Emirates and Marriott International have signed an agreement to open Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz Carlton Lodge, positioning the Greater Blue Mountains as the global debut of the Ritz Carlton Lodge concept.
Set on a 7,000 acre conservancy in the World Heritage listed Greater Blue Mountains region, the 40 key all inclusive lodge is scheduled to open in mid 2026. The partners say the project will set a new benchmark for regional luxury tourism in New South Wales, pairing high end service with a nature led experience designed for minimal environmental impact.
Emirates has owned and developed the Wolgan Valley property since 2006, investing AU$150 million to establish the resort as a conservation based luxury stay. That work included restoration of historic structures, including the original homestead dating to 1832, plus extensive habitat rehabilitation, with more than one million native trees planted across the site.
The airline is now investing a further AU$50 million in renovations, working with Marriott to transform the property into a world class Ritz Carlton experience with a strong sense of place. The relaunch follows the closure of Wolgan Valley Road in 2023, with Emirates saying it has continued to maintain the site with locally employed staff while it was unable to operate.
Guests will access the lodge via a four wheel drive transfer using the Donkey Steps route, which will be part of the rural off road arrival, or by helicopter. The lodge will occupy less than two per cent of the protected reserve, delivering space and seclusion, with exclusive access to night skies, rare native flora such as the Wollemi Pine and wildlife including kangaroos, bare nosed wombats and brush tailed rock wallabies.
Plans include 40 private lodges with private pools and bespoke amenities, alongside a signature sleep out experience designed as a guided overnight in remote wilderness, complete with an outdoor meal, campfire and stargazing under dark skies.
The main homestead will be reimagined with an arrival lounge, signature restaurant, lounge bar and wine room featuring a curated selection of local and international wines. Renovated recreation and wellbeing facilities are slated to include an outdoor pool, tennis courts, equestrian stables, a modern fitness centre and the Ritz Carlton Spa, plus a dedicated naturalist hub led by a resident expert to curate conservation focused experiences.
Emirates and Marriott say the opening could recreate close to 150 local jobs and generate expanded opportunities for suppliers in the region.
The announcement comes as premium nature based travel continues to surge, with Tourism Research Australia reporting regional New South Wales welcomed 15.5 million domestic visitors in the quarter to September 2025, generating AU$5.9 billion in visitor spend and 18.5 million overnight stays. International arrivals contributed an additional 727,300 visitors and AU$1.2 billion in spend.
The lodge will add to The Ritz Carlton’s existing presence in Australia, alongside The Ritz Carlton, Perth and The Ritz Carlton, Melbourne, while delivering what the partners describe as a flagship luxury drawcard for the Greater Blue Mountains.
