KI's Southern Ocean Lodge Named 4th Best Hotel in the World

The South Australian luxury hotel received the honour at Travel + Lesiure magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards announced in the US. Receiving a near-perfect score of 97.39, the Southern Ocean Lodge tied for fourth place with Maui’s Montage Kapalua. Bailie Lodges managing director James Bailie said in a release that he was proud that Australia’s “extraordinary experiences” were being recognised on the world stage. “Southern Ocean Lodge has always set out to show that Australia’s own distinct brand of luxury can compete with the absolute best in the world,” said Bailie.

Southern Ocean Lodge prides itself on a natural setting

The luxurious accommodation has attracted numerous prestigious accolades since opening in 2008, and boasts an utterly unique setting for visitors, atop Kangaroo Island’s southern cliffs overlooking beaches and the ocean. Read More: Local Luxury at the Southern Ocean Lodge Designed by South Australian architect, Max Pritchard (who was incidentally born and raised on the island), Southern Ocean Lodge initially worried locals that it would impact negatively on the area’s precious ecosystem. Low impact design and infrastructure, renewable energy sources and an emphasis on educating guests about the importance of its environment helped assuage concerns.

An emphasis on local food and produce characterises Southern Ocean Lodge’s service 

The opinions of Travel + Leisure readers were combined with the expertise of judges in deciding the Top 100 Hotels list. A large amount of 2016’s inclusions mirror the secluded, natural virtues of the Southern Ocean Lodge, while others are more easily accessible. A raft of factors are considered in the list’s compilation, with particular emphasis being placed on facilities, food and drink, service, location and value for money. Indonesia’s Nihiwatu resort took out the top spot in this year’s ranking, with South Carolina’s The Spectator in second place, and New Zealand’s Huka Lodge ranking third. The full list can be found here.