This was my first trip to Kangaroo Island and I loved it.

The Sky House provided a perfect base for our holiday. It is excellent accommodation with amazing views of Snelling Beach, and the North Coast of KI.

It's not cheap...but it is worth it to indulge every now and then.

Stunning rammed earth abode with a 5 star view – no dispute. However, the attention to detail (as mentioned in previous reviews) was not totally my experience and may be overlooked if you are opting for the catering inclusion or perhaps lost in romance. The most difficult flaw to discount was an offensive odour emanating (I believe) from the fridge. It was not obvious at first but became progressively offensive over our duration. The fridge is bar size and inefficient so keep this in mind if you intend to self cater. My other criticisms may seem minor however are in relation to a $440 night investment. There is a coffee machine however the coffee grinder does not grind the beans fine enough to achieve a satisfactory result. Fortunately I brought my own coffee and oil (these things had been cited as inclusions). The toiletries provided were minimal. For example a very tiny jar of salts for the bath, a featured highlight. Infact many hotels and B&B’s provide more quality here and usually more than one bath towel per person. Other shortcomings such as no internet (again provided), light globes that didn’t work, a very sad hairdryer and rubbish left (complete with maggots) in the outside bin did not go unnoticed. The record player with a good vinyl selection, books to browse and a few oils (some dried up) to paint were delightful. The welcoming personalised CD and mini cake in oven were also positives. This critique is definitely not to dissuade you as the overall beauty indeed outweighs the short comings I experienced at Sky House.

Our extended family stayed at both the Cliff and Stone Houses and we had a truly lovely time at Lifetime Private Retreats. Both houses are truly "happy houses", the location, interiors and architecture promote harmony joy and incredible energy. THe four children, aged between 12 and 3, found their groove immediately and were uncannily convivial to each other! Such positive vibes!

Enough has been said about the beauty of the houses and the location, so we wouldn't need to repeat them. Suffice to say, the Lifetime team have done a great job.

We opted for the self-catering option, and we really appreciated the very well-equipped kitchen. We have been to many beautiful beach houses and most have disappointed in this respect with flimsy cookware and cheap knives. Not Lifetime. Every cook's toy, including Microplane graters, is there!

We stayed at The Stone House on an accommodation only basis and we loved the house, the view and also Kangaroo Island and would definitely recommend staying there to friends and family. The 3 houses are located in a remote part of the island but that is part of the appeal.

The only recommendation I can make is perhaps a complimentary 'welcome pack' of local produce would be a nice touch especially as Kangaroo Island is keen to promote their local produce. We have previously stayed in Kudos Villas in Hepburn Springs and Birk’s Boathouse in Goolwa which I would say is of a similar standard to Lifetime’s accommodation and they included a welcome pack of milk, orange juice, locally made bread, locally made muesli and locally made jam. I note on Lifetime’s website you can buy these items as self-service but at $38 per person this seems pretty expensive.