Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will open its doors in 2026, marking a fresh chapter for an Aussie icon.
When Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley indefinitely closed its doors in 2023, devoted guests – and those who’d long dreamed of visiting – were left uncertain of its future. But now, in a huge moment of reverence for NSW tourism, the luxury property is finally set to reopen.
Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge is set to revitalise regional tourism in NSW.
Officially partnering on the multimillion-dollar project, Marriott International and the Emirates Group will launch Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge later this year. The property will become the first Ritz-Carlton Lodge in the world, signalling a new era for global luxury travel and revitalising the region’s tourism landscape.
Reflecting the shared values of both brands, Ritz-Carlton Lodges will all be designed as purpose-built sanctuaries immersed in nature. Each retreat will be carefully crafted to mirror its surroundings, balancing minimal environmental impact with a heightened sense of luxury, comfort and craftsmanship for guests.
What is changing?
Upon opening, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will feature 40 elegantly appointed suites, each with its own private pool and bespoke amenities. Beyond the guesthouses, design plans also reveal an arrival lounge and sitting room, signature restaurant, bar, wine room and world-renowned The Ritz-Carlton Spa.
The luxurious retreat will feature 40 design-led lodges.
The lodge has been carefully crafted to mirror its environmental surrounds.
Guests can look forward to soothing treatments at The Ritz-Carlton Spa.
Outside, a swimming pool, fitness centre, tennis courts and equestrian stables promise to keep guests happy. As part of its commitment to conservation, the property is also slated to feature a dedicated naturalist hub. Helmed by a resident expert, it will allow guests to join a curated program of immersive eco-adventures.
A new signature sleep-out experience will also be introduced – a guided overnight journey complete with stargazing, outdoor dining and fireside camping. Additional expert-led experiences specific to the lodge and its surrounds are expected to be announced as the build continues.
Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will hero local produce in its signature restaurant.
“We’re honoured to collaborate with Emirates on this milestone development, which sees the world’s largest hotelier and the world’s largest international airline come together to reinvigorate the luxury tourism offering in New South Wales," says president of Marriott International Asia Pacific (excluding China), Rajeev Menon.
“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, 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."
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What is staying the same?
The Emirates Group has been consistent in its dedication to the property since it first opened as Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley back in 2009. Since then, the company has invested more than $150 million into its construction, maintenance and restoration, as well as the protection and conservation of its natural surrounds.
Emirates continued to maintain the site after its closure in 2023. (Image: Katie Carlin)
When multiple landslips led to the council closure of Wolgan Valley Road in 2023 – the only way to access the resort other than by air – Emirates stayed the course. With the support of a small team of local employees, it has quietly continued to maintain the site.
Emirates is currently investing a further $50 million into renovation efforts, working closely with Marriott to shape the property’s next chapter. Due to this tireless dedication, the lodge remains anchored in its original location – a 2832-hectare conservation reserve in the Greater Blue Mountains region. It will, however, occupy less than two per cent of this protected area.
Each private retreat is designed to frame the surrounding landscape.
This offers guests rare access to the landscape while carefully respecting the flora and fauna that call it home, from bare-nosed wombats to ancient Wollemi Pines. The metaphorical cherry on top? It could also reinstate up to 150 local jobs, providing a major economic boost to the community and expanding opportunities for regional suppliers and producers.
“We are proud of our long-term investment into the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort. Our unwavering commitment to the resort leads us to today’s announcement of an exciting agreement with Marriott International to open the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge," says president of Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark.
The Emirates Group and Marriott International will open the lodge later this year.
“For us, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will not only be an extraordinary resort appealing to discerning travellers seeking to be close to nature, but also a powerful engine for local economic growth, helping to rejuvenate the Wolgan Valley locality."
Entrance to the resort is now by four-wheel drive via the Donkey Steps, a steep access route used by cattle drovers in the 1860s. While it is part of the resort’s new rural off-road experience, guests wanting to avoid the steep incline can opt to arrive by air instead.
Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge is set to open mid-2026. The new lodge will complement the brand’s existing presence in Australia, including The Ritz-Carlton, Perth and The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne. Watch this space.
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Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
Thredbo in summer is a nature lover’s dream of show-stopping alpine beauty, cool mountain air and magical moonlit adventure.
For many of us, Thredbo calls to mind shimmering slopes and snow-dusted gums, but come summer, this Alpine resort transforms into a playground of an entirely different kind. A cool mountain retreat despite the season, Thredbo summer hikes are astonishingly beautiful, criss-crossing over dramatic peaks, pristine glacial lakes and abundant flora and fauna.
From approachable tracks for novice walkers to more challenging hikes across the Main Range and even journeys under moonlight, Thredbo puts on an unforgettable show of natural splendour all summer. Lace up your walking boots and take the chairlift from Thredbo village to embark on a self-guided exploration or a tour of the Snowy Mountains’ most compelling landscapes.
These eight unforgettable hiking experiences are only available in summer and offer an alpine adventure like you’ve never experienced before.
1. Full Moon Hike to Mt Kosciuszko
Stand atop Mt Kosciuszko at full moon.
There’s something almost mystical about hiking by the light of a full moon. This guided experience begins with a 15-minute chairlift ride, where you’ll admire the Thredbo Valley below, bathed in the fading sun.
Once at the top, you’ll pass rivers, alpine lakes and spot nocturnal wildlife on your way to the Kosciuszko Lookout and Lake Cootapatamba. By the time you reach the summit, sunset is well underway as you watch day give way to night and the alpine landscape magically illuminated by the lunar glow. Enjoy a hot chocolate here before following the path back to Eagles Nest, brightened by the night sky.
The only thing that could level up the celestial beauty of a full moon hike would be a super full moon hike. Following the same route, you’ll meet the moon when it is largest and closest to Earth by ascending to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko at an elevation of 2228 metres. From such a height, it almost feels as though you could reach out and touch its glowing surface.
Given the rarity and splendour of the super full moon, limited spots fill up fast for this awe-inspiring hike, so be sure to book the 5 December in advance.
3. Lunar Eclipse Hike
See dazzling celestial displays.
What could be more extraordinary than witnessing a lunar eclipse from Australia’s highest peak? Whether you’re a keen astronomer or simply revel in nature’s beauty, this guided 13-kilometre hike will place you on top of Mount Kosciuszko just as Earth passes between the sun and moon, throwing shade over the lunar surface before transforming it with a deep-red hue.
It’s an epic place to witness one of our galaxy’s most spectacular and rare light shows. Apart from the dazzling celestial display, you’ll also enjoy walking through the moon-bathed landscape, an evening chairlift ride, and a hot chocolate at the summit.
Book now for 3 March.
4. New Moon Hike
Catch the changing skies of a new moon.
A stargazer’s delight, the darkness of a new moon gives the Milky Way full permission to dazzle with its shimmering display. Both astronomers and photographers will relish this opportunity to observe and capture the starry skyscape from the lofty height of Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Departing Thredbo Village at dusk and leaving its twinkling lights far below, you’ll arrive at the summit in time to see the sun slip away and the stars appear.
Embark on a gentle entry into the Snowy Mountain scenery with an amble along the Thredbo River. This self-guided hike hugs the river and wanders along the valley floor, revealing snow gum forests, swimming holes and little waterfalls that make for revitalising cold plunges in the summer heat.
6. Merritts Nature Track
Stop at swimming holes along the way.
On warm summer days, venturing into the cooler air of Thredbo’s alpine tracks offers relief from the heat. Particularly if you set course for the four-kilometre Merritts Nature Track, where there are opportunities to take a refreshing dip in swimming holes along the way.
The two-to-three-hour self-guided hike meanders through towering ancient trees (dubbed the ‘Pixie Forest’ by locals), takes in stunning mountain vistas and is soundtracked by the melody of birdsong. Stop for a picnic and discover a hidden natural infinity pool, the location of which is given away by the roar of a cascading waterfall.
7. Mt Kosciuszko Summit Tour
Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.
While you can easily steer yourself to Australia’s most iconic peak without a guide, following an expert guide to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko will colour your experience with a deeper knowledge of the landscape and its wild inhabitants. The 13-kilometre return trail puts the alpine scenery on display with 360-degree views from the highest spot in the country.
The walk begins at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift and takes around four to six hours to complete, but is gentle enough to be embarked upon by all ages.
8. Snowies Alpine Walk Experience
Join a two- or three-day experience along Snowies Alpine Walk.
If you’re looking to truly untether from daily life and embark on a real immersion in Thredbo’s stunning alpine scenery, pack your hiking boots for the newest multi-day walk in the mountains. The Snowies Alpine Walk can be tackled over two or three days and includes nightly accommodation in the iconic Thredbo Alpine Hotel, daily buffet breakfast, packed lunch and dinner vouchers, plus daily transfers to and from trail heads in a brand-new Defender.
The two-day experience covers 24 kilometres, while the three-day experience almost doubles that at 44 kilometres. Along the way, explore barely trod landscapes, vast high-country plains and uplifting mountain horizons.
