Southern Ocean Lodge
Hanson Bay Road, Karatta, Kangaroo Island, South Australia 5223 Australia
Full view
View all photos (240)240
Room & Suite (77)
Dining (28)
About
#1 of 1 resort in Kangaroo Island
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Celebrated around the world as the pioneer of experiential luxury in Australia, the new iteration of Southern Ocean Lodge has returned to crown the wildly beautiful clifftops on Kangaroo Island. The new-look luxury lodge bears a similar footprint to its award-winning original, complete with breathtaking views of the Southern Ocean, magnificent Great Room and string of luxurious guest suites easing along the coastline. Combining contemporary design, world-class dining and a personal connection with nature, Southern Ocean Lodge celebrates the resilient spirit of Kangaroo Island, its wildlife and its community.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Hot tub
Free breakfast
Beach
Airport transportation
Business Center with Internet Access
Spa
Public wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Massage
Concierge
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Private check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Show more
Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Safe
Laptop safe
Minibar
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Green
Location
Hanson Bay Road, Karatta, Kangaroo Island, South Australia 5223 Australia
Getting there
See all nearby hotels
790Reviews13Q+A0Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 709
- 53
- 18
- 6
- 4
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Sort by:
Most Recent
I (as well as others in my group) was so excited to visit the Southern Ocean Lodge (SOL) for my third time. Our main reason for visiting Australia is to stay here, to enjoy this lodge and see Kangaroo Island. We arrived on January 2 and really enjoyed the afternoon hiking some trails and walking the beach. We enjoyed the evening visiting with kangaroos and kanapes, then a wonderful dinner. At least we had one day to experience the beauty that we had enjoyed in previous visits. None of us could believe that such an amazing place could be devistated by the bushfires. I have to say that the staff (Allison and John and many others) did an awesome job during a time of unbelievable stress. The employees are definately professionals. They made sure that all of the guests were safe and taken care of. My hopes and prayers are that Ballie Lodges does rebuild, so many more people can experience this magical place.…
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
It is hard to write this as the day we departed Kangaroo Island and SOL suffered from the fires. This is the most magical enchanting beautiful place. The setting is just gorgeous, the rooms are (were) beautiful and the service was impeccable yet so friendly at the same time, we were all on a first name basis. The food was delish. The experiences that we did were amazing, and I shudder to think how what we saw looks like now. It truly was so filled with animals, and I am praying that the animals that were hurt and survived are being well cared for at the sanctuary. I have been trying to raise money on facebook and have contributed. The nocturnal tour was fantastic as was the Kangaroos and Kanapes. Also our massages were excellent. I cannot say enough about SOL, I hope you rebuild and I vow to come back. You are constantly in my thoughts. xo…
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
7 Helpful votes
Helpful
TRAGIC NEWS Sadly , This magnificent venue was destroyed by a major and disasterous bush-fire on Kangaroo Island in early January, 2020. Hopefully this classy resort, with its great facilities, can be re-built at some future time.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
6 Helpful votes
Helpful
The hotel is gorgeous, and the location is even more so. It’s absolutely stunning. But what makes this hotel extra special is the staff. They are all incredibly professional yet friendly. They made our stay feel like home. I can’t say enough things about the people who work here and go out of their way to cater to your every need with a smile on their face. Thank you SOL for an unforgettable stay.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Epitome of luxury in a beautifully isolated location overlooking the ocean. We visited recently mid December and would recommend a winter stay here to take advantage of curling up near the funky fireplace, with a few good books to devour.....oh and a glass of local wine!
Read more
Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This was the 3rd Bailie's property we have visited. The location is spectacular, up on a cliff overlooking the Great Southern Ocean. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. Tours are generally well planned and the guides are good. The food, however, didn't compare to the other two lodges, except for the occasional meal. They need to up their game in this area. We stayed in room 3, which is one of the farthest from the lobby and dining room. It was about a 7-minute uphill walk, so asking for a room closer to the lobby makes sense if you don't want the slog. Regarding touring, while we saw lots of koalas in the reserve, kangaroos are only seen at dusk in one area because of the thick bush covering most of the island. We went to the kangaroo viewing in the rain and it wasn't a particularly appealing tour. The tour was offered another night, but I heard that it was crowded and a challenge to see the kangaroos without the large number people alarming them. The cliff walk was spectacular, but my husband has balance issues, so he found it very challenging. Finally, the tour to see the fur seals was very good, but cold and windy when I went. Still, this is a place not to miss, and I suspect Southern Ocean Lodge is one of best places to stay on the island. We don't regret going. It's peaceful and lovely. …
Read more
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We learned of Southern Ocean Lodge through Travel + Leisure Top 100 list. As people who usually stay at city hotels on points, we were skeptical at how Southern Ocean Lodge could be worth the money, but we decided to take the plunge. And boy, were our high expectations exceeded. The whole time you're there, it feels like you're staying at a large family home, rather than some corporate hotel. The environment is very relaxed - I started going to breakfast in my slippers! The staff is so friendly and welcoming and gets to know you and your preferences, even for the relatively short length of stays. The property is breathtaking - you feel as if there is no one else in the world. The room is comfortable and unique, with everything that we needed and didn't even realize we needed. The food was a bit...interesting, but they try to source locally and in season, so this means you won't have the variety you would expect if they were cooking less sustainably. I highly recommend three nights - two nights would just not be enough.…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2019
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Virginia R wrote a review Nov 2019
Orinda, California, United States822 contributions169 helpful votes
Southern Ocean Lodge has the most amazing setting and views. This stunning hotel offers impeccable service and amazing food in a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone on the staff is wonderful, the guides, Shauna and Emily, the wait staff, Jasmine, Arthur, Natalie, Radi. (I am afraid i can't name everyone-they were all terrific) Stuart who drove us from the airport gave a perfect introduction to the island and the luxury lodge. The housekeepers are delightful and do an amazing job. The staff has wonderful way of making you feel at home. In addition to learning your name, they really get to know each guest. The rooms are wonderful, spacious and private. The bedding is really comfortable. Each room has a nice "mini bar" all included and filled with treats. The meals are varied and plentiful, so we really didn't need any of the treats in the room. The outings are planned to take advantage of the best of Kangaroo Island and the hotel is located conveniently to the park and conservation areas, so you won't spend your whole visit riding to the attractions. The guides are knowledgeable and personable. The wildlife on the property is wonderful, from our room we could see Osprey and an echindna, from the common area we saw a wallaby and a variety of birds, the property has beautiful designated walks where we could see even more wildlife, the Guana, Kangaroos, and more wallabies, as well as beautiful wildflowers and breathtaking coastline. If you are a wildlife lover you will really enjoy the outings, so many koalas, kangaroos and birds. You will not regret splurging on the Southern Ocean Lodge.…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2019
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
I’m writing this review tp praise The Southern Ocean Lodge on Hanson Bay on Kangaroo Island, off the southern coast of Australia. My wife and I spent 5 days there this past October and it was absolutely wonderful. It’s quite remote and requires an hour van ride to get there from Kingscote airport. We arrived at SOL close to 8 P.M. after a LONG day of flights and were understandably tired, but appreciated Lucky greeting us at the door and arranging to have our bags sent to our room. She made me a tasty martini and she and Jess oriented us in the great room, in front of a fire, as to what activities we could take advantage of during our stay. They then got us settled in for dinner. What a welcome after such an exhausting day! The food was excellent, and the wait staff were friendly and professional. Rachel, Ellin (Ms. Sweden), Amin and Jasmin were particularly pleasant to have serving us. The front desk was wonderful as well, and I’d like to single out Sally, Jess, and Matt for terrific service. We enjoyed everything from an educational hike and slide show of the area, to excursions out to wildlife areas to enjoy seeing koalas and kangaroos (Kangaroo Island after all). I even got to drive us out to see a raptor show and a wildlife zoo, my first time driving on the left side of the road! The rooms are lovely and it is always nice to wake up to an ocean view. It truly was the perfect mix of relaxed elegance in natural surroundings. I have to add a true start and finish to this wonderful experience at SOL. I first corresponded with Claudia, Senior Reservations Consultant for Baillie Lodges, about details regarding the weather to expect and what kinds of clothes to bring, activities to take part in…and the like. She was very helpful and responsive and was spot-on. Unfortunately I left my iPad in our room and Claudia followed up on it and got me in touch with Theodora, from Reception, who had it sent back to me in Los Angeles. Gratis, I might add. A class act to be sure. Bottom line, you would be hard-pressed to find a better holiday destination. The Southern Ocean Lodge is a gem to be experienced. Are there 5½ stars?…
Read more
Date of stay: October 2019
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
It's rare that I'm speechless but this place is beyond words. The whole experience from welcome onwards is 10 star..nothing is too much trouble. My husband doesn't like cheese or vinegar (random I know) so each meAl they adapted the existing menu for him. Champagne for n arrival as it was his birthday . The trips they organised were fabulous and ticked every box. Yes it's expensive but worth every penny...
Read more
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
ALSO KNOWN AS
southern ocean hotel kangaroo island
LOCATION
AustraliaSouth AustraliaKangaroo IslandKaratta
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingSOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE - Resort Reviews & Price Comparison (Karatta, Australia) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Ocean Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Southern Ocean Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Flinders Chase National Park (7.5 km), Remarkable Rocks (7.5 km), and Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (5.7 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Southern Ocean Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Southern Ocean Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Does Southern Ocean Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Southern Ocean Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Southern Ocean Lodge?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are there any historical sites close to Southern Ocean Lodge?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Wiers Cove (11.5 km).
Does Southern Ocean Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbour view available here.
Is Southern Ocean Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.