Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes has opened The Whale, a 18-key “retreat” in the NSW South Coast seaside town of Narooma.

The reimagined 18-key boutique hotel was conceived by Hemmes and his sister Bettina, and designed by Merivale’s in-house Design Studio. The retreat also features a restaurant and wellness space.

Almost three years in development, the project is considered a layered retreat that “draws on the spirit of Ibiza in the 1970s, with natural and earthy finishes bringing a gentle retro twist and nods to the building’s motel origins,” the group stated.

The property features a two-bedroom Oceanview Penthouse and nine Premium Suites, along with a heated magnesium pool, pickleball court, traditional sauna, ice bath, and firepit.

Executive Chef Clayton Wells has joined the team to oversee the hotel menus end to end, featuring produce from the NSW South Coast. Wells originally joined Merivale in 2024 as Executive Chef across Merivale’s other Narooma venues Quarterdeck, Lynch’s Hotel, as well as Northern Beaches venues The Newport and The Collaroy.

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

Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes said The Whale is as much about showcasing Narooma as it is about creating a memorable guest experience. 

“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. 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.”