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Topping the chart in the Australia and the South Pacific category, Capella scored 97.65 from a possible 100, based on readers’ reviews.
Top scorers in the prestigious awards’ new “community” criteria – in other words, how readers felt the resort supported local people and interests – included Bali’s The Laguna and Capella Lodge on Australia’s Lord Howe Island, along with the Namibian outpost of Burning Man favourite Habitas, one of the most striking recent openings in Africa.
A short two-hour flight from Australia’s east coast and home to the world’s southernmost coral reef, the tiny World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island boasts awesome natural assets making it a ‘best-kept secret’ destination for snorkelling and diving, as well as hiking along mountain and beach tracks.
Accessible to just 400 visitors at any one time, Lord Howe has become more appealing than ever as travellers increasingly seek out natural destinations free of crowds and with plenty of space and fresh air.
Baillie Lodges founders James and Hayley Baillie who own Capella Lodge said the recognition in the Condé Nast Traveller 2022 Readers’ Choice awards was especially significant as travel began to bounce back following years of restrictions due to the pandemic.
“Capella was the first property in the Baillie Lodges portfolio and we’re so thrilled to see this endorsement from some of the world’s most discerning travellers,” Mr and Mrs Baillie said.
“Lord Howe has been a favourite family holiday destination for us over generations and we consider the awards a reflection of a new era of conscious travel, where the chance to make a positive impact on the environment and communities in which we holiday will play a greater role,” they said.
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