Need to refresh, restore, and re-energise? Indulge in these luxury wellness retreats – the most sophisticated self-care imaginable.
Our fast-paced modern world can disrupt even the best wellness intentions. When we are feeling fatigued and fragile, our go-to remedies such as a weekend sleep-in or a good long walk can only go so far towards restoring our tired minds and bodies. When deep rejuvenation and healing is required, we might instead consider a stay at a luxury wellness retreat. The benefits include the chance to break bad habits, experiment with new activities, eat nourishing food, indulge in some well-deserved pampering, and connect with like-minded souls.
When you return to regular life, refreshed and revitalised, you’ll be in a much better space to meet its myriad demands. Here are some of our favourite wellness retreats to pop on your wish list.
Gaia Retreat & Spa
Brooklet, NSW
Located in the Byron Bay hinterland, Gaia Retreat & Spa is known for barefoot luxury. From the highest point on the property, there are 360-degree views over the ocean and nearby Nightcap Range. The 20-acre retreat offers 22 rooms, suites, and villas, as well as facilities like a heated saltwater swimming pool, healing day spa, detoxifying sauna, and walking tracks. “You are able to choose the activities you want to take part in, maybe morning yoga or afternoon tennis, or just indulge in the spa treatments,” said co-founder Olivia Newton-John (yes, THAT Olivia Newton-John).
The multi award-winning spa offers treatments ranging from Indian Marma head massage through to body polishing with a combination of native wattle seed and volcanic rock granules.
Discover the retreat: gaiaretreat.com.au
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Tallebudgera Valley, QLD
Mornings at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat start with the soothing movements of Qigong as the sun slowly edges up above the distant Pacific Ocean. According to the traditional custodians of this land in Queensland’s fertile Tallebudgera Valley, gwinganna means lookout, and many breathtaking views await on the rainforest walks that wind through the lush 500 acres of this property. The most challenging trail leads up to an expansive yoga deck atop Mount Gwinganna, the ultimate spot for sun salutations or a blissful savasana. A changing daily program of activities includes yin-based options like yoga and Pilates or yang-based options like the retreat’s signature Drums on Fire class.
While you can swim, read, nap, meditate, or otherwise unspool, many guests gravitate towards the spa, which is the largest in the southern hemisphere. It boasts 33 candlelit treatment rooms and a menu offering everything from classic hot stone massage through to more extreme immersion therapy using breathwork and an ice bath to train one’s stress response and strengthen the vagus nerve.
Discover the retreat: gwinganna.com
Aro Ha
Glenorchy, NZ
Sub-alpine hikes are a key component of the daily program at Aro Ha, but when you’re tracing the contours of New Zealand’s stunning Southern Alps or overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Wakatipu, it’s easy to forget how many steps you’re taking. The retreat’s name means ‘in the presence of divine breath’ in Māori. Co-founder Damian Chaparro says that rewilding yourself in nature is essential for physical, emotional, and spiritual health. “We wanted to create a space that fosters the connection between nature, wellness, and humanity’s need for transition to a regenerative existence,” he says of the retreat, which opened in 2014.
The six- or eight-day programs include yoga, mindfulness, strength classes, and intuitive eating practices. Past guests say daily massages help soothe the sore muscles which ensue from hiking, plus there’s a world-class sauna and spa. The accommodation can be described as ‘minimalist luxury’, with celebrity guests reputed to have included Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon. The seasonally changing menu is gluten-free and garden-to-table focused.
Discover the retreat: aro-ha.com
“You are worth the quiet moment. You are worth the deeper breath.” – Morgan Harper Nichols
Elysia Wellness Retreat
Hunter Valley, NSW
Elysia Wellness Retreat seeks to impart gems of wisdom that guests can gather up and take back into their daily lives. Meal planning and prepping in advance is one of the key secrets physiotherapist Melissa Ingram shares when it comes to making better food choices. “Remember to avoid complicating your life – there’s enough on your plate as it is,” she says. And what’s not to love about the retreat’s philosophy that eating should be one of life’s greatest pleasures?
In addition to its tailored personal programs incorporating spa treatments and cuisine, group classes, and consultations, the retreat offers weekend guest speakers talking on topics ranging from adrenal fatigue and face reading, to storytelling for healing and identifying one’s purpose.
Discover the retreat: elysiaretreat.com.au
Eden Health Retreat
Currumbin Valley, QLD
Even the drive out to Eden Health Retreat in the verdant Currumbin Valley is relaxing – through rolling green hills and past groves of rainforest and honesty stalls selling produce and firewood. Australia’s longest-running health retreat, Camp Eden (as it was then known) opened in 1985, but its original bootcamp approach to exercise and strict Pritikin diet has evolved over time. There are still substantial hikes to be enjoyed across the property’s 400 acres, as well as heart-pumping classes like boxercise, but the unofficial philosophy of ‘you do you’ means that everything is optional. For many people, this means simply slowing down and stepping off the perpetual treadmill of over-stimulation and digital distraction.
Discover the retreat: edenhealthretreat.com.au
Split Apple Retreat
Nelson, NZ
From 180-degree clifftop views to the Japanese-style spa overlooking the glittering waters of Tasman Bay, Split Apple Retreat offers the ultimate in seclusion, indulgence, and exclusivity. There are just three luxury suites at Split Apple, all with private decks and fragrant gardens, and scattered with Southeast Asian artefacts gathered on the owners’ travels. Additional facilities include an infrared sauna, steam room, yoga pavilion, meditation theatre with reclining seats, and an onsen hot bath.
A range of off-site activities, such as sea kayaking and scenic helicopter jaunts, can also be arranged. Yet the real highlight of a visit to Split Apple is the cuisine created by Thai-born chef and co-owner Anne Pen Lee. All ingredients are selected for their health-giving properties and most vegetables are organically grown on a nearby farm. Guests can participate in cooking lessons, if they wish.
Discover the retreat: splitapple.com
Zensi Retreat
St Fillans, NSW
Set on 33 acres of rolling countryside, just 15 minutes from Mudgee, Zensi Retreat offers a tranquil escape for all kinds of travellers. The luxury accommodations include The Villa, perfect for two, with flowing, curvaceous interiors, an indoor dry heat sauna, a spacious round bath, and an outdoor pool that invites relaxation with expansive views. For larger groups, Zensi House comfortably sleeps up to ten guests, blending raw, earthy materials with high-end design, offering cosy nights by the indoor wood fireplace and sunny days spent by the outdoor pool.
The retreat’s wellness space features a range of facilities designed to promote relaxation and rejuvenation. The light-filled yoga studio offers a peaceful setting for movement and reflection, while the dry heat sauna and inground jet spa provide deep relaxation. Outside, a sunken fire pit adds to the sense of tranquillity, and guests can wander the expansive surroundings to fully reconnect with nature.
Discover the retreat: zensiretreat.com.au
WORDS: Denise Cullen
This article was originally published under the title Retreat Yourself in Issue 39 – A Little Abundance. You can purchase previous issues and enjoy more enchanting content here.
