Earlier in the year we welcomed Vanessa Jackman, an Australian lawyer turned freelance photographer, based in the UK to discover Kangaroo Island and Southern Ocean Lodge. It’s been a happy transition, and to date, her photographs have appeared in British/American/Australian Vogue, Harpers Bazaar US, Marie Claire Australia to name a few…
She also writes an incredibly successful blog called Vanessa Hunter, with the tag ‘A blog about a girl, her Nikon and a great big love affair’.
Was it love at first sight? We think so. Below is an excerpt from her post, and just a tempter of the terrific photos she took during her stay.
Dive in and explore more at http://vanessajackman.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/weekend-lifesouthern-ocean-lodge.html
“There is perhaps no more effective cure for jetlag (nor a more fitting welcome home to Australia!) than a family of five large kangaroos bounding across the road in front of our 4WD.
With horror filled thoughts of bounding Skippy turning into squished Skippy and vague recollections of signing a rental car animal damage waiver at the airport, we white-knuckled to a stop and watched as the kangaroos hopped casually off into the bush.
Heart racing, the inner tour guide in me laughingly announced “Welcome to Kangaroo Island!”.
Situated 15km off the coast of South Australia, Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island (after Tasmania and Melville Island*), and the location of our destination: the spectacular Southern Ocean Lodge.
Our 90 minute drive from the ferry which connects the mainland to Kangaroo Island (flights also operate from Adelaide), was otherwise uneventful with no further roo encounters save for a few wallabies grazing by the side of the road.
Feeling rather pleased with ourselves – no damage to car, person or wildlife, tick! – we arrived at Southern Ocean Lodge and began four days of utter bliss.
Located on the remote south west coast of Kangaroo Island at Hanson’s Bay, the lodge is perched on limestone cliffs high above the pounding seas of the Southern Ocean surrounded by dense vegetation and native bush.
Impossible to see from the private entry road, it wasn’t until we stepped inside the dramatic rusted steel doors of the lodge that the full impact of the brilliant design, and the incredible beauty of the surroundings, becomes apparent…’
