The Australian Galapagos

Kangaroo Island is "Australia's answer to the Galapagos", says Tatler Travel Guide: a wilderness that is home to sea lions,  koalas, wallabies, anteaters and countless other species. At the Southern Ocean Lodge, opened last year, you can hike, surf, fish, or just watch the sea lions "shimmy" on the beach at dawn - but "wherever you go the backdrop is the ocean". This eco-lodge has been designed with "glamorous precision". Its 21 rooms (all named after island shipwrecks) have under-floor heating, sunken sitting areas and floor-to-ceiling windows. They "undulate" across the landscape, making the most of the panoramic views. The "fastidious staff always go the extra mile". This is the "most visionary hotel to open this year; it just happens to share the limelight with stunning surroundings". Southern Ocean Lodge +61 2 9918 4355. Doubles from £620 per night. ·