The homegrown hospitality group behind Southern Ocean Lodge and Longitude 131° is expanding internationally under a new name.
Baillie Lodges, the homegrown hotel group behind many of Australia’s most sought-after stays, is stepping into a new chapter of growth. Together with sister brand Tierra Hotels in Chile, the group is relaunching under a united international brand, ‘Beckons’, marking the next evolution of its place-driven hospitality vision.
Baillie Lodges was born in 2003, when Sydney couple James and Hayley Baillie launched Capella Lodge on NSW’s Lord Howe Island. Since then, the brand has redefined what luxury hospitality looks like in Australia – boutique properties in extraordinary locations with a strong sense of place woven into the guest experience.
Beckons’ current nine-property portfolio includes Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, the cliff-hugging icon widely credited with kickstarting Australia’s modern luxury lodge movement, and breathtaking Longitude 131° overlooking Uluṟu – along with international outposts such as New Zealand’s Huka Lodge, Canada’s Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge and Chile’s Tierra Patagonia.
Longitude 131˚ is one of the signature Baillie Lodges properties.
For travellers, the lodge names and beloved guest experience aren’t going anywhere. But the new umbrella brand bids to bring Baillie Lodges’ intimate, eco-luxury philosophy to additional destinations worldwide.Beckons CEO Michael Crawford says the brand will not only pursue new lodge acquisitions in regions such as Africa but enhance its existing lodges, with upgrades spanning new suites and spa facilities to enriching wellness experiences.
Baillie Lodges founders James and Hayley Baillie say they are excited to be an integral part of Beckons. The pair will continue to be involved in the design of existing and future properties – helping steer the vision and fostering relationships with artists and operators – as well as continuing to own Capella Lodge under the Beckons masterbrand.
“We’ve always been so personally identified with the legacy, especially that of Southern Ocean Lodge, Capella Lodge and Longitude 131°, and of course Silky Oaks Lodge and Huka Lodge in more recent years, with the refurbishment and relaunch of those properties," says James. “But now, it’s exciting to be part of something bigger with so many more opportunities."
The luxury lodge legacy
Southern Ocean Lodge was Australia's first true luxury lodge.
Framed by the Torres del Paine Massif, Tierra Patagonia is located on one of the wildest places on Earth.
The kind of ‘lodge’ that defines a Beckons property is very far from a traditional hotel or resort. It is small-scale – often accommodating only 30 or so guests, and it offers a strong sense of storytelling that connects guests to their environment in meaningful ways.
Crawford explains the difference through analogy: “It’s like a big cruise ship versus a small luxury yacht. You can take that yacht into ports, to places that you can’t get to with that big cruise ship. We give guests the chance to hear their own breath, versus being surrounded by hundreds or even thousands of people."
James adds that Beckons is anything but a homogenised hotel brand. Each lodge is distinct from the next, yet all are situated in locations of remarkable natural beauty or cultural significance. And attentive, first name service takes prominence;“thestaff and people are so important to the product but also to the sense of place," he says.
Huka Lodge is located on the forested banks of New Zealand’s Waikato River.
Another integral pillar of the Beckons and Baillie Lodges’ DNA is a genuine commitment to environmental and cultural sustainability, from building solar panel fields to reforestation projects. Before the brand redeveloped Longitude 131°, the property didn’t have “any sort of strong Indigenous presence in its interior and exterior intent when you actually were there," says Hayley. The brand invested heavily in supporting the arts community there to build that presence into the guest experience, but equally to ensure those precious traditions continue to endure.
At Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Canada’s Vancouver Island, the company recreated a salmon spawning stream to enhance the wildlife population rather than using the salmon for their own benefit. It is these kinds of regenerative projects that allow Beckons’ guests to engage deeply with the places they are visiting.
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Why now?
Tierra Patagonia offers awe-inspiring wildlife encounters.
The decision behind the Tierra Hotels and Baillie Lodges rebrand follows the growing demand for experiential luxury travel that connects guests to their environment. Hayley says she and James always knew there was a market for this, but have been surprised at how much it has grown in recent years, especially since the pandemic.
“It’s interesting how that evolution has come about; people wanting those human experiences," Hayley explains. “People have evolved away from the marble and the gold taps – that traditional luxury hotel – and that storytelling and sense of place has become possibly even more important."
Kayak at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge.
In 2018, US-based private equity firm KSL Capital Partners purchased a majority stake in Baillie Lodges – a strategic move to help expand its network of luxury accommodations. Crawford says KSL Capital Partners recognised the emerging trend towards luxury experiential lodges and wanted to develop a unique set of assets around the world where they could welcome guests in the same way they do with Baillie.
Importantly, this is not a pivot towards scale for scale’s sake. The focus remains on small-scale luxury and emotional connection rather than large-format resorts.
New international properties
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island embodies the Beckons philosophy.
Part of the Beckons vision is to take the Baillie DNA and bring it to exciting new markets. Crawford says the brand is looking into acquisitions in carefully selected, remote destinations with strong cultural and wildlife drawcards. Africa will be a focus region, with locations such as Fiji also of interest.
“We will continue to curate those journeys in ways that bigger companies can’t and give our guests the opportunity to really connect emotionally with the environments we bring them to," Crawford says.
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Enhancing existing Beckons properties
New wellness experiences are coming to Silky Oaks Lodge.
Beckons has already confirmed significant investment planned for three of its existing properties in 2026. Guests can expect exciting new wellness experiences and spa facilities at both Silky Oaks Lodge in Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest and The Louise in the Barossa Valley. Building on the extensive refurbishments of both Huka Lodge in New Zealand and Tierra Atacama in Chile in 2025, Beckons also plans to develop new premium suites at Tierra Patagonia.
“Over the last three years, we’ve invested roughly US $100 million into our existing lodges, and we’re continuing to do that now," says Crawford. “If you look at Silky Oaks Lodge, we’re looking at reframing the entry there and creating a wonderful new spa experience, and maybe even some differentiated type of accommodation. Same with The Louise in the Barossa – taking the product and elevating it in a way that allows us to really service the guests, meet their needs, and just be best in class."
A homegrown success story
Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island was the first Baillie Lodges property and is continuing under the Beckons name.
James and Hayley Baillie say seeing Baillie Lodges evolve over the years and into Beckons brings them immense pride. “It’s quite incredible to think about what was a small Australian hospitality business growing into a worldwide brand."
When asked to reflect on their most memorable achievements over the years, the pair say the success of Southern Ocean Lodge stands out.
“[Southern Ocean Lodge] was the turning point for Tourism Australia to actually highlight and get behind an individual property, showing it could have a trickle-down effect, both for the South Australian Tourism Commission and for Tourism Australia," James elaborates.
“It’s a point in time where the name of the business that we started goes, but we’re really excited and proud that it’s become a launching pad for something bigger," says James. “It’s a great Australian success story. Now it’s time to leave the nest and fly away."
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.
There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.
So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.
1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim
Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.
Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.
2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool
Let mineral-rich water heal you.
If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.
The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.
3. Take to the air at Princetown
See an icon from a different view.
You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.
The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.
4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill
Visit a time of yore.
Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.
The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.
If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.
5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea
Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.
Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.
6. Tackle the trails in Forrest
Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.
Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.
Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.
7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay
Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)
If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.
The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.
8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation
Delve into the tales of Cape Otway Lightstation.
Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .
While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.
And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.
