Surf’s Up At Wisemans Ferry
It may be a long way from the coast but a Hawkesbury River destination is aiming to have keen surfers looking for luxury heading its way.
Wisemans Surf Lodge is set on a 45-acre, riverfront property at Wiseman’s Ferry and is the world’s first surf lodge.
Plans for a resort style surfing destination were approved by Hills Shire Council last week.
The exclusive resort will be open to members only and will boast a wave pool roughly the size of four stacked football fields, a 9-hole golf course, a lodge with 54 hotel suites, restaurant, bar, conference facilities and riverfront access.
Co-founder John Du Vernet said: “As a Sydney surfer, we don’t have the access to consistent, high quality waves all year round like other parts of Australia.
Advances in wave-making technology can completely change that reality.
“What we’ll create at Wisemans is a solution to access the types of waves we’d often have to travel overseas for, waves we dream about.
“We’ve focused on creating a space that thinks about everything beyond the pool, even for the non-surfer, within a resort-like facility in a magical, and somewhat secret part of Sydney.”
Powered by US-based wave pool technology, Surfloch, the Wisemans wave will have a capacity to generate 2.5M waves on the main peak.
The design for the Lodge is being led by Kelvin Ho, the founding director of Akin Atelier whose work can be seen across a number of Merivale flagship venues and resorts in the Maldives.
Ho will bring a relaxed design to the lodge with a nostalgic nod to the Australian surfing culture.
He said the aim is to minimise carbon footprint in each phase of the design process such as solar power operation, the pool powered by green energy as well as use of natural water sources.
Wisemans Surf Lodge will partner with nearby suppliers to provide a high-quality dining experience featuring local produce in the public restaurant and bar.
The lodge also hopes to bring significant post-COVID jobs for the local community during construction and ongoing operations for scheduled opening in 2022
