Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Australia / Kangaroo Island / Southern Ocean Lodge
Southern Ocean Lodge
Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia · Baillie Lodges · Apex Luxury
Southern Ocean Lodge opened in 2008 as Australia's first true luxury wilderness lodge, designed by Kangaroo Island-born architect Max Pritchard on limestone cliffs above the Southern Ocean. The original lodge was destroyed in the January 2020 bushfires. Pritchard rebuilt it from the ground up for A$55 million, reorienting all 25 suites to face the ocean; it reopened on 6 December 2023 and ranked #69 on the World's 50 Best Hotels 2025.
- 25 rooms
- Opened 2008
- Neighborhood: Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island south coast
- Architect: Andrew Gunner (Max Pritchard Gunner Architects); Max Pritchard (original design and 2023 rebuild)
About Southern Ocean Lodge
- The lodge burned to the ground in January 2020 during the Black Summer fires that swept across nearly half of Kangaroo Island — guests were evacuated and six staff sheltered in an underground bunker. The metal kangaroo sculpture 'Sunshine' was the only object left standing on the site.
- The A$55 million rebuild included a solar array costing more than A$2 million, making the remote clifftop lodge largely off-grid; 45,000 fire-retardant succulents and native junipers were planted across 200 acres as a living firebreak.
- The rebuild reoriented all 25 suites — an architectural revision of the original design by the same architect — so that every room now captures direct views of the crashing Southern Ocean that the original layout had partially obscured.
- The lodge is all-inclusive: rates cover all meals, premium open bar, five guided Kangaroo Island wildlife experiences, and return airport transfers, a model rare at this level of architecture-led wilderness luxury in Australia.
History
Southern Ocean Lodge first opened in 2008 as Australia's first true luxury wilderness lodge, purpose-built on the limestone cliffs of Kangaroo Island's remote south coast by James and Hayley Baillie of Baillie Lodges. The original lodge was devastated by the catastrophic bushfires of January 2020, which swept across Kangaroo Island and obliterated the property. The Baillies partnered once again with Kangaroo Island-born architect Max Pritchard — who had designed the original — to reimagine and rebuild the lodge from the ground up at a cost of A$55 million. The rebuilt lodge opened on December 6, 2023, with 25 cliff-edge suites reoriented to capture the theatre of the crashing Southern Ocean, a new Ocean Pavilion, and a fully rebuilt wellness wing, reclaiming its position as an Australian wilderness icon.
The setting
Perched on the limestone clifftops of Kangaroo Island's south coast in South Australia, the lodge overlooks the wild Southern Ocean. Kangaroo Island is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity — sea lions, koalas, echidnas, and diverse birdlife — and sits within pristine national parkland, making it one of Australia's most celebrated nature destinations. 11 km from Kelly Hill Conservation Park. 83 km from Kingscote Airport.
Restaurants and bars
- Restaurant — Restaurant · World-class contemporary cuisine with local South Australian · Chef Tom Saliba
- Great Room — Restaurant
Experiences
- Signature guided excursions (Seal Bay sea lions, Remarkable Rocks, underground labyrinth) — Signature guided excursions included in the tariff: Seal Bay sea lions, Remarkable Rocks and an underground labyrinth.
- Beckons experience — Tailor-made itineraries connecting guests with the landscape, culture, wildlife, regional cuisine and lodgings of Kangaroo Island.
- Bespoke Experiences menu — Menu to tailor an itinerary, such as a 13km overland hike or a nocturnal wildlife expedition (additional charges apply).
- Coastal Clifftop Walk — Easy guided hike along the limestone bluffs, learning about the hardy flora and fauna of the Australian bush.
- Wonders of Kangaroo Island expedition — Expedition exploring Flinders Chase National Park.
- Koalas and Kangas excursion — Excursion at the Hanson Bay Sanctuary, ending with a beverage from the pop-up bush bar.
Amenities
- 25 cliff-edge suites with ocean views
- Ocean Pavilion (4-bedroom ultra-premium residence)
- Wellness building with three treatment rooms
- Gymnasium
- Sauna
- Hot and cold plunge pools
- Guided Kangaroo Island wildlife experiences
- Return airport transfers included
- Exclusive airport lounge
- All-inclusive dining and premium open bar
- Spa
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Recommended (2026)
- MICHELIN Three Keys (2026)
- Robb Report 50 Greatest Hotels on Earth (2026)
- Australia's Leading Lodge 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- World's 50 Best Hotels 51-100 (2025)
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2024)
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice — #1 Accommodation in Australia (2024)
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