Comfort and Care at the Edge of the World
Sometimes what stops us from travelling to remote places is the thought that we will have to do without our usual comforts. These hotels prove otherwise.
Australia: Kangaroo Island
Off the south coast of Australia, 13.5 km from the mainland, lies Kangaroo Island – Australia’s own Galapagos. Ten thousand years ago it was joined to the continent by an isthmus, but rising seas isolated it, allowing animals to evolve away from predators and pests, and over time many came to look different from their mainland relatives. The local kangaroo subspecies, for instance, has thicker, darker fur, a stockier build and small ears. The island also has the largest population of tammar wallabies. Both are best seen at dawn and dusk when they come out to graze, and you will also meet koalas, echidnas, platypuses and possums on walking safaris.
The island has 500 km of coastline, and the ocean around it is teeming with life. It is home to one of the largest colonies of Australian sea lions, which hunt at sea and rest and raise their young on the beaches, unafraid of people. From May to September southern right and humpback whales can be seen offshore, with sperm whales, pilot whales and orcas further out. Blue whales – the largest mammals on Earth – dolphins and penguins also occur here, and fur seals shelter from the elements in the coastal grotto of Admirals Arch.
The island’s landscapes are just as remarkable. On its south-west coast are the Remarkable Rocks, a group of boulders sculpted by wind and rain on a granite dome; the orange lichen covering them, a partnership of fungi and algae, protects them from the sun. There is also a “Little Sahara” with 40-metre dunes for sandboarding. You can kayak the island’s rivers, head out by boat, swim with dolphins and explore the two-million-year-old Kelly Hill Caves.
All this is complemented by Southern Ocean Lodge, part of the Beckons collection, set just steps from the ocean with stunning views from every window. Expect spacious suites and pavilions worthy of the world’s top rankings, with large terraces, fireplaces and pools, a wonderful spa, a cellar of South Australian wines, a restaurant serving regional cuisine from local produce and an extensive programme of experiences by day and by night.
New Zealand: Taupo
The Taupo region on New Zealand’s North Island shows nature in all its splendour. Here lies Lake Taupo, the largest freshwater lake in Australasia, only slightly smaller than Kyiv and six times the size of Paris. Its water is so clear that the bottom is visible at 13 metres (with an average depth of 100 m and a maximum of 186 m). The lake was formed 27,000 years ago by the eruption of the Oruanui volcano, the most powerful eruption in the world in the last 70,000 years.
The lake attracts lovers of boating, kayaking and water-skiing, and Maori rock carvings can only be seen from the water. Trails around it offer views of the lake on one side and the peaks of Tongariro National Park on the other. The lake is fed by many sources but drains into just one river – and what a river! The Waikato, New Zealand’s longest, feeds Huka Falls, powerful enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool in 11 seconds.
This is the setting of the retreat Huka Lodge (2 Michelin Keys), part of the Beckons collection. Opened more than 100 years ago, it was completely renovated in 2025. Besides lake cruises, it arranges helicopter flights over the Tongariro volcanoes and the geothermal Wairakei Valley, skydiving, golf and river rafting.
Patagonia, Chile: Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile is instantly recognisable by its three granite towers, which draw travellers from all over the world. Nearby are the Cuernos del Paine massif, forests, rivers, waterfalls, lakes fringed by wide beaches and endless glaciers. The park offers multi-day treks and short excursions: horseback rides with experienced gauchos, climbs to viewpoints such as Mirador Los Cuernos with superb views of Lake Pehoé, helicopter flights over mountains and glaciers, and boat or kayak trips on Lake Grey.
Here you can track pumas with a ranger, watch condors soar or foxes playing in the grass, see a mother rhea protect her chicks or guanacos grazing. You can even see wildlife from the pool at Tierra Patagonia, a hotel with three Michelin Keys. Built of local timber, it stretches like a ribbon along Lake Sarmiento, blending into the landscape and offering welcome respite from Patagonia’s harsh climate. The spa offers a sauna, Jacuzzi and treatments based on local herbs; the restaurant serves contemporary Chilean cuisine with views of the lake and snowy peaks; and the bar mixes cocktails with calafate, berries long believed by locals to bring strength and health. The hotel team ensures that every visit to the park is comfortable and unforgettable.
Belize: the Great Blue Hole
Within the UNESCO-listed Belize Barrier Reef lies the world’s largest blue hole: perfectly round, 318 metres across and 124 metres deep. This underwater cave formed more than 100,000 years ago, when sea levels were 120 metres lower than today, as confirmed by stalactites and stalagmites more than 40 metres down, beyond the reach of sunlight. In 1971 Jacques-Yves Cousteau visited aboard his Calypso and named the Blue Hole one of the best dive sites on the planet. Its waters are home to 500 species of fish, and thanks to the nearby open sea, reef sharks, rays, groupers and sea turtles visit too – ordinary travellers can see them as well. The best time for diving and snorkelling is April to June, when the sea is calm and visibility reaches 30 metres. The Blue Hole is also unforgettable from above, on helicopter or light-aircraft flights.
You can stay at Turneffe Island Resort on a private island in the Caribbean, 50 km from the Blue Hole and Belize City. It offers villas of various categories, including a Presidential villa with mahogany interiors, an infinity pool and stunning beach views. Spend your days on sea excursions or forget everything in a hammock in the shade of the palms.
British Columbia, Canada: Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada stays in the memory for its vast wild expanses of mountains, rainforests and Pacific beaches. It has one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet: snowy peaks, rushing waterfalls, ancient forests, ocean waters full of life, a coastline carved with bays, two thousand lakes, mountain springs and a network of streams and rivers. Sitka spruces as tall as a 30-storey building grow here, along with firs and cedars. Wild salmon spawn in the rivers, prey for bald eagles, black bears – whose population here is the largest in the world – and Steller sea lions weighing more than a tonne. Humpback whales are a particular draw, and it is fascinating to watch Vancouver Island marmots, among the rarest animals in the world: their numbers once fell to just 25, but fortunately the situation is improving.
Vancouver Island is a superb destination for skiing and snowboarding, surfing, hiking and cycling in national parks and along coastal routes, and running on deserted beaches that stretch for dozens of kilometres. You can take helicopter and seaplane flights, go climbing, play golf, feel the power of a winter storm or touch eternity under the starry sky. You will also discover the heritage of the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth people, especially their thousand-year tradition of woodcarving, continued by today’s artists.
You can stay at The Wickaninnish Inn, a Relais & Châteaux property on the ocean shore in Tofino. Built of cedar, it has a spa that harnesses the power of nature (thalassotherapy, hot-stone massage and products made from local forest plants), and a restaurant with 240-degree ocean views pairing organic dishes with local wines. Weddings can be held in the old-growth forest or by the ocean.
Want to travel to the edge of the world in comfort? Our travel consultants will plan your expedition or far-flung journey and book the finest lodges.
