The Baillie & three Australia's luxury lodges

With inbound tourism in Australia at an all-time high, there has never been greater demand for luxury travel experiences that offer more than just bed and breakfast.  Discerning travellers select their destinations based on the overall experiential package and it’s thanks to the vision of luxury boutique hotel brands such as Baillie Lodges that expectations are being not just met, but far exceeded, in Australia’s most fascinating and alluring locations.

In 2003, husband and wife team James and Hayley Baillie founded Baillie Lodges.  Their ambition was clear - to set a new benchmark for premium travel experiences, in areas of natural significance, in a style that is uniquely Australian.  

James and Hayley both travelled frequently throughout their childhoods and, as a result, developed an early passion for adventure.  Prior to founding Baillie Lodges, James was founding Managing Director of P&O Resorts, which during the late 1980s included in its portfolio such iconic Australian properties as Queensland’s Bedarra Island and Lizard Island resorts and Silky Oaks Lodge in Tasmania; while Hayley took a more intrepid path, travelling the globe as a guide and photographer on some of the world’s most adventurous expedition ships. 

Together they merged their experiences and aspirations to form the idea of Baillie Lodges - a collection of luxurious and intimate lodges in Australia’s most extraordinary destinations.  Aimed at the discerning global traveller, their lodges would offer guests a unique combination of contemporary, custom design, first name service, locally-sourced food and wine and, mostly crucially, a very real sense of place. 

Growing up, Hayley spent her summer holidays exploring the lush rainforests, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of Lord Howe Island on daily adventures with her family.  This immaculate island was therefore a natural choice for the first of the Baillie Lodges.  In 2003, Baillie Lodges purchased a small property at the private, southerly end of the island. James and Hayley redesigned the beach-house style lodge, adding personal touches to the interiors along with a clever architectural design and launched the nine-suite Capella Lodge. According to James, "For Hayley and I, launching Capella Lodge as our first property felt like coming home. It still does, and we hope our guests have the same feeling when they stay." 

Capella Lodge has become known as Lord Howe’s premium luxury resort and offers visitors an exceptional ‘barefoot luxury’ experience.  Baillie Lodges met the challenge of enhancing the once-in-a-lifetime nature of a visit to this incredible subtropical destination by ensuring that the thrill of the outdoors did not diminish when visitors set food inside the lodge.  The sophistication of the interiors, quality of the fresh cuisine and reliability of its polished yet relaxed first-name service combine to make Capella Lodge the icing on the cake of a visit to this remarkable part of the world.

Surpassing visitor expectations is no mean feat in this digital age where an investment in leisure time can be researched and pre-planned so extensively that there are almost no surprises to be had.  The lodges within the Baillie portfolio are focused on offering signature experiences and facilities that excite and amaze, every element tailored to interest each individual guest. 

Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island is the epitome of Australian luxury, attracting global travellers to this beautiful and fascinating location.  The exceptional Lodge has cemented its place as a true South Australian icon, having received multiple awards and global recognition for its intuitive service, world-class regional cuisine and guided interpretive Kangaroo Island experiences.   Located at Hanson Bay on the Island’s south west coast, the Lodge is set high on a cliff overlooking the dramatic coastline of this rugged and almost untouched landscape.  Such was the staggering beauty of the location that Hayley and James meticulously planned every element of the Lodge’s design to complement the surroundings, "We had a vision for Southern Ocean Lodge from when we first stood on the cliffs on Kangaroo Island. We worked towards it literally from the ground up, and our hearts and souls went into its every design detail. We're incredibly proud of it!"

It takes a team of loyal and dedicated staff to ensure consistent quality and service at the three lodges.  On a day-to-day basis James and Hayley are heavily involved.  James focuses primarily on the sales and marketing side of the business, including researching future opportunities in the context of global trends in the travel market; while Hayley’s passions lie in the product design side, lending her keen eye for design to the styling of the lodge interiors, from sourcing local artworks to creating interior assemblies.   A central focus for both James and Hayley is that the selection of future properties and maintenance of the existing ones is loyal to the integrity and quality of their brand.

Longitude 131° joined the collection in 2013.  While staying true to the unparalleled comfort and sophistication of Capella Lodge and Southern Ocean Lodge, the unique tented ‘campsite’ saw a departure from the traditional luxury lodge for Baillie Lodges and offered a real opportunity to provide an immersive outback experience.  "When the opportunity to assume management of the iconic Longitude 131 came up we leapt at it. Longitude 131 allows guests from Australia and overseas the chance to experience the outback in style, and complements the subtropical island experience at Capella, and the dramatic coastal wilderness at Southern Ocean Lodge." Nestled in the timeless desert of Central Australia and facing the majestic icon Uluru, the retreat offers a true escape into Australia’s spiritual heartland.

James and Hayley are fortunate to work in an industry for which they share a lifelong passion and their professional lives blend happily into their personal.  They continue to travel the world, from wilderness adventures to vibrant cities, with their four children in tow, always exploring and gaining inspiration for potential future projects.  

So what next?  The Baillies continue in their search for the next Baillie Lodge and are constantly evaluating options around Australia.  As they put it, “with so many extraordinary destinations it’s a tough choice!”.

Please contact us to bespoke your luxury holiday in Australia. Email: travel@onlyluxe.com.au