Luxury in Style

Luxury eco-wilderness lodge debuts on Kangaroo Island
 
In April, Southern Ocean Lodge, a wilderness lodge on Kangaroo Island, opened its doors. Sitting on the south west coast at Hanson Bay and adjoining two national parks, the lodge offers 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 in an eco-friendly environment.
 
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 property, designed by local architect Max Pritchard, is a low visual impact building which appears to float on the landscape and uses local limestone, recycled timbers and glass.

The 21 luxurious suites each feature a sunken lounge, glass walled bathroom, outdoor terrace with daybeds and a lavish sleeping area.

The Lodge restaurant showcases the island’s freshest, seasonal produce with a convivial open bar and walk in cellar. 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 and olive oil.

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.

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.

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’ 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 further information visit www.southernoceanlodge.com.au

By Chitra Mogul