Why Narooma is becoming one of NSW’s most exciting coastal escapes

With Merivale’s first hotel now open on the Wagonga Inlet and a culinary line-up that reads like a Sydney dining greatest hits, Narooma is becoming one of NSW’s most compelling coastal escapes

There is no shortage of picturesque seaside escapes in New South Wales. Gerringong, Kiama, Byron Bay, Killcare, Newcastle, Palm Beach… the list of coastal destinations Sydneysiders have long flocked to for a sun-and-sand holiday is exhaustive. But another coastal destination is quickly gaining the attention of luxury travellers following the opening of Merivale’s first hotel project. 

The Whale opened last month, welcoming guests to the motel-turned-18-key boutique hotel at the Wagonga Inlet in the NSW seaside town of Narooma on the south coast, five hours south of Sydney.

Conceived by Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes and his sister, Bettina, and designed by the Merivale in-house Design Studio – behind some of Sydney’s most beautiful restaurants and bars – the Narooma retreat offers just 18 rooms alongside a restaurant and wellness spaces, and took three years to complete.

The Whale’s design was inspired by Ibiza in the 1970s, with natural and earthy finishes throughout adding a retro twist that nods to the building’s motel origins.

Among the 18 rooms available is a two-bedroom Oceanview Penthouse along with nine Premium Suites, while the wellness offering includes a heated magnesium pool, traditional sauna and ice bath. A pickleball court is onsite for recreation while a sunset-facing firepit invites relaxed sundowners.

Executive Chef Clayton Wells, who formerly helmed acclaimed Sydney restaurants Automata and Momofuku Seiobo, oversees the hotel menus, drawing on produce from the NSW South Coast. He oversees other Merivale restaurants in Narooma including Quarterdeck and Lynch’s alongside Northern Beaches venues The Newport and The Collaroy.

Breakfast at The Whale, a simple menu that showcases local suppliers such as Narooma bakery Honorbread, is a communal affair, with options to sit across the property’s gardens or restaurant. The all-day dining menu pairs hotel classics like a pool club sandwich, fried prawn sandwich and a katsu chicken burger with local, freshly caught seafood from Narooma Seafoods such as oysters and sashimi. Guests can dine poolside, in the extensive gardens, or by the firepit, with in-room dining also available.

“When I was tapped to head up the menus at The Whale, I couldn’t have been more excited,” says Wells. “I love working with local produce and the NSW far South Coast has some of the best farmers and suppliers in the country. It’s been great getting to know the locals including the team from Honorbread as well as the local oyster farmers and fishermen.”

Dan Hong’s Queen Chow also reopens inside The Whale, with refreshed interiors and a menu of fresh seafood, dumplings and signature dishes including its iconic barbecued duck.

The Whale marks the latest manifestation of Merivale’s interest in Narooma, where Justin Hemmes bought a beachfront property in 2015. Tiki-style restaurant Quarterdeck became the group’s first venue outside Sydney in 2021, while the historic Lynch’s Hotel, an established pub, was acquired in 2022. The Inlet and The Surf Park are also under the Merivale umbrella.

Together, they have helped accelerate Narooma’s evolution from a quietly beautiful holiday town known for its crystalline inlet, abundant seafood and largely untapped potential, to polished coastal escape.

“This is our first resort-style accommodation that we’ve created at Merivale, and it’s a very different skill to creating a hospitality venue, there are so many more layers to it,” says Hemmes. “You need to cover the 24/7 experience of the guest, and there are a lot of intricacies and complexities to get that right. With The Whale, we wanted to create something special where people can come and experience the beauty of Narooma and everything it has to offer, in a beautiful setting with great food, staff and service.”

Bookings are now open at whalenarooma.com