Reset your life at ARO HA WELLNESS RETREAT

Glenorchy, South Island

It’s a promise you’ve always made to yourself before you head off on holiday. You’ll use this time, you resolve optimistically, to get back to a healthier way of living. You’ll eat well, start the day with yoga, head out on a hike every day… you know the drill. And you know how it usually ends, too: you fall right back into your everyday patterns by day three.

Not at Aro Hā, you don’t. This wellness retreat, perched in the heart of the Southern Alps not far from Queenstown, is designed to make a reset easy. “All you have to do is turn up,” promises Aro Hā’s Paula Ryan. “We’ll take care of the rest.”

Guests can choose between a six- and eight-day stay, with a daily program that includes twice-daily yoga sessions – energybuilding in the morning; restorative in the evening – as well as a daily hike through the spectacular surrounds. There’s plenty of nutritious food – all plant-based – to dig into and other activities range from fitness options, such as Pilates and barre sessions, to classes in cooking, gardening and meditation. Oh, and did we mention the daily massages?

“We understand that people lead incredibly busy lives and they really need to unplug,” Paula says. “We’ll plan things out with you before you arrive. If you love cooking, for instance, we’ll make sure you can enjoy all the cooking activities. Once you’re here, there’s nothing more to think about.”

The retreat is sure to unwind you inside and out. The daily hike doesn’t just get you moving; as you soak up the picture-perfect peaks and valleys around you, you breathe deeper and your mind gets to roam as freely as your body. If that amount of activity sounds daunting, rest assured that the Aro Hā team will help you find the sweet spot between effort and achievement – with a maximum of 20 people at any one time, you’re guaranteed plenty of personal attention.

“We do encourage our guests to challenge themselves, but everything is optional,” Paula says. “If you wake up one morning and decide you need a rest, for instance, then that’s what you do.” During one of your quiet days, you may decide to treat yourself to a sauna, which comes complete with a panoramic view, or just soak up the serenity in one of the estate’s many sun-drenched corners.

Find out more: From NZ$5575

(AUD$5170) for a six-day, all-inclusive retreat experience; aro-ha.com

This page, from top: Start off the day with a yoga session; relax in the spa while gazing at the mountains; the delicious plant-based cuisine.

This page, clockwise from top: Aro Ha overlooks the beautiful Lake Wakatipu – Queenstown’s crown jewel; explore nature on one of the spectacular subalpine walks; kick back at the end of the day in your room with a view.