[Taking care of our minds and bodies is a topic we talk about often with our clients as they strive to take a moment for themselves or their team to turn off from the pressures of business and life. If you are thinking about a wellness retreat for you, with girlfriends or for your company – Our Life team have prepared our guide to Wellness to reset, recharge and find balance.
Our team can help you to curate your complete experience with to ensure that your wellness getaway helps you to energise, nurture and transform.
YOGA CUCINA
Yoga Cucina retreats pair body-rocking yoga with seriously good food and wine in unique locations around Australia. This is less traditional retreat more ‘get out out of town’. Yoga Cucina believe that a higher state of consciousness can be gained from a shared experience. They bring a playful approach to the yoga practice that combines a creative and considered flow, sequenced to be accessible to people of all levels of experience.
Based in North Bondi, Sydney, their adventures roam from the wild seclusion of Tasmania’s rugged coastline to the misty beauty of New South Wales and beyond.
Pairing its own brand of body-rocking yoga with the finest seasonal produce and authentic Italian cuisine, Yoga Cucina promises to feed the mind, body and soul. Preaching a ‘hands in the air and wrapped around a glass of wine’ philosophy, this gourmet retreat is a far cry from the traditional yoga experiences we’ve come to know. Running multiple times throughout the year, yogis with an affinity for fine wine and homemade pasta can spend their days on the mat and their nights around the table alongside the likes of Chef Marco Gobbo enjoying a curated menu of the region’s finest flavours.
Rewild with Yoga Bruny Island, Tasmania
Friday 23 September – Sunday 25 September
Bruny is an island off an island in south east Tasmania, a pristine wilderness defined by windswept coastline and the cries of wild birds. A foodies paradise, it is known for fresh oysters and honey, complex cheeses and hand picked wine, redolent of the ancient terroir from which it comes.
Claire Blackwood will be your host for the weekend, guiding you at the table and on the yoga mat. Chef Marco Gobbo will draw from his Italian heritage and the bounty of local ingredients to imbue the menu with a true sense of place. Each day will be punctuated with two playful and intelligent yoga classes, followed by guided meditation. Seasonal produce will be paired with the best cool climate wines. Time and space will be available for rest and exploration.
SHIZUKA RYOKAN JAPANESE COUNTRY SPA AND WELLNESS RETREAT
Shizuka Ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, located in country Victoria. Hundreds of years ago ryokans – traditional Japanese inns close to natural spirngs were a place for Japan’s samurai warriors to rest and reflect.
Shizuka retreat and spa is the ultimate in minimalist retreat experiences with a sprinkle of Japanese hospitality. The zen haven sits 45 minutes outside Melbourne on the same ancient springs as Samadhi and offers a tranquil escape from modern life. You will experience a seasonal omakase banquet dinner from the on-site restaurant, and otherworldly treatments from the onsite spa (the energising shiatsu massage is our pick) and guest rooms are complete with Japanese soaking baths or spa baths for end of the day soaking.
Japanese culture has a deep respect for ometenashi—hospitality. Shizuka Ryokan is a quiet, minimalist space. It has traditional elements such as: tatami mats, yukata robes, bonsai, shoji screens, futon beds, Japanese architecture, and a Zen rock garden.
Their seasonal Yoga Retreats combine the ancient wisdom of seasonal living, yoga practice, delicious & healthy Japanese cuisine and Japanese shiatsu massage.
Spring: Sunday 18 – Tuesday 20 September
Summer: Sunday 13 – Tuesday 15 November
Late-Summer (2023): Sunday 19 – Tuesday 21 February
HEPBURN BATHHOUSE & SPA
Hepburn Springs’ only historic Bathhouse, has been providing traditional wellness bathing since 1895.
Drawing mineral rich waters directly from the natural source, this iconic bathhouse reconnects you with an array of mineral wellness experiences including indulgent 100% pure private mineral baths and a selection of specifically designed wellness packages.
Hepburn Springs Bathhouse and Spa offers indulgent luxury accommodation, with magnificent, serene views over the native bushland.
Wellness Magnesium Experience: discover traditional mineral bathing in 100% pure mineral water enhanced with magnesium, to promote mineral absorption and relieve muscle aches and pains. Followed by an indulgent magnesium scrub and argan oil massage, you will emerge feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Spa and Mineral Soak – get ready for the ultimate well-cation! Begin your day with an indulgent Royal Moroccan Milk Bath in the 100% pure mineral water followed by the signature Hepburn Wellness Massage and Regional tasting platter.
SAMADHI RETREAT
13 Knox Street, Daylesford, Victoria
Samadhi offers a unique bespoke health retreat experience in regional Victoria. Samadhi Retreat Daylesford is an Oriental-style retreat offering heavenly spa treatments and rejuvenating holistic therapies. This east-meets-west sanctuary with private accommodation designed according to feng shui principles, this multi award winning, ultra boutique retreat. Samadhi’s Illuminate Retreat, you will receive a private yoga session, along with a guided meditation and wellness session, for a blissfully healing and health-affirming getaway. Serene gardens designed for contemplation, healthy meals delivered to upmarket suites and a menu of bespoke treatments targeting body and mind. Mindfulness is at the core of one-on-one sessions covering meditation, qi gong and yoga, while the spa is all about pure indulgence.
Samadhi’s unique program offerings or are designed to:
- Energise – To rest, relax, recharge and reignite your body, mind and spirit
- Nurture – To nourish, nurture and restore a more loving balance
- Wholeness – To explore challenges, re-orient perspectives and find the motivation to make lasting positive change
- Inner Peace – To sit within a sanctuary of peace, calm the mind, still the emotions, and cultivate a clarity that can dissolve the sense of chaos and overwhelm
- Transformation – To be helped to make a fundamental shift in awareness, to integrate positive change and take it forward
- Illuminate – To explore a deeper sense of meaning from one’s life and experience
SPICERS TAMARIND RETREAT
88 Obi Lane South, Maleny, Queensland
The invigorating energy of Tamarind Retreat stimulates the senses, and the friendly, relaxed approach of our team offers welcome reprieve from the everyday. Conveniently located just 70 minutes from Brisbane Airport and 40 minutes from the Sunshine Coast airport, this is a retreat that simply must be experienced.
With the stresses of modern life washed away by the warm waters of the mineralised spa, your mind and body are gently transported to a more peaceful place. Feeling more connected – more alive – you retreat to your spacious private villa, where the luxuries are exquisitely elevated. The east meets west aesthetic, lush rainforest and nearby waterfall remind you of an Asian escape, and the smells and spices of the Thai influenced cuisine complete the picture of tranquillity.
Nestled in the cool, leafy mountain climes of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Spicers Tamarind Retreat is a welcome sanctuary of relaxation and reinvigoration. A soothing Asian ambiance permeates throughout the stunning grounds, beautiful rooms and main guest house, whilst an indulgent day spa and imaginative restaurant form the centrepieces of this magnificent retreat. On arrival, you will be greeted by the cool garden ponds, trickling fountains, wooden boardwalks and drooping palms that encircle the guest lounge pavilion and dining areas. Colourful lilies add a burst of colour, comfortable wicker chairs provide a place to enjoy a refreshment, while inviting walkways peel off into the rainforest, tempting you to savour a quiet moment surrounded by nature.
The secluded 22 rooms spread across 14 private villas are your own personal oasis: you will be immersed in endless luxuries that provide the perfect antidote to busy lives. An exquisite foot massage or hydrotherapy treatment at the world class Spa Anise is a must, as is taking the time to savour the unique flavours and creations at the renowned Tamarind restaurant, or getting creative at the Tamarind cooking school. Nearby, the authentic and intriguing country village of Maleny and its surrounds rewards the inquisitive with its bounty of quality produce, arts, bookstores, cafes and craft breweries. The easy to reach majestic Glass House Mountains provide the ideal adventure for walkers.
EDEN HEALTH RETRAT
1815 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley, Queensland
Escape to Eden Health Retreat for an unforgettable five-star luxury experience tucked away in the Currumbin Valley. Nestled deep within the breathtaking Gold Coast hinterland of Currumbin Valley, discover the magic of disconnecting from daily life and connecting with nature.
Eden Health Retreat is a place to Reflect. Recharge. It’s your time. Experience a personalised health and wellness programme from relaxing and unwinding, restoring your health through invigorating fitness classes, educational courses and additional therapies. Onsite chefs and nutritionists serve beautifully presented, wholesome food whose goal it is to nurture, nourish, inspire and educate to give a new appreciation of nutrition. A haven to rejuvenate your mind, nourish your body and form a path to wellness.
DAINTREE ECOLODGE & SPA
3189 Mossman-Daintree Road, Daintree , Queensland
Daintree Ecolodge is located in the heart of the magnificent Daintree Rainforest, offering sustainable luxury in a breathtaking location 90 minutes north of Cairns. The tropical retreat is the only boutique accommodation in the World-Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, boasting 15 eco-friendly bayans in an awe inspiring setting to revitalise all your senses. Wake up to the sound of birds in the canopy above, take in the majest of the ancient tropical wilderness and discover the Ecolodges’ private and pristine waterfall on a leisurely walk through enchanting rainforest.
Culturally Curious – The Kuku Yalanji people are the Indigenous inhabitants of the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland. Here, they have been living in harmony with the environment for more than 50,000 years. The Daintree Ecolodge is nestled in the heart of this sacred land and provides the perfect base to discover the spiritual significance of the world’s oldest botanical treasure and its natural beauty. The local Kuku Yalanji people call the land to which the Daintree Ecolodge calls home Wawu-karrba which means healing of the spirit. So come immerse yourself in culture and pure escapism in a breathtaking landscape where time appears to have stood still. The package includes: 3 nights rainforest accommodation, A la carte breakfast at the Julaymba Restaurant, lunch picnic hamper, a ‘walk through time’ rainforest walk on the grounds fo the Daintree Ecolodge, Daintree river cruise for sunrise or sunset.
GWINGANNA LIFESTYLE RETREAT
192 Syndicate Rd, Tallebudgera Valley, Queensland
In a world of busy, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat stands apart as the wellness destination to soothe your soul and inspire you to live a healthier life. Hugh Jackman’s personal wellness abode, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is the epitome of luxury spa cool. Now co-owned by Hugh, this sumptuous Gold Coast hideaway is tucked away in a verdant valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by a carpet of lush greenery, the surrounding bushland is as tranquil as it is beautiful and provides a gorgeous backdrop for hikes and outdoor yoga.
Gwinganna has a wide range of fully inclusive package options to help you live a healthier life, reduce stress and enhance positive ageing. Recognised as one of the most innovative wellness destinations in Australasia, choose from a seven night Detox, a two night Wellness Weekend or specialty retreats that focus on stress, nutrition, women’s health, sleep or mindfulness.
Start your morning practising the ancient art of Qi Gong – a restorative moving meditation – whilst watching the majestic sunrise over the ocean, followed by yin and yang yoga and a refreshing dip in the pool. There are various wellness packages to choose from which include yoga and meditation, fitness and curated nutrition programs.
ELYSIA WELLNESS RETREAT
165 Thompson Road, Pokolbin, New South Wales
Formerly known as Golden Door, Elysia Wellness Retreat in the Hunter Valley is a leader in the health wellness industry offering a wide range of daily schedules. A visit to Elysia will have you clear your mind and join the grazing kangaroos for morning tai chi as the sun’s rays hit the property’s highest point before diving into a program of empowering seminars and up to 21 activities, be it meditation, water polo, relax and be pampered in the day spa. All meals are prepared without red meat, sugar, salt or saturated fat and the retreat is also alcohol- and caffeine-free so it’s easy to enjoy a restorative night’s sleep no matter how much wellness you cram into each day.
Retreat from the noise and distraction of your daily life and join us in the wide-open spaces of the NSW Hunter Valley where you’ll find the key to your wellbeing at one of the best wellness retreats in Australia. The all-inclusive health and wellness programs have been developed to motivate change and give you the tools you need for lasting results. Elysia Wellness Retreat is a place for you to take time to reset your mind and body, and gain a wealth of knowledge to create a healthier, happier, and more motivated you.
THE WELLNESS FARM
130 Hill Street, Broke, Hunter Valley, New South Wales
The Wellness Farm Retreat & accommodation is located on 37 acres of beautiful country side in the Hunter Valley. During youry stay you have access to the lake house, enjoy the sunrise or sunset on one of six luxury villas or the Hamptons style 3 bedroom cottage.
The Farm has a Red Cedar Wood Barrel Sauna, Infrared Sauna, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Magnesium Float Pod and due for complete by August 2022 pilates reformers and gym equipment.
Reset & Restore Retreat – enjoy a two-night wellness escape. Package inclusions: twin share or king single villa, pilates project welcome pack & breakfast hamper, daily reformer pilates classes featuring Maghan’s signature style, gourmet farm-to-table evening meals, hot & cold therapy, breathwork, acupuncture session, dining experience at award winning Margan Restaurant, private wine tasting, twilight sound meditation session, infrared saunas & hyperbaric chambers, evening fire pit, cheese tasting and local wines.
CRYSTALBROOK BYRON
77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Crystalbrook Byron is a stunning spot to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle. Create your own sustainable wellness retreat in Byron Bay, an area renowned for its restorative and healing energy. The purity of the ocean air and symphony of nature will help you find a whole new level of inner peace. Escape to 45-acres of magical, subtropical rainforest with three days of uninterrupted bliss. The two-night Relax and Retreat package is designed for those seeking balance, wellbeing and rejuvenation. If you treat yourself to this escape, you’ll get to enjoy accommodation in a deluxe spa suite, full breakfast, a 90 min healing and nurturing treatment of your choice, a 30 min infrared sauna session, and daily morning yoga.
GAIA RETREAT AND SPA
933 Fernleigh Road, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Surrender to the beauty and healing cultures of internationally Gaia Retreat & Spa, nestled on 20 acres in the breathtaking Bundjalung Country hinterland of Byron Bay. Majestically poised on the highest point in the Shire, Gaia, meaning Spirit of Mother Earth. Drawing on the holistic wisdom, Gaia has created grounding and restorative experiences that continue to inspire their guests.
Soak up the stunning scenery, that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Nightcap Range while you perfect your tree pose with your personal yoga instructor. Be sure to work in an early morning session to catch at least one breathtaking sunrise. Tailor your experience with a range of treatments. The two-night revive package is perfect for pampering, as it includes daily morning yoga, retreat activities and $200 to spend at the day spa.
BILLABONG RETREAT
41 McClymonts Road, Maraylya, New South Wales
Located just 45 minutes from Sydney’s CBD in the Hawkesbury, the Billabong Retreat works to create a place for you to reconnect to nature and find peace of mind amid picturesque bushland. A range of retreats are available with all food and accommodation included in your stay. Locally sourced, seasonal, organic meals are a huge bonus, and with yoga classes available for people of any level everything has been looked after so that you can truly disconnect and recharge.
Billabong also offers Meditation, Mindfulness, Wellness and Self Care. There are retreats tailored to all needs, from yoga to mindfulness, and meditation to stress relief, many led by Billabong Retreat founder himself, Paul von Bergen. There’s a real community feel here, with single rooms and bigger log cabins available for all budget or vibe types.
EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY
2600 Wolgan Road, Wolgan Valley
The One & Only Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has its name for a reason: the 7,000 acre private conservation reserve and its picturesque surroundings are soul-healing on their own, but when paired with world class spa facilities, you’ll be walking away a new person. The One & Only spa offers six treatment rooms for you to unwind with a world class massage or facial, a Japanese-style soaking tub, as well as a sauna, steam room and expansive views of the local landscape.
With tailored experiences suited to your needs, select from stress and burnout, rebalance, detox, for the perfect treatment. After spa time, continue the relaxation in your luxurious private villa.
Your wellness escape at Emirates One&Only – every villa is equipped with Fluidform at Home’s selection of custom Pilates workouts for personal practice and a Fluidform equipment pack ready for your in-villa workouts.
INJIDUP SPA RETREAT
31 Cape Clairault Road, Yallingup, Western Australia
Located on a secluded beach in the heart of the Yallingup, Injidup Spa Retreat features 10 luxurious adult only villas, each with a private plunge pool and stunning ocean views. This retreat offers great opportunities for long walks along the coast.
As well as a gourmet breakfast hamper on arrival, each villa has a private plunge pool and views overlooking the ocean. During your stay, participate in private yoga classes, indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments and enjoy the serenity on the expansive outdoor balcony. Yallingup Injidup Spa Retreat is 5 minutes’ drive from Wardan Aboriginal Cultural Centre and 15 minutes’ from Ngilgi Cave. Featuring Bodhi Spa, natural & Organic wellness in the heart of the Margaret River region this eco-luxe retreat is known for massages, facials and body therapies amongst many more.
EMPIRE RETREAT
1958 Caves Road, Yallingup, Western Australia
EMPIRE Retreat is an adult destination designed to provide an escape from the complexiities of a busy, modern life. The retreat is nestled within 265 acres of tranquil, undulating pastures, undisturbed bushland and the Empire Estate vineyard.
Each of the eleven guest suites offer the kind of luxury that has become synonymous with the EMPIRE culture. The Empire Day Spa located on site is a state of the art purpose built spa designed to pamper your body and soul.
