- The Wolgan Valley resort is set to reopen this year as the first property under the new Ritz-Carlton Lodge umbrella.
- Now known as Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, the property has an exclusive offering of just 40 lodges and sits within a 7,000-acre private conservation reserve.
- Exact dates remain to be confirmed; however, it’s anticipated that the property will open its doors by mid-2026.
The gates to Emirates Wolgan Valley are reopening at last, returning with all the headlines that a Ritz-Carlton world-first deserves. After a challenging three-year shutdown defined by landslides and red tape, the 7,000-acre Blue Mountains conservation reserve is confirmed to open its doors once more under Marriott’s ultra-luxury Ritz-Carlton banner.
Backed by a $50 million refresh and reborn as Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, the all-inclusive retreat will lean into the brand’s “sanctuaries in nature” ethos, offering guests its eco-conscious design, elevated craftsmanship, and service dialled up to a level you’d expect from the legendary Ritz-Carlton name.
The first guests to experience the property’s 40 freestanding Federation-style luxury lodges – each with their own private pool and double-sided fireplace – can expect a comprehensively reworked main homestead, upgraded recreational spaces, and a new Ritz-Carlton Spa. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a guided sleep-out experience, which brings fireside dining under the stars to a remote corner of the valley.
“Marking the brand’s lodge debut globally, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will be a major drawcard for our network of 260 million loyal Marriott Bonvoy members around the world,” said Rajeev Menon, local Marriott International President, in a statement. “Particularly with the upcoming plans in store for immersive experiences that connect them deeply to the local area – something our luxury travellers are increasingly prioritising.”
Many will remember that the bones of Wolgan Valley were always special, first opening in 2009 on a former cattle station as part of Emirates’ $125 million tourism push. Wolgan quickly became the poster child for luxury eco-tourism as the world’s first carbon-neutral certified resort, focusing heavily on habitat regeneration and wildlife protection. Management shifted to One&Only in 2015, and all counted, Emirates has tipped in $150 million since 2006.
With the Ritz-Carlton’s polish and Emirates’ long-game investment, Wolgan Valley’s next chapter looks set to restore Australia’s most talked-about wilderness lodge to its rightful perch.
