About Southern Ocean Lodge
On a wild coast of Kangaroo Island, the newly reopened Southern Ocean Lodge is one of the most sensational eco-lodges on earth.
Surrounded by knock-out landscapes and with far-reaching views across a capricious sea, Southern Ocean Lodge was always one of those mythical places, a madcap super-villain’s lair strung out high on the cliffs of a faraway island.
It reopened at the end of 2023, rebuilt after being razed to the ground by bushfires in 2020. Original architect Max Pritchard has again used bold design that is progressive and sustainable, harvesting solar power and rainwater and using local eucalyptus wood.
The 23 new low-rise guest suites slink down towards the beach. Walls of glass open out to a vast neon-blue canvas of sea and sky, bringing the views into the cool, sunken living areas. The futuristic-retro Great Room is a gathering place at all times of the day and night to admire that unrelenting view. The new spa has a sauna, hot and cold plunge pools and picture windows all round, and there’s an infinity-edge pool next to the main lodge. Amazing local produce is whipped up for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the list of South Australian wines calls out the big guns and some exciting new labels too.
Outside, the raw beauty surrounding Southern Ocean Lodge is hard to overstate. In a unique location at the edge of a wild expanse of ocean, this island is often referred to as Australia’s Galapagos. More than one third of the land is a conservation sanctuary or national park. It is rugged and pristine, a massive landscape filled with sea lions and fur seals, koalas and kangaroos. Hike out along the blustery boardwalk trails and along the clifftops or hook up with one of the very knowledgeable guides on nature walks by day and by night.
This is a modern and mindful eco-retreat now set for many years to come.
