Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley is the first resort in the world to be internationally accredited as carbon-neutral.
There’s something of an otherworldly aura surrounding Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley. Wombats and wallaroos grazing at the front door of your private villa, spectacular sandstone escarpments shrouded in early morning mist, eucalypt forests abundant with native wildlife, freshwater rivers, heritage buildings — Wolgan Valley encapsulates all the romance and nostalgia of the quintessential Australian bush experience, and then some.
It’s being immersed in a secluded World Heritage listed area coupled with dreamy luxuries — a heated plunge pool and open fireplace in each timber villa, delicious locally sourced food and regional wines, a world-class spa and incredible service — that makes this resort one of the most unique five star experiences in Australia. And for those lucky enough to experience Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley with family, the resort offers the kind of quality, screen-free (should you so choose it) downtime needed for reconnecting with the kids.
The Main Homestead and pool area.
The magic begins when you’re greeted at the front gate of the property. Here, you leave your car behind and are ushered into a Land Rover by warm and welcoming staff in Akubra hats and R.M. Williams boots. It’s a short drive to the Main Homestead down a dirt track and across a bubbling creek that signals your entry into what genuinely feels like another world, a cross between the film The Man from Snowy River and the lost lands of a Jules Verne novel.
Inside a villa living room, designed by Turner and Associates.
Offering 38 freestanding luxury villas with expansive verandahs that overlook the 7,000-acre conservation-based property, each modern suite is fitted with elegant timber-panelled interiors inspired by Australia’s Federation period architecture.
At every front door — ideal for active kids — are mountain bikes for the entire family. From freewheeling around the expansive grounds, platypus and tadpole spotting in the creek, exploring the historic 1832 Heritage Homestead or just pedalling up to the Wolgan Dining Room or Country Kitchen in the Main Homestead for a providore-style lunch or multi-course dinner (there’s also a chauffeured golf-buggy on offer for tired little legs) the simple pleasure of cycling with rosy-cheeked kids and the wind in your hair is the stuff idyllic family memories are made of.
The 7,000-acre conservation-based property is set within a World Heritage listed area.
For those wanting to get a little closer to nature the sundowner wildlife tours are lead by knowledgable field guides who can relay everything about the area from its history and remarkable geography to the habits of the native fauna. Thanks to a dedicated conservation effort Wolgan Valley is home to one of the largest population of wombats in Australia and the kids loved learning that, when pressed, wombats can run faster than kangaroos; you can spot a sugarglider’s home by the marks they leave on trees; and that the dramatic landscape of the valley was wrought not from an ancient seismic shift but from the sandstone being worn away by water and weather over millenia. Indeed, locals like to promote the belief that Charles Darwin, who reportedly spent a night in the Wolgan Valley homestead in 1836, based his seminal book, On the Origin of Species not on the Galapagos but on Wolgan Valley.
Alongside the wildlife and history there’s plenty of action for the kids — and relaxation for parents so everyone can do as much, or as little, as they like.
Stargazing
Stargazing is just one of a multitude of activities on offer for curious young minds. For the more adventurous the Wolgan Valley Junior Rangers programme spans bush-survival, archery and fossil hunting.
Inside the dining room
On our visit it was the breakfasts at the Wolgan Dining Room — an elegantly comfortable retreat with deep lounges, soaring ceilings, exposed rafters and monumental sandstone chimneys — that were the biggest hit with the children. A sumptuous buffet of warm-from-the-oven pastries and bread, fruit and homemade cereals is complemented by an à la carte menu, the highlight of which is hands down The Valley Breakfast with eggs, chorizo, labne, kale and sourdough. The evening meals are a more sophisticated affair with executive chef Nancy Kichela conjuring impeccably presented seasonal creations including a six-course degustation menu. A kids menu is also available.
Wildlife is everywhere at Wolgan Valley
The abundance of wildlife just casually lounging around the grounds at Wolgan Valley is for children especially one of the star attractions. And the spotlighting tour (driving around in a Land Rover after dark spotting nocturnal animals with torches) was, for the kids, one of the highlights of the trip. Our guide, Roger the environmental scientist is just one of a group of conservationists who call the resort home.
What’s a rural property experience without horse riding? Introductory lessons are available for the kids and for more experienced riders there’s longer trail rides across the property on handpicked, beautifully tempered stock horses.
Land Rovers are the main mode of transport throughout Wolgan Valley. More recently there’s also been announced the availability of a chauffer-driven Lexus RX or LX.
The luxurious four poster bed in the free-standing villas.
Pool with a view. Each villa features its own heated indoor plunge pool.
The day spa, with rooms overlooking the rolling landscape, includes an indulgent menu of tholistic therapies from aromatherapy massages to facials and detox treatments.
Visit: Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley
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