Hot List Hotels 2009
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If Kangaroo Island—an unspoiled 1,700-square-mile haven teeming with native animals— is Australia's Galápagos, then the Southern Ocean Lodge is a very natural selection, with its recycled timber floors, soaring glass, and limestone. A thoroughly evolved eco-wilderness lodge, this 21-suite human sanctuary offers panoramic ocean views from the pristine clifftop brushland it inhabits. Rooms come with trekking gear (backpacks and water flasks), but cell phone reception is limited and not all suites have TVs. From the moment you walk into the vast atrium, your attention is drawn to the great outdoors. Over a third of the island is untouched national park land, and the sheer amount of wildlife is bewildering (there are 267 bird species alone). The lodge takes full advantage of the natural abundance, and the rates include treks, evening "Kangaroos and Kanapés" excursions, and half-day tours that take in seal colonies, the island's oldest lighthouse, and remarkable rock formations.
When to go: September through November for the spectacular wildflowers.
Which room to book: The Osprey Pavilion for the privacy and the 180-degree views.
Information may have changed since date of publication. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip.
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