A 1970s Ibiza vibe blends with a coastal motel in Narooma, where Sydney hospitality group Merivale has opened The Whale on the NSW far South Coast.
The project began modestly three years ago before expanding. It replaces a former carpark with palms, frangipani and hibiscus. Its retro pool, refinished in magnesium but kept in its original shape, overlooks Wagonga Inlet. The design avoids staged perfection, favoring natural, earthy finishes that encourage guests to relax.
The rooms feel like a global collection
Each space has distinct furnishings from around the world. The Palm Room, on the lower level with direct pool access, combines Japanese tiles, a handcrafted wall hanging and lighting by Lana Launay. The Double Sea Grass Rooms include rugs hand-woven in India, while the Mountain View Rooms mix Moroccan knitted lights, Italian terrazzo flooring, Indonesian-woven bedheads and art from Papua New Guinea.
The Ocean View Penthouse opens onto a rooftop garden with a hand-crocheted light from Canada and a curved vintage Featherston sofa. Its bathroom features a hexagonal lava stone basin beneath a circular skylight—one of the property’s standout elements.
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Merivale’s in-house Design Studio, led by Nasim Koerting, calls the approach a bit of escapism. The rooms don’t follow a single style but feel collected over time, with dozens of artists and craftspeople contributing textiles, ceramics, murals and custom details—weavers in Papua New Guinea, textile makers on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and ceramicists across the region.
The hotel avoids matching decor. The effect is deliberate, rejecting the plug-and-play interior trend. Koerting describes it as somewhere you can disappear into for a weekend and forget the world exists. The execution supports the idea. Even small details, like wall-mounted ceramics and commissioned artworks, feel intentional rather than decorative.
Most regional Australian hotels prioritize convenience over atmosphere. The Whale takes a different approach. It isn’t a luxury resort or a budget motel but something in between—a space where design shapes the experience. Some guests might dislike the lack of uniformity, but those who adopt the quirks will find discovery in every corner.
Wellness without the branding
The property extends its relaxed style to wellness. A sauna and ice bath sit in a dedicated area, where a circular porthole window frames the water. The restaurant, Queen Chow, includes a sunroom with board games, while a sunken lounge—uncovered during construction—now has new seating and a record player with ocean views.
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For Justin Hemmes, Merivale’s CEO, the project was a shift from the group’s usual urban venues. “This is our first resort-style accommodation,” he says. “It’s a very different skill to creating a hospitality venue. You need to cover the 24/7 experience of the guest, and there are many details to get right.”
The goal wasn’t just to fill rooms. Koerting says Narooma “leaves a lasting impression,” and the team wanted to give people a reason to visit. “We wanted to create a destination,” she explains. That’s a risk for a Sydney-based group that has spent two decades focused on city spaces. But the bet on the far South Coast may prove more compelling.
Koerting suggests more changes ahead. “There’s a lot to do, and the design is built to let you do nothing at all,” she says. “Keep your eye on Narooma—we aren’t done yet.”
