Baillie Lodges has confirmed the highly-anticipated reopening of Southern Ocean Lodge on 6 December 2023. The all-new ultra-luxury resort will debut just inside four years since it was leveled by bushfires in January 2020.
As part of the launch and imminent opening of reservations, Baillie Lodges’ Founders — James and Hayley Baillie — are acknowledging the ongoing support from guests and industry over the past three years by giving back to three great causes.
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Responding to significant demand to be among the first guests to stay at the luxury lodge, Baillie Lodges will auction the three ‘first in’ stays, each of three nights (for a maximum of two guests per suite). Guests posting the winning bids will win a special preview stay between 5-8 December 2023. They will be first to immerse themselves in the all-inclusive experience of the reimagined lodge, along with guided excursions of Kangaroo Island’s wild landscape.
All proceeds from the auction, which currently have bids ranging from AU$7,500-$8,500, will go to three Australian community organisations, chosen for their significance to the team at Southern Ocean Lodge. The associations selected as beneficiaries are: The Royal Flying Doctor Service, The Maggie Beer Foundation and The KI Country Education Fund.
The online auction will be open until 24 April 2023 and can be viewed here. (Note: since the time LATTE listed the story, the bidding has soared).
James and Hayley Baillie said they were grateful for the ongoing support and interest in the rebuild of their award-winning flagship property and were keen to share the funds from the first guest stays with organisations that supported the community.
“We’re very fortunate to have had the support of the Kangaroo Island community, the tourism industry, media and our loyal guests over the past three years during which we have been rebuilding Southern Ocean Lodge and regenerating the surrounding coastal wilderness,” Hayley said.
“As we head towards the reopening of Southern Ocean Lodge at the end of the year, guests are already keen to book in to stay which is a wonderful feeling for the whole team,” James added.
“We’ll shortly announce a ‘bookings open’ date in early May, and in the meantime we’re keen to make the most of the broader community’s interest and goodwill by giving back to those organisations who routinely go above and beyond to help others,” he said.
Last month, Southern Ocean Lodge’s website flagged a potential late November 2023 debut.