To date, this has been the hardest hotel I have ever had to check out of. I genuinely had my hand gripped to my cabin key when I gave it back. I wanted to stay longer, but I think even if I had stayed that extra night or two, it still wouldn’t be long enough.
Checking into Wolgan Valley gave me this rush of relaxation – yes, a rush – unlike any other place I have experienced.
The Emirates One & Only is an all-inclusive resort that allows you to cut all connection with the outside world and be immersed in the natural surroundings.
It’s a truly luxurious place: think private villas, state of the art facilities, all enclosed in a capsule of one of Australia’s most beautiful and wild regions.
To truly appreciate it all, we needed to get up close and personal, so we jumped on a few horses and found our own path through the forest, down into the valley. Though not by choice, we just happened to get on some very stubborn and cheeky horses.
We carried along down through the valley, framed by steep bushland and rugged cliffs. There, we took the opportunity to take some shots of the horses and landscape, and I don’t think our horses minded the spotlight one bit. After, we raced back to our rooms to soak up the remaining morning in our heated pools, before heading up to our first event of the day.
We were fortunate enough to be invited to an afternoon of whiskey blending with Chivas’ Global Ambassador, Rachel McDonald.
We tasted five of Scotland’s single malt whiskeys from various regions, all which boasted their own exquisite flavours and unique undertones.
We then delved deeper and studied the opulent Waterford Crystal Glasses that carried the whiskey. Rachel spoke about how the shape and design affect the ‘nosing’ of the whiskey, and how some glasses allow for more aromas to escape, adjusting the nosing process depending on the spirit.
After becoming familiar with each of their characteristics, we blended our own at the ratios that our pallets favoured the most – what an experience.
My blend steered away from oak and smoky textures, and instead focused on the creamier, fruity blends.
Warm faced (and with a light buzz), we had some downtime before we headed off to dinner, where the Head Chef had meticulously paired our meals with three top-shelf products from Chivas Regal’s product sweep.
All of our whiskeys boasted a unique crystal glass from Waterford Crystal, each with an individual design and its own story. Check out their range here.
Truly, it was the ultimate collaboration between three masters of their industry, celebrating high quality, craftsmanship, and luxury – from the whiskey, to the crystal, and out into the dramatic backdrop.
Have your own inside look into our journey below. Be warned though – with everything the Wolgan Valley One & Only has to offer, you’ll be checking in soon as well.
Photo credit to the talented Jonny Richards from Arrow and Black.
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