After almost four years in the planning, design and reconstruction stages, Baillie Lodges’ flagship property, Southern Ocean Lodge on Australia’s Kangaroo Island, reopened late last year after the original hotel was razed during the summer of the 2019/2020 Kangaroo Island bushfires.

© George Apostolidis

The newly rebuilt Southern Ocean Lodge takes up the same amount of ground space as the original, with the building’s popular Great Room and its suspended fireplace still taking center stage on Kangaroo Island’s limestone cliffs. The 23 luxurious suites facing the coastline have all been restored to look even better than the original. And there is still plenty of wildlife roaming the terrain, including kangaroos, wallabies, koala and more.

In a smart redesign maneuver, guest suites have been slightly reoriented to open toward the southeast, with each suite now providing uninterrupted views of the Southern Ocean and rolling hills of the coastal wilderness. In addition, all guest suites now feature private decks, an Eco-Smart fireplace and sink-in bathtub. And, best of all, the property has not lost any of its spectacular sunrises, sea mists or large waves breaking along the shore.

© George Apostolidis

A new ultra-premium suite, the 6,700-square-foot Ocean Pavilion, follows the owner’s residence-style pavilions across the Baillie Lodges portfolio, offering expansive views of the Southern Ocean, an outdoor terrace with wet-edge pool, private accommodation with up to four bedrooms and bathrooms, or a combination of two separate suites. The Osprey, Remarkable and Flinders suites have been outfitted with upgrades and design tweaks to make the most of the coastal outlook.

Enhancements include a private dining “snug” adjoining the walk-in cellar and an edgeless pool curving along the sun terrace. A new location for the Southern Spa allows space for three treatment rooms, gymnasium, a sauna, and hot and cold plunge pools with bushland views.

© George Apostolidis

With the rebuild of Southern Ocean Lodge under original architect Max Pritchard, along with his partner Andrew Gunner, the new lodge will once again be a champion of South Australian and Kangaroo Island suppliers of food and beverages, where a commitment to using exclusively local produce gives a big boost to the regional economy. In addition, more than 40 of Kangaroo Island-born artist Janine Mackintosh’s curated pieces of art decorate the walls of the Lodge.