Sea Dragon Lodge and Villas Willoughby review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

Large glass sliding doors in both the living area and bedroom take in views of the bush and coast, while out on the balcony deck, a spa bath is hot and ready to go.

What a view from the spa at the Sea Dragon.

It’s impossible to cover Kangaroo Island in just one weekend. That soon becomes obvious, once you set upon the unsealed tracks from the ferry at Penneshaw to the main town of Kingscote, or any of the attractions like Seal Bay or Admiral’s Arch.

So when you are short on time, staying somewhere that provides a good snapshot of the island is ideal.

Sea Dragon Lodge, on the eastern tip of the island, offers that snapshot and more.

It’s about a half-hour drive from the ferry terminal and an easy one at that – just stay on Cape Willoughby Rd until you reach the accommodation site.

Owner Steve Lane will likely be there to greet and take you to your particular eco suite or lodge. For us, it was a spa villa, located down a steep driveway with picturesque views of Cape Willoughby.

Well before checking in – two weeks before, in fact – we were required to put in any desired meal orders. We were only staying one night, but being well out of the town of Penneshaw, we needed to either have dinner with us or order a home-cooked meal, prepared by Steve and wife Gail.

Our Malaysian-style curry – made with lamb sourced from the adjacent property – is already heating in the oven when we arrive just after 4pm.

“It will be ready by 6pm,” Steve tells us. “Or just turn down the heat if you want it later.” Bliss.

Inside a Sea Dragon deluxe spa villa.

The contemporary villa is the newest of the lot, built just a couple of years ago. Timber floorboards, modern kitchen appliances and a spacious bathroom add style to comfort.

Large glass sliding doors in both the living area and bedroom take in views of the bush and coast, while out on the balcony deck, a spa bath is hot and ready to go.

We first take a two-minute walk down to Pink Bay, a secluded sandy beach, and watch the sun begin to set. If we were to stay a little longer, we would have brought a bottle of wine down from the fridge. But instead, it’s wildlife we want to see. At dusk, the kangaroos are out and about. It’s like our own private national park.

If you don’t want to leave the villa, peep out the windows in the kitchen and you’ll likely find a roo or two hopping by.

We crack open a bottle of red and relax on the lounge, still admiring the unspoilt view in front of us, until we’re ready for dinner.

Like many luxuries on Kangaroo Island, dinner doesn’t come cheap. It’s $96 for our curry for two, but it is delicious. Though with a fully-equipped kitchenette, it would be easy to bring a few things to cook yourself.

The main bedroom has a comfortable queen bed and clothes storage, and also provides access to the balcony. All the usual amenities are provided in the bathroom, complete with his-and-hers basins.

For breakfast, there’s a fresh loaf of bread on the counter with jams, and yoghurt and fruit loaf in the fridge. We run the Nespresso coffee pod machine and are ready for our 4WD tour with Steve, to see some of the incredible coastal sights and wildlife the island is famous for. This, he says, is the real Kangaroo Island. And we have to agree.

SA Tourism Commission contributed towards the cost of this stay.

This review was first published in November 2017 and had details updated in March 2021.

• 2575 Cape Willoughby Rd, Willoughby
• 0401 727 234
• seadragonlodge.com.au

• LOCATION Luxury adults-only retreat on Kangaroo Island, conveniently located near the island’s two access points, the Penneshaw ferry terminal (27km) and Kingscote airport (66km)
• ACCOMMODATION Three luxury eco-villas, two deluxe spa eco-villas, one two-bedroom spa apartment, one three-bedroom apartment and and four-bedroom apartment.
• FACILITIES Stunning ocean views, large ocean-facing decks, open living-rooms, fully-equipped kitchens, coffee machines, airconditioning, smart TVs and gas barbecues.
• PRICE From $390 a night (extended stay), minimum two-night stay.