ARO HA Wellness Retreat, New Zealand

Set in New Zealand’s Southern Alps near Queenstown, Aro Ha Wellness Retreat is a first of its kind retreat centre, which infuses advanced eco accommodation, permaculture based selfsufficiency and world class results-oriented programming. It is a purpose-built luxury wellness retreat, which aims to refresh, rejuvenate and reignite all those who walk through its doors. A place where people could embark on a transcendental journey through nutrition, exercise, adventure, alternative health and self-development, Aro Ha offers innovative, all-inclusive Wellness Adventure Programmes based on Yoga, sub-alpine hiking, functional strength training, meditation, therapeutic massage, mindfulness and detoxifying vegetarian cuisine. There are a total of 20 guest rooms including 12 eco-suites and monastic singles. Each room aims to reflect a Zen-like ambiance with the idea of openness ever-present. Guests at the retreat, usually around 12-15 at a time, are expected to share informal spaces, allowing them to connect with others, as well as themselves. Staff to guest ratio is high allowing guests to be challenged at their own level. The retreat can accommodate up to 80 guests for a one day event while each retreat has an eight person minimum. A wellness retreat at the property can be done in either five or seven consecutive days. A day at Aro Ha is pre-planned to the minute. It consists of a dawn-wake up and invigorating Vinyasa Yoga session, a lengthy hike into the surrounding sub alpine landscape, mindful-meditation, functional strength training, healing body work and contrast spa therapy. There are different themed retreats to choose from with specially selected local and international guest educators making an appearance. Aro Ha is not reliant on the grid as it uses New Zealand’s largest privately owned photovoltaic array. It was built using the premise of passive haus and permaculture design, mixed with modern technology. It also boasts the first renewable distributed heating system in New Zealand.