Luxury accommodation Southern Ocean Lodge, located on Kangaroo Island, has been honoured as the ‘Best in Oceania’ at the first Telegraph Hotel Awards. This prestigious recognition also saw the lodge rank eighth globally among the top 50 hotels in the world, setting a high benchmark for Australian luxury. Positioned on a stunning clifftop that overlooks the Southern Ocean, the lodge offers an unmatched view and premium experience in the region.
Southern Ocean Lodge recently reopened in 2024 after the devastating bushfires that swept Kangaroo Island in 2020. This marked a significant milestone in recovery for both the lodge and the island. Surpassing other Australian contenders, Southern Ocean Lodge ranked higher than The Calile Hotel in Brisbane and Qualia on Hamilton Island, which stood at 39th and 41st places respectively.
This accolade places the lodge among the world’s best, surpassing several notable international luxury hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, Ballyfin in Ireland, and Ellerman House in South Africa. The Telegraph’s list is constructed through a meticulous process involving over 10,000 global hotel reviews and the insights of 24 expert hotel reviewers. The formula used by these experts ensures only the most commendable establishments make the prestigious list.
The global recognition of Southern Ocean Lodge follows another recent accolade for Kangaroo Island itself. The island was named in the Lonely Planet in its 2024 Top Regions Hotlist, recognising the region as a premier eco-tourism destination which offers distinct local produce, abundant native wildlife, natural experiences, and some of the nation’s most pristine beaches.
Earlier this year, Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island’s north coast was named the world’s second-best beach, adding more reason for travellers to visit this unique destination. This is especially significant since tourism is a crucial sector on Kangaroo Island, providing one-third of the local employment. According to the latest data, international tourism has injected $35 million into the local visitor economy in the year leading up to March 2024.
Zoe Bettison, Minister for Tourism, commented on the ongoing success of the region and the lodge. “It is wonderful to see globally acclaimed Southern Ocean Lodge get recognised again following its reopening in December 2023,” Bettison said.
She also noted the broader implications for Kangaroo Island, highlighting the combined attraction of having both the world’s second-best beach and now Australia’s top-rated hotel. “After almost four years in the planning, design and construction since it was razed in the 2020 bushfires, the new-look luxury accommodation on the south coast of one of South Australia’s most iconic destinations, has already got the attention of the world drawing visitors from around the globe and boosting the region’s international recovery even further,” Bettison added.
This renewed interest and recognition are attributed in part to the perseverance and resilience of the local operators, residents, and the broader industry in rebuilding and revitalising tourism on Kangaroo Island following the devastating bushfires of 2020.
With its re-opening and slew of global recognitions, Southern Ocean Lodge is positioned to enhance Kangaroo Island’s international appeal and contribute significantly to the region’s economic recovery, drawing in visitors from across the globe.
For more on Southern Ocean Lodge, click here.
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