How green is Wolgan Valley
Conservation and luxury are at the forefront of this world-class sanctuary, nestled in Wolgan Valley, writes Brian Crisp
WHEN news spread around Lithgow that airline giant Emirates was preparing to build a world-class resort in the area there were more than a few chuckles.
Lithgow is a working man’s town. It is coalmining country. Money is made the hard way here – blood and sweat, even tears – so it is usually spent wisely.
Although some in this NSW country town could afford it, it is unlikely many will splash out the hefty price to stay a night or two at the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa.
From a marketing sense, it had the potential to quickly become a “them and us” situation.
For Emirates it could have been a public relations disaster. But that is far from the reality. One of the many good things about this conservation-minded luxury resort is that it celebrates everything Wolgan Valley has to offer.
The past is very much part of the future. And the local produce, wines and people are on display for the upper echelon of travellers to enjoy.
After building Al Maha in the Dubai desert, Emirates Hotels & Resorts started searching the world for another unique destination at which it could develop a luxury retreat.
Choice of six sites
They had shortlisted six potential sites scattered around Australia and the company chiefs were visiting each of these on a fact-finding tour. Wolgan Valley wasn’t on the list. But they did fly over it in a helicopter en route to another site. They looked down, liked what they saw, and bought it.
Six years later Wolgan Valley was open to the world, putting Lithgow on the map. When Emirates builds a resort, it attracts global attention. Journalists from America, Europe and the Middle East are at this moment clicking away at computer keyboards telling readers about this amazing 1600ha property, which is a three-hour drive from Sydney’s CBD.
It is expected about 70 per cent of the guests will be international. If it is able to replicate the type of clientele that visits Al Maha then Wolgan Valley will play host to kings, queens, movie stars, pop singers and some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential people.
I have been lucky enough to stay at Al Maha and now Wolgan Valley. While they share the same DNA – high levels of service, stunning attention to detail, the best quality fittings available – it is true to say they are also very different.
Al Maha is an Arabian experience.
The activities, design and feel celebrate local culture. And that’s exactly the same at Wolgan Valley. But Wolgan Valley’s imprint is very Australian. This is not a resort that you could pick up and transport to Dubai. It wouldn’t work.
Resort belongs in the valley
Wolgan Valley works because it feels part of the environment. It feels as if it belongs. It was made to complement the natural beauty of this Central West valley, not intrude on it.
From outside the property, there are no obvious signs it even exists. Once you drive through Lithgow you take the road to Mudgee (Castlereagh Highway) for 6km before turning right on to Wolgan Rd at Lidsdale. From there you negotiate the sometimes-steep gravel road (better leave the good car at home) for 18km until you reach the discreet Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa sign.
It is not until you splash through the creek that the resort reveals itself to you.
The main homestead building is the focal point. It houses the reception area, dining rooms, bar and cognac room this originally was going to be a cigar room but political correctness won out.
A 3m veranda wraps three sides of the building allowing guests to congregate inside or out, depending on the weather.
The dining room is sandwiched between two giant double-sided sandstone fireplaces. Each piece of glassware on the tables retails for $65 and, as you would expect, the cutlery is all silver.
Land of the Giants
The oversized furniture looks like it belongs on the set of Land of the Giants, but it is built for comfort and it is easy to sink in and soak up a few gin and tonics while reading about the property’s history.
If you don’t want to sit you can go outside and touch the history. The original Webb family homestead is the central point for a lot of the activities. The homestead visited twice in the 1800s by Charles Darwin – has been brought back to life, under the watchful eye of Clean Up Australia’s Ian Kiernan and helps visitors understand the story of this area’s past.
At night guests will sit around the campfire and do some star-gazing or just chat, sing a few songs, and perhaps even share a few swigs from a bottle of port.
A member of the activities team takes me around the property. The only thing about him that looks out of place is his new R.M. Williams uniform. He says “G’day” to everyone we pass. At one point he stops to catch a baby magpie that has fallen from its nest. He circles it from behind and, on the second attempt, scoops it up in his hands and places it on a rock, out of the gusting winds. “His mum can still find him here and there’s less chance of a fox getting him.” Yes, this really is the bush.
Beauty and the bush
His role is to look after the resort’s horses. Guests can take riding tours around the property, but horses and me don’t tend to get on, so he shows me around in the comfort of a 4WD. On our afternoon drive we get really close to the side of Australia that will no doubt appeal most to foreigners. The further we drive into the property the more abundant the wildlife becomes. Our drive lasts 90 minutes and we see about 100 kangaroos, a handful of wombats and the many colours of birdlife. We finish the tour at sunset with a glass of local bubbles before heading back to the homestead for dinner.
As you would expect, all meals and most alcohol are covered in the tariff. It does cost more if you want to drink a vertical of Grange or spend hours being scrubbed in wattleseed-infused oil in the Timeless Spa.
The Executive chef has a strong belief in using as much local produce as possible. As such he has tasted just about everything – good and bad – that this region has to offer.
The dining room seats 96, but it will only ever be that full if all 40 suites are booked.
And what do you get in those suites?
It is probably fair to say that the suite life here is as good as it gets. All suites are free-standing, designed with the homestead theme in mind, and very private. There are bikes at the front door for those who want to be energetic.
Open a window to nature
As you open the door you walk into a sitting room that has views up the valley.
There’s a three-seater lounge, a single chair around one side of the gas fireplace.
The wide-screen LCD television is concealed behind a piece of artwork.
Plush rugs cover the timber floors and the neutral tones of everything else help ease the senses and relax you.
The four-poster bed, which you may well want to buy (and you can) after sleeping in it, is on the other side of the fireplace. The bathroom is a mix of stone and tiles with rain shower and two-person bath. But the wow factor must be the indoor heated lap pool.
Each suite has one. It is to the right of the lounge room as you walk in. It is about 7m long and has concertina windows that allow you to either let in, or shut out, the rest of the world.
In terms of where Wolgan Valley fits in the Australian tourism market, it’s really hard to think of possible competitors because it is so different.
Perhaps Qualia, on Hamilton Island.
Or even the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island.
More likely Wolgan Valley will lure some visitors from the famous New Zealand lodges. It has that kind of exclusive, yet homely, feel. It’s expensive, but without the pretence.
Website www.wolganvalley.com