia’s Galapagos, offers outstanding natural beauty, an abundance of wildlife and a protected natural environment boasting 21 national parks which cover a third of the island.

A$15 million (£6.1million) Southern Ocean Lodge sits on the south west coast at Hanson Bay and adjoins two national parks, offers stunning ocean views and features a modern spa, a wildlife viewing platform, a heated wet-edge plunge pool, customised tours and activities and locally sourced gourmet food and wine.

Commenting on the new lodge, James Baillie of Baillie Lodges said "With Southern Ocean Lodge we aim to exceed the traditional five-star expectations of our guests by fusing design and nature, glamour and wilderness, and offer impeccable service, sophisticated dining and exceptional touring. The end result is luxurious in style as well as uncompromisingly sensitive to the environment."

The 21 LUXURIOUS SUITES each feature a sunken lounge, dramatic glass walled bathroom, outdoor terrace with daybeds and a lavish sleeping area. There is a twice daily housekeeping service, complimentary room bar, under floor heating, music system, internet and air conditioning.

A variety of suites are available, including the premium Osprey Pavilion which features an open fire, private plunge spa, outdoor terrace with day beds and Bang and Olufsen audio visual system.

SPA - Perched on a dramatic cliff top, the Southern Spa offers a range of traditional and cutting-edge treatments as well as a spa cuisine programme alongside a steam room and chill out lounge. The Spa uses “Dreamtime” inspired Li’tya products complemented by locally produced lavender, eucalyptus and Ligurian honey.

DESIGN – The property, designed by local architect Max Pritchard, is a low visual impact building which appears to float on the landscape and uses a signature palette of materials – local limestone, recycled timbers and glass. Combined with designer furnishings and custom artworks, the property is fresh and contemporary but with a glamorous undertone.

CUISINE - With aspirations to be a South Australian culinary landmark, the Lodge restaurant showcases the island’s freshest, seasonal produce with a convivial open bar and walk in cellar. A spectacular sweeping panorama of Hanson Bay provides a dramatic backdrop for savouring the Lodge’s contemporary menus, whilst elegant interiors and personal service will ensure a memorable dining experience.

Kangaroo Island, home to 30 vineyards and 18 labels, is already gaining recognition for its dynamic food and wine culture - pure Ligurian honey, exceptional seafood, cheese, olive oil, the list goes on. Earlier this year Kangaroo Island was named Australia’s best regional food destination at the “Vogue Entertaining and Travel Audi Produce Awards”.

WILDLIFE SPOTTING - At 155 kms long and 55 kms. wide, Kangaroo Island the third largest island off Australia, is one of the best places on the continent to see native wildlife in its natural habitat. The island’s isolation has allowed it to retain a rich diversity of flora and fauna, much of which is not found on the mainland. Wildlife which can be easily viewed includes koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, fur seals, sea lions, penguins, Southern right whales and dolphins.

ACTIVITIES - include a dawn tour to see Australia’s third largest colony of sea-lions; tours highlighting the island’s wildlife, landscapes and maritime heritage; star gazing; beach fishing (fish caught can be taken to the Lodge for the chefs to prepare); limestone cliff walks on Hanson Bay; nocturnal penguin tours and natural history lectures by a resident naturalist.

PRIVATE TOURING - options with local tour operator EXCEPTIONAL KI include:

An Epicurean Adventure – a full day tour of the island’s best produce farms including wineries, sheep dairy and seafood farms.

North West Wilderness – a history tour retracing the original tracks used by early settlers to access lighthouses and haul supplies from sailing vessels.

Art of Nature – a tour of selected art studios, galleries and workshops.

Exclusively Flinders Chase – a tour of Finders Chase National Park which covers the entire west of the island.

Operating a minimum two-night stay policy, PRICES start from A$1,800 (approx. £835) per person for two nights. This price includes full gourmet breakfast, light lunch, four- course dinner, selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of guided touring experiences. Prices rise to A$7,200 (approx. £3,300) for two people for two nights when staying in the 120 square meter Osprey Pavilion.

A TOURISM AND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP – In a joint initiative to demonstrate how tourism can aid conservation, Baillie Lodges, the company behind Southern Ocean Lodge, and the State Government of South Australia, has agreed to establish a fund supporting environmental projects on Kangaroo Island. Expected to generate between A$20,000 and A$50,000 annually, projects likely to benefit include the ongoing restoration and management of the glossy black cockatoo’s habitat and the further research into the 15 threatened plant species on Kangaroo Island.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT POLICY - Southern Ocean Lodge is establishing new benchmarks for sustainable tourism. For example, waste water and organic waste are treated by the multi-award winning, Australian-owned/invented ‘Biolytix Filter System’ (biolytix.com) which converts waste and sewage into clean irrigation water which is used on the gardens. Extensive recycling is undertaken by separating compost materials, cardboard and paper, glass, plastic, aluminium and rubbish.

Additionally, water is harvested from all roof surfaces and stored in tanks with a capacity in excess of 1.5 million litres. A key aim is to make the property rainwater self-sufficient every four out of five years. The Lodge has employed the latest heat pump technology for an energy efficient hot water system, equivalent to a solar powered water supply.

In terms of conservation only one hectare was cleared for the Lodge or approximately 1% of the total 102 hectares purchased as private land. The remaining 99% has been placed under a Heritage Agreement to protect against future development. Prior to the building of the Lodge extensive flora and fauna surveys were conducted to identify rare wildlife and ensure protection plans were put in place.

The Lodge is situated on an important wildlife corridor between two national parks and the management has plans in place to protect the corridor by limiting future development. A 250 metre long boardwalk has also been erected between the Lodge and the beach to minimise the effects of guests walking about the area.

For more information, visit Southernoceanlodge.com.au.

For general information on Kangaroo Island go to Tourkangarooisland.com.au.