Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island is Southern Australia’s third-largest resort, covering some 4,500km². The island, which is only 15km from the shore, has a plethora of native wildlife, presenting itself as an eco-tourist paradise.
Opened in March 2008, the Southern Ocean Lodge sits on a cliff-top location and offers 21 luxury suites with exceptional views. The lodge is at Hanson Bay, on the southwest coast, and is adjacent to two of the island’s national parks.
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DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING
The lodge required an investment of A$15m to build and was developed with full environmental consideration for the island’s ecosystem under the authority of Planning SA.
The owner and developer of the lodge is Baillie Lodges and the designer and architect was Max Pritchard. The building contractor for the project was Steen Construction. Kristina Pacheco contributed to the resort design and spa.
ENVIRONMENT
Southern Ocean Lodge offers sustainable tourism accommodation approved under the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act passed by the Federal Government, as well as the Development Act; National Parks & Wildlife Act; Native Vegetation Act; and Natural Resources Management Act of the South Australian Government.
Baillie Lodges also runs an Environment Fund, which hopes to raise between A$20,000 and A$50,000 per year from guest voluntary contributions to be used for environmental projects on the island.
The resort occupies 102ha, of which only 1ha was cleared for construction (the rest is under a heritage agreement to prevent further development). The lodge uses environmentally friendly technology such as flow-through ventilation and glazing (capturing sunlight and natural heat) and also a Biolytix Filter System that converts organic waste, wastewater and sewage to clean irrigation water. Water is also harvested from the roofs and stored in tanks with a capacity of 1.5 million
litres.
LODGE FACILITIES
The main lodge has a reception area, a library (reference library and also CD and DVD library), a large open lounge called the Great Room with floor to ceiling windows and a heated wet-edge plunge pool, a guest restaurant and a meeting room.
The site has a car park around 50m from the lodge, which is accessed by a covered walkway and leads to the lodge entrance.
The 21 guest suites are linked by another enclosed walkway and a ramped corridor leading to the lodge.
The restaurant and open bar provide contemporary Australian cuisine and specialise in wines and beer from South Australia. There is also a Wildlife Camp, which is a safari-style viewing platform for guests. The resort also has a signature spa called the Southern Spa, which offers a range of Li’Tya rejuvenation and relaxation treatments and three treatment rooms, a steam room and chill lounge.
ACCOMODATION
The contemporary suites have been designed in an environmentally conscious manner. The facilities include: king-size beds, a sunken lounge, a glass-walled bathroom and an outdoor terrace with lounge seating and daybed. There are also walk-in wardrobes, a complimentary room bar, optional climate control, heated floors, wireless internet, fully integrated music system, room safe and telephone.
SUITES
There are 11 Flinders Suites (65m²) with king-size or twin beds, a curved sunken lounge and outdoor terrace with day bed.
There are five Ocean Retreats (75m²) with king-size bed, lounge with feature fireplace and ensuite with freestanding tub and a terrace with a day bed.
There are also two Ocean Family Suites (120m²) with an additional bedroom and bathroom and a totally separate living area with LCD TV and DVD player.
The two Remarkable Suites (120m²) have a king-size bedroom, separate lounge area with open fire, premium entertainment system with LCD TV and DVD player, and spacious ensuite with handmade timber bath tub and expansive outdoor terrace with day lounge and spa bath.
The premium Osprey Pavilion (120m²) has excellent beach views, a sunken lounge with open fire and state-of-the-art audio visual system, laptop computer, separate king-sized bedroom, bathroom with hand sculptured bath and an outdoor terrace with daybeds and private plunge spa.
