ExpeditionKangaroo Island

A journey of adventure and discovery

July 2013

ExpeditionKangaroo Island

A journey of adventure and discovery

July 2013

Commencing with our well-loved ExpeditionLord Howe program at Capella Lodge we havebeen very excited to continue the program onKangaroo Island, with Southern Ocean Lodgeas our luxury base camp. Widely regarded asAustralia’s Galapagos and brimming withdiverse wildlife and natural beauty, KangarooIsland is a place of extraordinary contrasts.With a rich heritage and a world-class food and wine culture, Australia’s third-largest island offers endlessopportunities for exploration and adventure. An abundance ofnative wildlife thriving in freedom gives Kangaroo Island the unofficial title of ‘a zoo without fences’.

When we opened Southern Ocean Lodge we dreamed about creating an unforgettable week of education and exploration. In true expedition style our days will be filled with various adventures,including guided walks and marine-based activities. These exceptional guided experiences allow a first-hand wildlifeencounter accompanied by renowned ‘KI’ naturalist CraigWickham. We have worked with Craig and his award-winning company ‘Exceptional Kangaroo Island’ since our inception.

The cool season sees Kangaroo Island at its wild, wintry best; theisland comes alive as the Southern Ocean is at first heaving, twisted by fierce storms with stories of ships dashed against rocksby night; then glassy calm, cobalt blue against the chalk whitelimestone cliffs. A Southern Right Whale might slip by, tipping afin in salute en route to the Great Australian Bight to calve. There are tales of adventure and folklore, and moments of quietcontemplation of wilderness at its most pure. It’s a green season;rivers rush, rich pastures grow to tickle the sheep’s tummies, nativewildlife emerges from the shelter of the shade so precious in summer to roam freely, to the delight of all. Kangaroo and koalajoeys venture from their mothers’ pouches, and the female echidnaheads a train of up to eight keen male contenders, who’ll follow hertill the prickly end!

We’ve chosen late July as the ideal time for an expedition as daytimetemperatures are perfect for exploring, wildlife is active andevenings promise delicious cuisine and red wine enjoyed by freshlystoked fires, wintry seas churning beyond. We are again workingclosely with our good friends at Aurora Expeditions and look forwardto you being part of our journey of adventure and discovery.

James and Hayley Baillie

Kangaroo Island is widely regarded as Australia’s Galapagos, the Island sits a mere 15km from the shores of mainland South Australia. The Island is 155km long by 55km wide

and covers some 4,500 sq km.

Expedition Kangaroo IslandDeparture Dates: 2013 – July 27 - August 3A flexible approach: Our expeditions offer wonderful possibilities. With this in mind, ouritinerary is always dependent on a number of factors, weather certainly being one, andchanges may be made to take advantage of opportunities nature may have in store for us.

7 Night ItinerarySaturday – Arrive via Regional Express to Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island where ourexpedition leader, Craig Wickham and naturalist staff of Southern Ocean Lodge will meetus. Our first stop is Seal Bay, home to Australia’s third-largest colony of Australian SeaLions. Join our National Parks guide for an exclusive encounter on the beach with theseloveable wild animals. Learn about their unique breeding cycle and the ongoing researchprograms implemented on site. After our up-close and personal experience we will enjoya picnic lunch at picturesque Bales Beach before continuing on to the Lodge. Enjoy the afternoon settling into SouthernOcean Lodge and its surroundings. This evening while relaxing with drinks and canapés, we will be joined by Craig in theBaudin Lounge for an introductory talk on the island and the week of discovery ahead.

Sunday – This morning we will have a spectacular introduction to Kangaroo Island’swildlife, maritime heritage and stunning coastal landscapes and take full advantage ofthe Lodge’s unique wilderness location. A morning field trip to Flinders Chase NationalPark includes Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch asjust some of the highlights. At Admirals Arch we will be witness to the home of over50,000 Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals which can be seen resting on the rocks,bathing in the sheltered waters or taking on the surf. Our road trip will also includeopportunities to wander amongst the rare Cape Barren Geese and to search the leafyeucalypts for a sleepy koala. After lunch at the Lodge we will be joined by IndianaJames, “found objects” artist, scientist and teacher for a fascinating insight into theremarkable flight and unique vision of the charismatic pelican. These awkward-lookingbirds have unique skeletons able to soar at up to 3,000 feet and initiate water landingswith dexterous skill. Their visual adaptations make them adept at fishing. Indiana has awealth of fascinating tales that will leave you with a new-found respect for these unusualbirds. Indiana was commissioned to create ‘Sunshine’, the kangaroo made entirely of oldfarm machinery that greets all our guests in the Lodge lounge.

Monday – Today we will explore the north-west of Kangaroo Island. Deep in the wilderness,perched high above the vast ocean stands a unique square lighthouse. Cape Borda

Lighthouse Station is steeped in European history and the excellent museum on site allows us to appreciate the achievementsof a bygone era. For morning tea we enjoy the views from Scott’s Cove to the second highest cliffs in Australia. After a visit tothe Light Station Cemetery we have the opportunity to hike the short, steep track down Harvey’s Return. This landing site wasinitially used by sealers to load freshly salted seal skins collected in the 1800s and was later used by early settlers to access thelighthouse and haul supplies from sailing vessels. Relaxing after the walk we enjoy lunch in the wild today. There’s then the optionto return to the Lodge for an afternoon at leisure or to join Craig for an informative loop walk to Billygoat Falls in the WesternRiver Conservation Park. A winding trail through sheoaks takes us to a lookout with spectacular views of a winter waterfall. Back at the Lodge, this evening’s lecture covers the impact of isolation, the challenges and opportunities of life on the island.

Tuesday – Following breakfast we take a short drive to meet a local National Park Guide and discover the amazing sinkholes,limestone formations and caverns of the extensive Kelly Hill Caves complex that has evolved over thousands of years. From here we will join our Southern Ocean Lodge naturalist guide on a hike to explore the back country of Kelly HillConservation Park through the historic Grassdale property on to the beautiful Hanson Bay beach. A fascinating variety of

vegetation types from eucalypt woodlands through mallee scrub and coastal heath isencountered on this easy walk. The views over the Grassdale lagoons provide the opportunity for sighting water birds and the meandering trail is home to a number of terrestrial orchids and wildflowers. We return to the Lodge for lunch and the afternoon isspent at leisure; perhaps try a spot of beach fishing or escape to the Southern Spa for a relaxing massage. This evening’s nocturnal tour atHanson Bay Sanctuary allows an encounter withthe local koalas during their evening wakeful period, meet hand-reared kangaroos and wallabies and with a bit of luck you may see nativeowls or the elusive Southern Brown bandicoot. Thenearby Hanson Bay Sanctuary provides a protected environment for native wildlife on theisland. We return to the Lodge for a late dinner.

Remarkable RocksThese ancient granite boulders have beenshaped by endless winds, salt spray andsandblasting from the powerful Southern

Ocean. The results are “Henry Moore meetsSalvador Dali” – an elegant sculpture ofgigantic proportions with extraordinary

shapes and textures - all entirely natural.

Short-beaked EchidnaAustralia's enigma and the world's oldestsurviving mammal. The ancestors of this

quintessential monotreme roamed theplanet with dinosaurs. Its successful, butpoorly understood survival strategies have

bridged ice ages, droughts and greenhouse atmospheres.

Robust Spider OrchidWhen the rest of the island is snuggling upfor a cosy winter evening, life is rampingup in the terrestrial orchid world. Sexual

deceit, floral mimicry, and pheromone theftare just some of the tricks of trade offeredup in the hope of fertilisation and a bit of

pollen trafficking.

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Wednesday – Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning as we take some time to relax atthe Lodge. Following lunch, we will be joined by the world’s leading authority on echidnas, Dr Peggy Rismiller. For over 20 years Peggy has worked with the Short-beaked Echidna and Rosenberg’s Sand Goanna. We will learn more about the island'sbiodiversity and the unique body temperature mechanisms of island reptiles. With Peggy and fellow biologist Mike McKelvy, we venture into the historic Grassdaleproperty, a short drive from the Lodge, where we have the opportunity to discuss further Peggy’s discoveries of these amazing egg-laying mammals. We then have thechance to soak up the history of the early island settlers at Edward’s Cottage, as thekangaroos and wallabies congregate to graze in the gathering dusk. Sip a sunset drinkand enjoy a ‘Kanapé’ whilst the sun sets on another magical Kangaroo Island day.

Thursday – Today we depart the Lodge for a full day of epicurean and marine adventure. Our first stop is at Island Pure, theisland’s sheep milk dairy. We’ll see sheep milking, and learn about the yoghurt and cheese making process. Lunch today isat Craig Wickham’s island home where we will enjoy a delicious barbeque of King George Whiting, local haloumi and a dropof the island’s best wines. We have the chance to explore the town of Kingscote before boarding a marine zodiac to cruisethe KI coastline, visiting secluded beaches and witnessing some amazing marine life along the way. This area of coastlineabounds with sea birds, penguins, sea eagles, albatross, pelicans, dolphins for a start. The local dolphins entertain with theirfriendly tricks throughout the trip. This afternoon we will visit the Island Beehive. We will join the apiarist who will introduceus to the Italian aristocrats of apiary science the Ligurian Bee, and their pure, prized honey. We return to the Lodge forevening drinks and dinner.

Friday – Take an awe-inspiring journey of exploration withour naturalists along the edge of the cliff tops to CapeYounghusband. This return hike allows you to experiencethe wonder of the sheer limestone cliffs and hardy floragrowing along this amazing rugged coastline. Spot theOsprey hovering above, the fur seals frolicking in theSouthern Ocean waters below and the intriguing formations of the Remarkable Rocks in the distance. We will also offer a shorter alternative. Return for lunch atthe Lodge and then enjoy an afternoon of leisure. Take amountain bike and explore some of the nearby trails,have an afternoon nap, or join our Lodge Manager andtake a look at the back of house operations of the Lodge.This evening at the Lodge we will come together forfarewell drinks, a photo roundup of the days past, followedby a special degustation dinner in the Restaurant.

Saturday – Our final morning at Southern Ocean Lodgeis at leisure, take a hike on the beach, relax in the Great Room and soak up the surroundsbefore our departure to Kingscote Airport and the flight back to mainland Australia. A oncein a lifetime journey concludes.

Ligurian HoneyKangaroo Island’s apiary dynasty began in the 1880s, and today the island boasts the

purest strain of Ligurian honey bees. We visit an organic bee hive that breeds

Queen bees for global distrubution; ironicallysome are exported back to the hills of Liguria.

Rosenberg's GoannaHere be Dragons. KI’s largest native

terrestrial predator was historically foundfrom Perth to Sydney. Rosenberg’s is now

a nationally-threatened species andKangaroo Island is their last stronghold.

This amazing lizard has adapted to living ina cool climate by laying its eggs in a

termite mound.

Nestled amongst the pristine coastal landscape of Hanson Bay and bordered by two national parks, much of KI’s diverse plant and animal life

can be found right on the Lodge doorstep

Australian Sea LionEndemic to Australian waters with the

third largest breeding population found atSeal Bay. This is the rarest sea lion

species in the world and we will have thechance to observe these fun-loving marinemammals basking, playing and returningfrom their overnight fishing expeditions.

Comments from our past guests…“The lodge is truly breathtaking with its stunning location,wonderful friendly staff and sensational food. The expedition program was exceptional, thank you for a fantastic week.”

Susie Davison – Expeditioner

“If I ever have the chance to visit the Lodge again, I wouldprobably choose winter and hope for wild weather. Then Iwould sit in my room and watch the drama unfold. I lovewild places and this is an experience and a celebration ofa wild place.”

Don Fuchs – Photojournalist

“Scouting around for orchids, birds and wildlife in the pristine KI wilderness with our Expedition Leader CraigWickham was brilliant! His knowledge of the island’s natural history is truly incredible!”

Henry and Madeline Atkins – Expeditioners

Our Expedition LeaderCraig Wickham with his award winningcompany ‘Exceptional Kangaroo Island’has been providing high-quality personalised small group natural history tours on Kangaroo Island forthe last 20 years. Craig has lived onthe island most of his life and hasworked throughout South Australiaand Kangaroo Island as a WildlifeRanger with the National Parks andWildlife Service. Craig is heavilyinvolved with the current issues facingthe island and its community. He is akey member of the RegionalDevelopment Board and is DeputyChairman for the Kangaroo IslandCouncil. With his wealth of experienceof all things Kangaroo Island there isno better person to ensure you makethe most of your time on the island,whatever your interests might be.

Southern Ocean Lodge is Australia’s first true luxury lodge experience. Sensitively designed tofloat amongst the untouched coastal drama ofKangaroo Island’s south west coast and commanding spectacular ocean, beach and wilderness views, the celebrated world-class lodgeoffers a unique fusion of nature and luxury. The GreatRoom is the centre of activity; guests plan the dayahead, enjoy exceptional Island-inspired dining inthe Restaurant, or a relaxed drink at the convivialopen bar with an exclusively South Australian wineselection. 21 organic luxe suites feature bespoke furnishings, lavish sleeping areas, sunken lounge,glass-walled ensuite and outdoor terrace, eachextending breathtaking views to the great SouthernOcean. Exceptional guided adventures invite gueststo experience abundant wildlife first hand, whilst thesecluded Southern Spa features signature treatments with Kangaroo Island botanicals to relaxand rejuvenate.

Terms and ConditionsReservations: To confirm your place, a non-refundable depositof $1000 per person is required at the time of reservation and is payable by credit card, direct deposit or cheque. A 2.5% surcharge applies to all credit card transactions.Final payment: Due no later than two months prior to departure.Cancellation policy: If you cancel 2 months or more prior todeparture, a full refund less your deposit will be made.Cancellations within 2 months of arrival, 50% of total paid willbe refunded. Within 1 month of arrival all monies will be forfeited. All cancellations must be received in writing. No refund can be given in the event of a non-arrival, anyunused services or any activities unable to be completed dueto weather conditions.Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself with travelinsurance.

Suite categoriesOsprey Pavilion – Our premium suite is truly special, with soul-stirringocean, beach and wilderness views. A unique curved floor plan features asunken lounge with open fire and state-of-the-art audio visual system,desktop computer, separate king bedroom, bathroom with hand-sculptedbath and spacious outdoor terrace with daybeds and private plunge spa.Capacity: 2 adultsRemarkable Suite – Features a king bedroom, separate lounge area withopen fire, premium entertainment system, LCD TV and DVD player, spaciousensuite with handmade timber bath tub and expansive outdoor terrace withday lounge and spa bath. Capacity: 2 adultsOcean Retreat – Generously spacious, Ocean Retreats offer king bedding,lounge with feature fireplace, ensuite with freestanding tub and terracewith day bed. Capacity: 2 adultsOcean Family Suite – Family suites feature an additional bedroom and bathroom and offer a separate living area with LCD TV and DVD player.Capacity: 4 adultsFlinders Suite – Features spacious interiors, king or twin beds, curved sunkenlounge and outdoor terrace with day bed to take advantage of dramaticcoastal views. Capacity: 2 adultsAll suites feature lavish king beds, sunken lounge, dramatic glass walledbathroom and outdoor terrace with occasional seating and daybed. Other features include walk-in robe, complimentary room bar, optional climatecontrol, heated floors, wireless internet, music system, premium amenities,safe and telephone. Bathrobes, slippers, and hairdryer are provided alongwith twice-daily housekeeping and signature evening turndown service.

What’s includedExpedition Kangaroo Island includes:• return airfare with Regional Express to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island from

Adelaide• seven nights at Southern Ocean Lodge in your choice of suite• all meals including daily gourmet breakfast, lunch (walkers picnic, bush BBQ

or lunch at the Lodge), four-course dinner with inspired daily changingmenu, all beverages

• island airport transfers• all land-based excursions and marine expedition• leadership of the expedition by Craig Wickham • program of lectures by specialist scientists and naturalists• special Expedition Kangaroo Island kit including polo shirt, sun hat, outdoor

jacket and backpackAt additional cost: Travel insurance, all items of a personal nature such aslaundry, telephone, spa treatments, boutique and cellarmaster wines.

Getting thereRegional Express operates a 33-seat Saab 340 aircraftand provides an excellent scheduled service toKingscote in around 30 minutes directly from Adelaide.A 15kg luggage limit per person applies.Expedition Kangaroo Island will be an annual event.Register your interest for July 2014/2015.

How to bookContact Southern Ocean Lodge ReservationsPO Box 596 Avalon NSW 2107T 02 9918 4355E reserve@baillielodges.com.auW southernoceanlodge.com.au

Expedition Kangaroo Island2013 Departure Date: July 27

Twin AdditionalTariff Per Person Share Single Person

Flinders Suite $6900 $8900 -

Ocean Retreat $7900 $9900 -

Ocean Family $7900 - $4000

Remarkable Suite $8900 $11900 -

Osprey Pavilion $10900 $14900 -

Aurora Expeditions is Australia’s first polar charter operator, specialising in voyages to

Antarctica, the High Arctic, Papua New Guineaand the Kimberley. Aurora was founded in

1990 by Everest mountaineer Greg Mortimerand wife Margaret. For more information

visit auroraexpeditions.com.au