go it alone
HEAR THAT? IT’S TOTAL SILENCE (YOU’RE WELCOME)
ZABORIN, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
You can’t spend more than a week in Japan without enjoying a night in a ryokan, a traditional guest house. Nestled in the untouched private forest of Hanazono on Japan’s north island, Zaborin is a 30-minute drive from bustling ski town Niseko (though the two destinations feel so infinitely different that, at times, it’s hard to comprehend the short distance between them). The property boasts 15 villas, each with their own indoor and outdoor bath (or “onsen”), with hot spring water pumped from 1,000 metres below. The decor, by Perth-raised designer Shouya Grigg, is beautifully sparse – think Marie Kondo on crack – but, if anything, it helps ease the transition into the monastic lifestyle you’ll adopt over the next however many days. It’s the kind of place where you might take a vow of silence without even realising. Well, except at your kaiseki dinner, a stand-out multicourse, fine-dining experience highlighting seasonal and locally foraged produce. You could plan a weekend’s worth of activities with the concierge, but when it feels this good doing nothing at all, why bother?
zaborin.com/en
“It’s the kind of place where you might take a vow of silence without even realising”
ELEMENTS OF BYRON, BYRON BAY, NSW
Thanks to this luxe retreat, which cost more than $100 million to develop and is part of Accorhotels’ exclusive Mgallery By Sofitel collection, Byron Bay is fast chalking up a reputation as more than just the place to get street-side henna or spot Chris Hemsworth sipping his daily latte. With an emphasis on minimising environmental impact, the low-rise infrastructure – including 94 villas and a main resort facility – is tucked away from regular beach-going eyes. Think Palm Springs with a laid-back, typically Byron attitude – sunset cocktails by the fire pit, horseriding on the beach, complimentary sunrise yoga (if you can wake up in time), that kind of thing. It’s also an easy walk into town – should the infinity pool, Osprey Spa rituals, crab-stuffed doughnuts and offensively pretty surroundings all get a bit… blah.
elementsofbyron.com.au
ICELAND
On paper, it’s a nobrainer for solo travellers. In 2013, the World Economic Forum decreed Iceland to be the friendliest country in the world, and last year’s Global Peace Index by the Institute for Economics and Peace named Iceland the safest country, with a near-perfect score. But for those who aren’t so statistically minded, there’s still plenty on offer. Iceland is a real-life land of ice and fire, where vast volcanic landscapes and panoramic fjords are on every tourist’s must-see list. Here, few things are done by halves: a dip in the water means long hours soaking in a geothermal spa and star-gazing is a front-row seat to the aurora borealis, the world’s most incredible natural light show. Iceland is as much a destination for brave adventurers as it is for the introspective traveller. Much has been made of Nesjavellir’s Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel – and it is something special – but the centrally located 101 Hotel, a hip yet austere boutique property in Reykjavík, shouldn’t be overlooked.
101hotel.is