Luxury Kangaroo Island accommodation Southern Ocean Lodge has been named the ‘Best in Oceania’ in the inaugural Telegraph Hotel Awards.

The aspirational destination also ranked eighth in the 50 best hotels in the world, described as positioned magnificently on a clifftop overlooking the Southern Ocean and was praised for setting the ultimate standard for Australian luxury.

Reopened in 2024 following the devastating Kangaroo Island bushfire of 2020, Southern Ocean Lodge ranked ahead of two other Australian hotels; The Calile Hotel in Brisbane which ranked #39 and Qualia on Hamilton Island which ranked #41.

The remote retreat followed the likes of the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, Thailand, Ballyfin in County Laois, Ireland, and Ellerman House in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Telegraph’s ranking is determined from a collection of more than 10,000 hotel reviews globally, with contributions from hundreds of destination expert writers. 

A panel of 24 expert hotel reviewers then used their expertise, the reviews, and an analytical formula to rank the top hotels.

The accolade follows Kangaroo Island ranking #2 by global travel authority, 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 the north coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, was named the second-best beach in the world.

Tourism is a major employer on Kangaroo Island, with one in three jobs directly supported by tourism.

Kangaroo Island attracts the highest international tourism spend of any region outside of Adelaide, with latest data showing international visitors contributed $35 million to Kangaroo Island’s visitor economy in the 12 months to March 2024.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison has welcomed the accolade for Southern Ocean Lodge.

“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.

“Since the 2020 bushfires, through the hard work and resilience of local operators, residents and industry, tourism on Kangaroo Island has made a remarkable recovery.”