Bushland retreat
Head to the Blue Mountains this winter and experience a new eco retreat in Blackheath.
27 April 2022
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Chalets at Blackheath have opened just in time to catch the autumn colours or spend Christmas in July in the sometimes snowy mountain town.
Chalets at Blackheath is a boutique retreat on 17 acres of bushland next to the UNESCO World-Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park.
“Here, guests can embark on a journey through the enchanting elements of nature,” says Therese Moussa, the esteemed creative developer from Sydney dining venue The Grounds of Alexandria, who is styling the outdoor sensory experiences at this unique new addition to the Blue Mountains hospitality scene.
Phase one of the resort is now open, offering accommodation in the form of four freestanding studio chalets, discreetly spread out through the expansive grounds to maximise privacy.
Light, airy, and beautifully proportioned, each chalet features a king-sized bed, wood-burning fireplace and an oversized bathroom made of limestone, featuring twin rain showers and a deep soaking tub.
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Lavish touches include plush Frette linens, fully stocked Subzero wine fridges and Riedel glassware for every occasion.
On arrival, guests can expect glasses of Moët & Chandon champagne in the resort library or by the native edible garden, hosted by resort ambassadors who are at their exclusive service for the entire stay.
This pioneering project began in 2020 with the acquisition of the renowned Jemby Rinjah eco-lodge built by Peter Quirk, one of the longest-serving mayors in the Blue Mountains and accommodation winner of numerous tourism industry and environmental awards.
With a vision to establish a paradise centred around sustainable luxury, the resort is a showcase of biophilic design, which is based on the concept of blending nature into manmade spaces to positively influence the occupant’s wellbeing whilst considering our environmental impact.
The conservation theme continues in the chalets: interiors combine the use of sustainable materials such as clay, hemp, and stone which serves to connect guests to the natural setting.
The main feature wall was constructed using ancient techniques and earth, which has a very low carbon footprint and maintains ideal temperatures due to its high thermal mass, reducing the need for heating and cooling.
A calming colour palette and organic textures draw inspiration from the local geology, which includes soaring sandstone formations, majestic eucalyptus trees and ancient caves forming place-based links between the accommodation and distinctive characteristics of the landscape.
Future plans involve rebuilding another six chalets, keeping the resort at an intimate and sustainable level.
Other planned developments include a spa and a Moussa-designed outdoor lounge area, which will feature an abundance of plants and urns, an enclosed glasshouse for a magnesium pool and an explorer’s shed.
Given its recent history with natural disasters, Chalets at Blackheath is conscious of doing its part to safeguard its surrounds.
The resort has the capacity to store up to 80,000 litres of harvested rainwater, which funnels through a heavy-duty natural filtration system that not only supplies guests with clean, fresh water for showers and baths, but also fuels firefighting pumps and hoses for the local Rural Fire Service in case of an emergency.
The resort is also committed to increasing the water storage capacity beyond 200,000 litres to better protect the local region, as well as adopting the latest state-of-the art solar energy solutions.
Impressive waste minimisation initiatives include having zero disposable bathroom amenities, recycling, onsite composting and drinking water filtered onsite.
Chalets at Blackheath is also a Tesla destination charging partner in NSW, offering the ultimate convenience for electric car drivers to fill up on their trip.
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