Rainforest retreat

A blissful indulgence

How are you today? Most people say ‘‘great’’ or ‘‘fine’’. But, let’s get a little honest here. Because for the next few minutes, we’re going to all hold hands in a circle of truth.

How am I? Short answer: Fine. Long answer: I’m writing this at 5.02 in the morning on another bloody diet. Like many people in New Zealand, I was hit with the ‘‘C’’ word in 2020. No, not Covid. There was an outbreak of carbohydrates at my place, and it spread like wildfire. Lockdown = love handles.

So, here I am on a herbal smoothie detox, chugging down four enormous glasses of green goop each day. Generously, I can say it tastes like liquid hay. And, it has the fibre content to match – because the digestive impact has been nuclear.

Put it this way, I’ve produced enough energy to power Nasa’s next medium- to long-range rocket.

So, how about you? Do a quick scan of your body and let everything loose. Did you notice your shoulders tight? Jaw clenched? Eyes strained? We all have a metaphorical inner-spring that coils up and relaxes depending on what’s happening in life.

But it seems in the past year, that coil just kept getting tighter – which is why we’ve seen a surge in one type of holiday: wellness escapes.

I’ve just finished a 100-day road trip around New Zealand, seeking out the country’s best hidden treasures. And of those 100 days, there is only one place where my spring really uncoiled: Wairua Lodge.

When most people think of wellness retreats, their mind immediately conjures up images of high-end mountain escapes where kale smoothies, silence, and yoga are mixed together in a pricey prescription for enlightenment.

But this retreat costs a little over $200 a night, and owners Debbie and Aschi Baumberger deliberately keep their prices low because they want Kiwis to enjoy their slice of paradise.

Welcome to the Garden of Eden

Our car rolls over a small stream that feels like a moat to the outside world. There is no cellphone reception here, no city noise, no pollution.

We’re 15 minutes outside the Coromandel town of Whitianga, surrounded by thick native bush. It’s the type of forest that holds a crisp refreshing dew, even on a sweltering day.

Across the stream, our car climbs a steep hill before the expansive Wairua Lodge reveals itself like a long-lost paradise. The impressively large lodge – with immaculate lawns, loungers and outdoor spa – is a striking contrast to the thick bush surrounding it.

Flocks of quails prance around the place like a miniature military, on some kind of welcoming parade.

The moment we step out of the car, we hear a chorus of tu¯ ı¯ and other birdlife a city dweller like myself struggles to identify. I immediately relax.

Debbie greets us with a warm smile; she’s a Kiwi who spent decades in Switzerland and returned home with her Swiss husband Aschi to realise their dream of starting a retreat.

And the Swiss touches of precision and attention to detail shows – the place is pristine.

We’re shown our way around the extensive walking tracks and where to find the best spots to read a book before our room is revealed.

There are four main cabins, alongside a twobedroom apartment. All have a distinctly Swissstyle, with wooden ceilings and walls, plush beds, and a modern bathroom.

Blend that all together in a smoothie of relaxation, and you have the perfect recipe for sleep-ins. Beyond extraordinary While the rooms are beautiful, what makes Wairua exceptional is what you’ll find outside your front door. Most people spend their day exploring the

BROOKE SABIN Wairua Lodge is less than three hours from Auckland.

Our room at Wairua Lodge was distinctly Swiss, with wooden ceilings and walls and a plush bed.

The lodge has a series of waterholes.

End the night making your own s’mores at the firepit.