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."
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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.
Wind through fern tunnels, stop for a wine in a tram bar, or chase giant murals across the wheatbelt. These drives and rides prove Victoria’s best stories are found off the straight and narrow.
There’s something unmistakably Australian about a road trip: car packed, playlist on, landscapes shifting. Travelling down the highway toward Healesville, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, the mountains rise, flanking me on both sides. I feel its embrace, a silent invitation to explore what lies beyond.
Moss-covered embankments rise on either side, and towering mountain ash trees form a green tunnel overhead. Road signs warn of wombats and cyclists but with giant ferns lining the roadside, the landscape feels prehistoric, as if a dinosaur might suddenly emerge. This, the Black Spur, is one of my favourite road trips.
The Black Spur
Through the forested canopy of The Black Spur drive that winds from Healesville to Narbethong. (Image: Neisha Breen)
The Black Spur is short compared to other Victorian road trips, just 30 kilometres, stretching from Healesville to Narbethong. But what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in scenery. Just outside Healesville, Maroondah Dam offers bushwalks and scenic views. However, if pressed for time, Selover’s Lookout is an easy roadside stop offering uninterrupted views of the dam.
In Narbethong, close to the Marysville’s snowfield, is the Black Spur Inn, a charming double-storey brick hotel that’s been welcoming travellers since 1863. Here, diners cosy up by the roaring fire or gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows, imagining horse-drawn coaches carrying hopeful gold seekers to the eastern goldfields.
Victoria’s Silo Art Trail
The Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera Mallee region. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)
Location: Various towns across the Wimmera Mallee region Duration: More than 200 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days
What began as a way to draw travellers back into town bypassed by highways – places such as Nullawil, Sea Lake and Patchewollock – has grown into a celebrated outdoor art movement. The Silo Art Trail now includes 23 silos, each transformed with large-scale mural portraits sharing local stories, celebrating community heroes, Indigenous history, farming life, or regional identity.
The Nullawil silo, for example, is a portrait of a local farmer in a chequered flannelette shirt alongside his loyal kelpie, painted by artist Sam Bates (AKA Smug). And the silos at Albacutya in the Grampians, painted by artist Kitt Bennett, depict her joyful memories of growing up in the countryside. Many of the murals sit right in the heart of small towns, such as Rochester and St Arnaud, making them perfect spots to pause for a country pub meal or something sweet from a local bakery.
Location: Gippsland Duration: Approximately 220 kilometres / 4 hours
The Gippsland Lakes are a much-loved holiday spot in Victoria, but road-tripping further east reveals much more. Begin in Metung and time your visit with the monthly farmers’ market, or simply linger over lunch on the lawn of the Metung Hotel. Twenty minutes away is Lakes Entrance, where you can watch the fishing boats return with their catch.
Continue to Marlo, where the Snowy River spills into the sea, and Cape Conran for its many beaches and walks. If needing to stretch your legs, Croajingolong National Park is home to the historic Point Hicks Lighthouse and the Wilderness Coast Walk. Birdwatching and rainforest trails near Bemm River are worth a pit stop before arriving in Mallacoota, where the forest meets the sea.
Great Ocean Road
The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)
Location: South-west Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford Duration: Approximately 250 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days
Victoria’s most famous road trip delivers it all: world-class surf breaks, rainforest walks, clifftop lookouts and wildlife encounters. The journey begins in Torquay, the state’s surf capital, then hugs the coast past Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay, before curving inland through the lush rainforest of the Otways. Stop at Cape Otway Lightstation or take to the treetops at Otway Fly.
Between Cape Otway and Port Campbell lies the most photographed stretch – seven of the Twelve Apostles still standing, alongside the golden cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge. Further west, Warrnambool is a winter whale-watching hotspot, before the road winds to Port Fairy, a charming fishing village of whalers’ cottages, walking trails and offshore seal colonies further along the coast.
Location: Bellarine Peninsula Duration: Approximately 80 kilometres / 2–3 hours
The Bellarine Taste Trail is a feast for the senses, winding through coastal towns, past boutique wineries and artisan producers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style trail – simply grab a map and build your own delicious journey.
You might wander historic, seafront Queenscliff, sip wine in a converted tram bar at Terindah Estate, sample a locally distilled whisky at The Whiskery in Drydale or pick up a jar of honey at Wattle Grove in Wallington. Seafood lovers can head to Portarlington, famous for its mussels. Eat them fresh at local restaurants or head out on the water with Portarlington Mussel Tours.
O’Keefe Rail Trail – Bendigo to Heathcote
Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)
Location: Central Victoria Duration: Approximately 50 kilometres / 4 hours cycling
Travellers first journeyed between Heathcote and Bendigo in 1888, when the railway line was built to link the towns. Trains stopped running in 1956, but today the route has a new life as the O’Keefe Rail Trail. The path is mostly level for easy riding, and along the way you’ll cycle past bushland, waterways and reserves. There are plenty of places to picnic, birdwatch, and if you’re lucky, spot a platypus.
The trail is well supported with water stations, bike repair points, shelters, and signage. Axedale makes a great halfway stop, with the pretty Campaspe River Reserve for a rest and local cafes for refuelling. Begin in Heathcote, known for its wineries and cafes, or in Bendigo, which is easily reached by train from Melbourne/Naarm. Shorter sections, such as Heathcote to Axedale, are also popular.
Goldfields Track – Ballarat to Bendigo
Location: Central Victoria Duration: Approximately 210 kilometres / 2–3 days cycling
The Goldfields Track traces a route once so rich in gold it made Melbourne one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Starting at Mt Buninyong, south of Ballarat, the trail leads mountain cyclists and walkers north through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine before finishing in Bendigo. Along the way, you’ll encounter granite outcrops, eucalypt forests, rolling farmland and remnants of the region’s mining past.
As it passes through the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the track shares gold rush history and Indigenous stories brought to life by interpretive signs. Walk or ride the full trail or choose from one of its three distinct sections. With cosy stays, cafes and pubs, it’s easy to mix wilderness with comfort.
