Pretty Little Green Things

I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for Australia.  It was three years ago this month that my husband (then boyfriend) proposed to me on a beach in the northeastern part of the continent.  (I know, aww…)  We spent two lovely weeks seeing as much of the country as possible, although given the size of Australia, admittedly that wasn’t much.  We both fell in love with the country and the people, even talking about the likelihood of us moving there.  As you can probably guess, a move around the world didn’t quite happen, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to go back and see more of that lovely country.  So until our next trip happens, I have the gorgeous Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island just off the coast of Adelaide to satisfy my Australian longing.

Not only is the Southern Ocean Lodge a beautiful hotel in a stunning location, its sustainable practices and integration into the natural environment are inspiring.  Founded by James and Hayley Baillie, the lodge consists of 21 luxury suites situated to take the best advantage of the weather and the amazing view.  Like many other eco-friendly hotels, the Southern Ocean Lodge uses solar panels, low-flow plumbing fixtures and the collection of water run-off to save as much of their natural resources as possible.  But they go one step further with the initial planning and building of the hotel.  Baillie Lodges purchased 254 acres of land but only used 1% of that area to build the hotel.  The remaining 99% were put in a Heritage Agreement to protect them for future generations.  And the one percent that the Southern Ocean Lodge did build on was specifically chosen because it had the least amount of native vegetation.  Now that’s smart planning!

If that were the end of the story about the Southern Ocean Lodge, I would be happy.  But the design of the hotel is also beautiful with a very serene color palette, natural textures and understated look.  It’s the perfect backdrop to a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation.  Enjoy!

The Great Room.  The fireplace in the center of the room is an EcoSmart fireplace that uses ethanol for an eco-friendly fire.

The Restaurant

Outdoor dining at the restaurant

The boardwalks throughout the property are not only a beautiful walk, they also protect the natural landscape from guest use.

Osprey Pavillion

Osprey Pavillion terrace.  This is the suite I want when I come to visit someday!

The Flinders Suite.  I’m loving the cozy curved sofas.

Ocean Retreat Suite.  Check out the fireplace in this room too.  All of the rooms feature the same ethanol based EcoSmart fireplace.

The Remarkable Suite at sunset.

Photos from Southern Ocean Lodge

I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for Australia.  It was three years ago this month that my husband (then boyfriend) proposed to me on a beach in the northeastern part of the continent.  (I know, aww…)  We spent two lovely weeks seeing as much of the country as possible, although given the size of Australia, admittedly that wasn’t much.  We both fell in love with the country and the people, even talking about the likelihood of us moving there.  As you can probably guess, a move around the world didn’t quite happen, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to go back and see more of that lovely country.  So until our next trip happens, I have the gorgeous Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island just off the coast of Adelaide to satisfy my Australian longing.

Not only is the Southern Ocean Lodge a beautiful hotel in a stunning location, its sustainable practices and integration into the natural environment are inspiring.  Founded by James and Hayley Baillie, the lodge consists of 21 luxury suites situated to take the best advantage of the weather and the amazing view.  Like many other eco-friendly hotels, the Southern Ocean Lodge uses solar panels, low-flow plumbing fixtures and the collection of water run-off to save as much of their natural resources as possible.  But they go one step further with the initial planning and building of the hotel.  Baillie Lodges purchased 254 acres of land but only used 1% of that area to build the hotel.  The remaining 99% were put in a Heritage Agreement to protect them for future generations.  And the one percent that the Southern Ocean Lodge did build on was specifically chosen because it had the least amount of native vegetation.  Now that’s smart planning!

If that were the end of the story about the Southern Ocean Lodge, I would be happy.  But the design of the hotel is also beautiful with a very serene color palette, natural textures and understated look.  It’s the perfect backdrop to a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation.  Enjoy!

The Great Room.  The fireplace in the center of the room is an EcoSmart fireplace that uses ethanol for an eco-friendly fire.

The Restaurant

Outdoor dining at the restaurant

The boardwalks throughout the property are not only a beautiful walk, they also protect the natural landscape from guest use.

Osprey Pavillion

Osprey Pavillion terrace.  This is the suite I want when I come to visit someday!

The Flinders Suite.  I’m loving the cozy curved sofas.

Ocean Retreat Suite.  Check out the fireplace in this room too.  All of the rooms feature the same ethanol based EcoSmart fireplace.

The Remarkable Suite at sunset.

Photos from Southern Ocean Lodge