Merivale is reopening The Whale, an 18-key boutique hotel in the seaside town of Narooma in New South Wales, on 19 June 226 following an extensive three year full-property renovation.
The property was reimagined by the Merivale Design Studio, with a nod to 1970s coastal design and paired with contemporary finishes.
Perched atop the property, the Oceanview Penthouse with its private rooftop garden offers a secluded retreat with sweeping panoramic water views. Inside, a dining table for six sits alongside a curved vintage Featherston lounge and private bar. A raised custom king bed heroes the space with breathtaking views of the sparking Inlet. A second bedroom adjoins the main penthouse through a vestibule, with its own bathroom and views of Montague Island.
It also features nine Premium Inlet Suites that have been individually designed with terrazzo floors, custom furniture, art and textiles, with views across the inlet and ocean, or the surrounding national park.
Shared spaces are central to the guest experience, with a magnesium pool, sauna, ice bath, landscaped gardens, sunset-facing firepit, and pickleball court designed to bring guests together – the natural backdrop for curated music, hand-crafted cocktails, and the kind of gathering that lingers longer than planned.
“This is our first resort-style accommodation that we’ve done at Merivale, and it’s a very different skill to creating a hospitality venue because there are so many more layers to it,” Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes said. “You need to cover the 24/7 experience of the guest and there are a lot of complexities to get it 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. But the hero is Narooma.”
Dan Hong’s much-loved Queen Chow returns with refreshed interiors and menu, bringing its signature modern Cantonese flair to Narooma. Overlooking the inlet, guests can enjoy a vibrant selection of wok-fried favourites, handcrafted dumplings and the restaurant’s iconic barbecued duck, alongside exceptional local seafood sourced directly from surrounding waters.
In addition, hotel guests will be spoilt for choice with a la carte breakfast included in their stay, along with variety of food and drinks which can be enjoyed around the pool and across the property’s stunning garden spaces.
Hotel facilities include a traditional sauna, ice bath, heated magnesium pool, and a pickleball court.
Complimentary beach gear, yoga mats and pedal-assisted bikes are also available for guests to use, making it easy to explore Narooma and its surrounding coastline at leisure.
For The Whale general manager Erin Proud, the project represents a more considered and experience-led approach to hospitality in the region. The guest journey is shaped to feel personal, from pre-arrival planning through to tailored itineraries on the ground.
“Narooma has a real sense of character and authenticity that’s becoming harder to find and that’s something we wanted to protect,” Proud said. “The Whale is about creating a place where people can properly switch off, while still feeling connected to the town and community around them.”
The opening marks a further expansion of Merivale’s presence on the NSW South Coast, building on its existing Narooma venues – Quarterdeck, Lynch’s Hotel, The Inlet and The Surf Park – while introducing a more design-led, accommodation-driven offering for the group.
