Accommodation
Guest suites are connected via a gently sloping enclosed breezeway. A dedicated mobility-accessible suite is available closest to the Great Room and includes a barrier-free bathroom with grab rails and a roll-in shower with an integrated shower chair (foldable). Wide doorways and an open-plan layout ensure easy movement, with a seamless threshold transition leading to the private outdoor terrace. The accessible suite is best requested at the time of booking and offers king or twin beds. All Flinders Suites have level access from the entry door to the bed and bathroom, with two steps down to the sunken lounge. The Baillie Pavilion is accessed via an ascending external pathway and flows over a single level with level access into the bathrooms. Oversized showers are accessible for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility, however, no handrails are provided.
Access to guest recreation areas
The Great Room
Located at the top of the breezeway, the Great Room is the central facility home to the restaurant, bar, lounge area, outdoor terrace and reception. The restaurant and reception area overlook the bar and lounge, with both steps and a ramp provided to ensure full accessibility. A single step leads from the Great Room lounge onto the outdoor terrace.
Pool
The main pool terrace accessed from the Great Room has level access with seating and individual loungers. The pool itself is accessed via several steps (note there is no handrail).
Southern Spa
Located mid-way along the breezeway, the Southern Spa features level access throughout. Southern Ocean Lodge therapists can tailor a treatment to suit guests’ needs and comfort. For health and safety reasons, therapists and staff cannot physically assist guests, however, treatment tables can be lowered to accommodate transfer from a mobility aid to the table. The toilet and shower in Southern Spa are accessible but do not include handrails. An extension of the Southern Spa, the fully equipped gym has level access. There is one step onto the pool terrace to access hot and cold plunge pools with individual loungers for added comfort. The pools are accessed via several steps with support handrails and there is one step to access the sauna.
Boardwalks
A raised boardwalk from the breezeway meanders down through the mallee scrub approximately 200 meters to a table and chair perched close to the Southern Ocean. Two steps off the boardwalk, there is approximately 50 metres of uneven ground to access two private beaches. For an alternate perspective, level access to the upper boardwalk from the restaurant offers spectacular views of the coastline high above the clifftop.
Vehicle transfers
So as the Southern Ocean Lodge team can best plan the most appropriate vehicle for guest transfers and small-group touring, it is important that guests travelling with mobility aids provide advance notice of the aid’s dimensions including its measurements, weight and purpose. Some larger aids may require a private transfer and/or additional charges. Please advise the reservations team at the time of booking.
The fleet of touring vehicles at Southern Ocean Lodge offers generous seating space but does not include vehicles equipped with ramps or lifts. In addition, guests on shared signature tours operated by Southern Ocean Lodge need to be able to step up into the lodge touring vehicles. Wheelchairs and aids need to be folded and stored in the boot. Guests and their travel companion need to be willing and able to assist with lifting themselves and any equipment in and out of vehicles.
Private touring is recommended for guests with limited mobility. A private guide can provide more assistance on tours, and the pace may be regulated to suit specific needs.
For guests who need to use a wheelchair, private touring is essential. Many guests at Southern Ocean Lodge engage KI Transfers who can provide private touring with a modern, purpose-built, disability access vehicle which can accommodate one passenger who can remain in their wheelchair. Additional charges apply for all services.
Experiencing Kangaroo Island
Self-guided walks may include uneven or sloped terrain and are not recommended for guests with mobility limitations. However, many key sites in Flinders Chase National Park feature raised boardwalks, providing wheelchair access to several major attractions. It is important to note that a carer or travel companion may be required to assist guests with limited mobility. For health and safety reasons, Southern Ocean Lodge guides and staff cannot physically assist guests, however, will advise on the most suitable access paths.
Coastal Clifftop Walk
The Coastal Clifftop Walk may present challenges for guests with mobility issues. The track has uneven surfaces and a number of steps. Walking poles are available on request.
Kelly Hill Caves
The guided tour at Kelly Hill Caves begins with an uphill walk on a sloping path; the underground cave experience involves steep staircases and is not fully accessible for those with mobility issues. Visitors can still access insights into the caves' history and enjoy above-ground walking trails and facilities, even if they don't go into the caves.
Koalas and Kangas
The Koalas and Kangas tour visits the Hanson Bay Wildlife Santuray and involves a guided walking tour throughout the park to view the koalas, wallabies and kangaroos. The area is reasonably flat with designated natural dirt pathways and is wheelchair accessible.
Seal Bay
Seal Bay Conservation Park features a 450-metre fully accessible boardwalk that hovers above the dunes, offering the chance to observe the famed sea lion colony. The tour continues down several steps and onto the beach for a period of time which may pose challenging for guests with mobility issues. An accessible toilet is available.
Wonders of Kangaroo Island
Flinders Chase National Park is home to several stunning geological and historical landmarks. Accessible boardwalks lead to sites such as Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks, though exploring these areas up close may be challenging for guests with limited mobility. An accessible toilet is available.
