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Southern Ocean Lodge

Hanson Bay Road, Karatta, Kangaroo Island, South Australia 5223 Australia
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Traveller (220)
Room & Suite (77)
Dining (28)

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About

#1 of 1 resort in Karatta
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.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Hot bath
Free breakfast
Beach
Airport transportation
Business Centre 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
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Safe
Iron
Laptop safe
Minibar
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
5.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Green

Location

Hanson Bay Road, Karatta, Kangaroo Island, South Australia 5223 Australia
Southern Ocean Lodge
795Reviews13Q+A1Room tip

Reviews
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Love_travel_france wrote a review 6 Mar
Montpellier, France194 contributions160 helpful votes
The Southern Ocean Lodge could be one of those emblematic hotels where all great travelers dream of staying at least once in their lives: isolated, on the edge of a cliff swept by the winds and waves coming in from Antarctica, its lengthy architecture gives it an undeniable charm, reinforced by a magnificent reconstruction after the dramatic fire that completely destroyed it.  Comfort is absolute, and the decor sumptuous. The young naturalist guides are very committed to their work and show us around the island with passion. But there you have it ...a magnificent  lodge in an exceptional setting (with an equally 'exceptional' nightly rate) deserves the same level of service, which unfortunately we didn't find.  If felt as that extra touch (of soul ?) was missing, the one that leaves an indelible memory of a hotel.  It all started at the gym ... where, on my way to a morning session, I discovered some particularly untidy and messy sports equipment (mats full of dust, floor covered in sand, lots of sweat stains from previous users on the treadmill if you must know ...).  These things happen, I was not  going to make a big fuss about it - even if it is quite annoying for a hotel of this caliber, usually there are wipes for everyone to clean up after themselves. So I hasten to gently point this out to the front desk, suggesting that they clean and  put in a box of wipes.  And just for the fun, I took a photo of the device.  In the evening, when I get back to the room from dinner, I'm curious to see if it's all been taken care of.  Well, guess what: the same stains in the same place!  After taking a second picture,  I sent a message to management via the website to report the incident.   The next morning, just before check-out, I tell myself that this time they've cleaned up... Wrong ! (And still no box of wipes). I took a last photo because I thought my wife would not believe it. And several days after writing, I did not receive any reply from management!  And when it comes to stains, we were not at the end of our surprises.  We discussed with other hotel guests about the restaurant waiters' outfits, some of which were covered in stains or simply had holes in them... That's what you get, for a room costing over 3,000 euros a night !  Add to this the uneven food served throughout the stay (the Sunday 'brunch' was a bit of a farce) and all of these are no longer 'details'.  Is management really interested in customer satisfaction or in something else: their wallets, maybe?    We stayed there for  3 nights : no one ever asked us if we were enjoying our stay !  There was no document left in our room to review our stay.  So we're going public, maybe we'll get some attention from them.  With the hotel 92% full, what's the point of worrying about such 'details'?  And I can already describe the response that will inevitably  follow  my review : 'we are sincerely sorry... this situation does not reflect  the standards we have set ourselves... We will carry out an investigation and speak with the team...  We note, however, that you found the S.O.L. magnificent and that our naturalist guides delighted you ... Give us another opportunity to prove...blah, blah, blah. '. Too late!  In a hotel such as this one,  you only get ONE chance to make a good first impression.  (And even more so if you've been kindly alerted to a problem ... Because there will always be problems: it's how you deal with them which makes a difference!).
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled 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.
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Russell M wrote a review Feb 2024
Greater Sydney, Australia133 contributions43 helpful votes
This was our 13th visit to SOL and our first to the newly rebuilt lodge. We weren’t disappointed. All the great aspects of the old lodge, prior to the fire, have been replicated down to the smallest detail. The food was wonderful and the staff provided a level of hospitality and friendliness that makes a visit so special. The new rooms are slightly different but still make the most of the incredible views of the Southern Ocean. We will certainly be back for visit number fourteen.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled 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.
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Visitor037 wrote a review Feb 2024
Wodonga, Australia16 contributions38 helpful votes
The Lodge has the advantage of the most spectacular location possible. The suites are suitably luxurious and tasteful, and the small gym and spa lovely. The overall experience could be improved, however. The staff are very junior, particularly in the restaurant; service is mostly enthusiastic but sometimes bordering on incompetent, with long waits to take our first orders (including for drinks) at dinner (forty minutes from the time of sitting to the first drink, with a planned night tour), occasionally forgotten requests. As a small example of service quality, one of us asked if it would be possible to ask the kitchen for a simple banana split instead of the proferred dessert (we specified just a banana sliced in two with icecream would be great) - the waiter said he didn't think the kitchen could do it, and said there were no bananas available. I pointed out there were bananas in the fruit bowl! He then offered to bring a banana from the fruit bowl to us, and icecream in a separate bowl. It would have been nice if he could have just asked the chef/kitchen staff, rather than blanket-refusing. This would be fine at a 4-star hotel/middle-of-the-road restaurant, but Southern Ocean Lodge prides itself on being special. At similar level accommodation in Australia (including Baillie Lodge's own Capella on Lord Howe Island), we have encountered much more positive hospitality. We have never ventured asking for anything more than a banana split or steamed greens, and these have become one of our benchmark tests for hospitality! We returned feedback via email as requested, and received what appeared very much to be a generic reply from the managers (who we never met. I think John was hovering on our day of departure). Perhaps the leisurely/unreponsive service at least is a teething problem. Lovely spot, worth returning just for the location, but the sort of place that is very special without ever having made us feel particularly special. (We can cope with this, of course, realising our place in the world, but it IS nice to feel special!) Southern Ocean Lodge is 'Very Good' by virtue of its location, history, and construction, but it is unfortunately not quite 'Excellent' in its execution.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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
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Response from Baillie Lodges, Owner at Southern Ocean Lodge
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Visitor 037 Thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay at Southern Ocean Lodge. We’re thrilled that overall you had a lovely time at the lodge and could freely praise its spectacular location. Naturally, we’re sorry that we missed the mark in some respects and your considered feedback is welcomed to help guide us on what’s working and what’s not… We appreciate your frustration with your experience in the restaurant. Having reopened to an extremely busy time, the lodge team is still finding its feet and many aspects of the guest experience including the nuance of Baillie Lodges’ service style continue to be refined. Your comments have been immediately taken onboard for improvement. We hope to have the chance to redeem your opinion on a future stay and to fulfil your expectations with flying stars. Best wishes Team SOL
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Kipper wrote a review Feb 2024
6 contributions2 helpful votes
Our stay was an absolutely wonderful experience. Lodge is stunning; rooms gorgeous with breathtaking views. Food excellent, lived open bar & wine pairings. Tours great with very knowledgeable guides - saw incredible Kangaroo Island & lots of wildlife. Outstanding!
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled 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.
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Dan wrote a review Dec 2023
San Francisco, California28 contributions79 helpful votes
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We had an incredible family vacation at the Southern Ocean Lodge. The rooms are modern, comfortable, and simply stunning. We stayed at the Osprey Suite - it is spectacular! Some of the highlights: the open bar, the delicious food, and the superb tour guides (Tash and Katlin in particular were super knowledgeable, professional, and friendly). I highly recommend a treatment at the SPA with Georgia who is the best masseuse I have ever had. My husband also had a massage with Georgia and he said the same. We loved the Wonders of KI, the nocturnal tour, the e-bike ride to Hanson cove, and the southern sundowner experience. I highly recommend the Southern Ocean Lodge and can’t wait to come back.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Kids love the Little Sahara. The Toboggan is probably safer than the sand-boards.
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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.
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mgdevine wrote a review Jan 2020
Fort Wayne, Indiana221 contributions122 helpful votes
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.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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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
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amanda m wrote a review Jan 2020
New York City, New York62 contributions117 helpful votes
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
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
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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
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noosabird, Australia wrote a review Jan 2020
Noosa97 contributions34 helpful votes
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.
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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
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Khaled H wrote a review Dec 2019
10 contributions4 helpful votes
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.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled 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
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Susanna B wrote a review Dec 2019
Sydney, Australia26 contributions51 helpful votes
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!
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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
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ALSO KNOWN AS
southern ocean hotel kangaroo island
LOCATION
AustraliaSouth AustraliaKangaroo IslandKaratta
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE: 2024 Prices & Reviews (Karatta) - Photos of Resort - 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.
Is parking available at Southern Ocean Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
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 enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.