Return to Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

On a recent trip to the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, Liz was able to meet up with Andrew Adams Smith Operations Manager of Guest Services and Phil Cram, the Facilities Manager at the Resort.

It is now over 2 years since the rural property opened its doors and the valley is certainly blooming.

The resort is the first carbon neutral resort in the world to be certified through an internationally accredited greenhouse gas programme, having measured its greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with ISO 14064-1: 2006. Over 175,000 indigenous trees have already been planted restoring native vegetation and enabling the carbon neutral status to stand.

The Resort has some impressive environmental best practice credentials including having the largest independent sewage treatment plant in the southern hemisphere!

Everything is recycled, plastics, paper, cardboard and metals are collected by Grasshopper Waste and careful measurement systems are in place to ensure best practice is continually followed up on. Wet waste is used as compost and in worm farms. The Chef has large gardens where fruit, vegetables and herbs are grown for use in the kitchens.

The property is independently audited annually to ensure all procedures are strictly followed and new ideas to become even more environmentally friendly are put in place.

About Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa  – recent Awards

The world’s first internationally accredited carbon-neutral resort, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has been honoured at the prestigious 2011 World Savers Award for its pioneering work and commitment to wildlife conservation.

The Condé Nast Traveler’s fifth annual World Savers Awards acclaims travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility. The rigorous process is judged across six categories including wildlife conservation, poverty relief, environmental and cultural preservation, education, and health initiatives.

Wolgan Valley was also awarded the Eco-spa of the Year category at the 7th Annual AsiaSpa Awards held in Hong Kong in November 2011.

To round up the clutch of accolades, Wolgan Valley was awarded the 2012 Condé Nast Traveller UK Gold List award in the Best Hotels for Service category. The Gold List features the best hotels in the world, and as Mike Dolan, a Gold List contributor, says of Wolgan: `The welcome here is warm, the service polite and intuitive, but in true Australian style, there isn’t a hint of ingratiation.’