The devastating bushfires are raging not only in the states of New South Wales and Victoria but also on Australia’s third-largest island, Kangaroo Island.
The 4000 square meter island is a natural paradise in Australia. A third of the area is under nature conservation, in particular, the Flinders Chase National Park.
However, at the weekend, the stunning tourist destination transformed into a hell of fire, completely destroying the luxury Southern Ocean Lodge and claiming the lives of two men.
READ: BUSHFIRE RELIEF: The Travel Industry Stands Together To Offer Support
READ: Dennis Bunnik: “Our Country Is Burning And Our Hearts Are Breaking”
Southern Ocean Lodge
Southern Ocean Lodge after the fire
At the weekend, the multi-award-winning resort, Southern Ocean Lodge on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, burned to the ground.
Whilst the lodge has sustained significant structural damage, all guests and staff have been safely evacuated and no injuries have been sustained.
Southern Ocean Lodge is now closed. It is currently too early to accurately estimate a reopening date.
The Southern Ocean Lodge team will embark on contacting guests as well as travel industry partners over the coming days to make alternative arrangements for upcoming reservations.
“We are absolutely shocked and saddened by today’s events. A bushfire incident such as this is really our worst nightmare come true.”
James and Hayley Baillie, Baillie Lodges founders and co-creators of Southern Ocean Lodge
“In the short to medium term, we would like to take the lead in rebuilding the Kangaroo Island tourism industry.”
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The industry loses a ‘tourism pioneer’
Dick Lang
The tourism industry’s great ‘bush pilots’, Dick Lang and his son Clayton, have tragically lost their lives in the Kangaroo Island fires in South Australia.
Dick Lang, with his wife Helen, ran one of Australia’s oldest running air safari companies and had been a long-standing contributor to Australia’s tourism industry.
Commencing in 1966, Dick Lang was considered a pioneer of ecotourism in Australia with tours that specialised in harder to reach destinations specifically within National Parks.
The Australian tourism industry expresses its sincere condolences to the Lang family during this most difficult time.