NSW Is Getting Australia's First Surf Lodge

A huge, $72 million ‘surf lodge’ is being built some 35km from the nearest coastline.

Located 60-minutes from Sydney CBD or 45 minutes by boat from Palm Beach, Wisemans Surf Lodge – in Wisemans Ferry, NSW – will boast a wave pool roughly the size of four football fields powered by US-based wave pool technology, Surfloch. The technology has the ability to generate 2.5-metre waves on the main peak ideal beginner waves on the second peak and everything in between.

As the world’s first surf lodge and Australia’s first resort-style surfing destination, it’s not limited to a luxurious surf experience, with a 9-hole golf course, 54 hotel suites, restaurant, bar, conference facilities also located on the 45-acre grounds.

The scheduled opening comes off the back of other local projects such as UrbnSurf and Aussie Surf Lakes that sees the further commercialisation of the surfing experience.

Co-founder John Du Vernet says, “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.”

Elsewhere, the resort will feature a remodel of a former hotel spearheaded by Sydney’s Kelvin Ho (Akin Atelier), best known for his work across a number of Merivale flagship venues. Ho will bring a nostalgic nod to the Australian surfing culture.

Access to Wisemans Surf Lodge will work on a membership-model, with more information to be revealed in 2021.

www.wisemans.surf

As global trade tensions intensify and tariffs reshape the retail landscape, one Australian brand is choosing to scale rather than retreat.

Sydney-founded luxury label MAISON de SABRÉ is doubling down on the US market, pushing ahead with a bold expansion strategy despite rising cost pressures and broader global uncertainty.

While many brands are increasing prices or pausing shipments, MAISON de SABRÉ is holding its price point for customers and continuing to invest in its US operations.

The move reflects a deeper strategic play: a vertically integrated, zero-waste supply chain that allows the brand to deliver on cost, speed, and quality — even under pressure.

It’s this model, paired with consistent product innovation and sharp design, that has helped MAISON de SABRÉ build lasting equity in international markets.

At its pop-up in Bloomingdale’s, MAISON de SABRÉ is currently the top-selling brand in its category — a position it also holds in the top two across both Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom’s online platforms.

Co-founder and CEO Omar Sabré says this is no accident.

“This is going to be a very difficult period for a lot of smaller brands — especially those relying on offshore mass production or single growth markets,” says Sabré.

“We’ve built a uniquely global model that can absorb shocks — from pricing pressure to supply chain disruption — while protecting customers and safeguarding long-term growth.”

Founded on a mission to deliver modern, accessible luxury, the brand hand-finishes its signature full-grain cowhide goods in Sydney, tested against a 13-point quality control protocol.

Sustainability is embedded, not just as a value but as a competitive advantage. MAISON de SABRÉ sources exclusively from LWG Gold-Rated tanneries, and its transition to DriTan™ leather — the world’s most sustainable tanning method — saves 25 million litres of water annually and reduces chemical use by 33%.

With 85% material utilisation, zero-waste production, and carbon offsetting on track by 2026, MAISON de SABRÉ is setting a new standard for sustainable craftsmanship at scale.

“We’ve always believed that staying close to the customer — operationally and emotionally — is what separates sustainable brands from short-term players,” says Sabré.

“This isn’t just about product. It’s about building systems that hold up in any climate.”

While competitors pivot or pause, MAISON de SABRÉ is executing a long-term strategy built on control, creativity, and disciplined growth. In a disrupted global retail market, the brand isn’t just weathering the storm — it’s shaping the new definition of modern luxury.

NSW Is Getting Australia’s First Surf Lodge

A huge, $72 million ‘surf lodge’ is being built some 35km from the nearest coastline.

As tariffs bite, Sydney’s MAISON de SABRÉ is pushing deeper into the US, holding firm on pricing and proving that resilience in luxury means more than survival.