Australia: Wellness down under
Nature-infused spa treatments and health retreats across Australia provide the perfect wellness solution in a busy touring itinerary, says Debbie Ward
In a yurt under banyan trees I’m having a ‘rose foot ritual’, with herbal Ayurvedic massage oil that has, I’m told, been traditionally blessed.
The leafy surrounds of the spa sit within Arajilla Retreat, an Asian-slanted all-suite hotel where the daily cocktail hour, with fine dining on local seafood are scarcely less relaxing.
Beyond the gates the chilled vibe continues because I’m on New South Wales’ Lord Howe Island, UNESCO-listed for its “spectacular topography”. No one here locks their doors and a solo policeman handles lost property. For a mental detox it’s hard to beat.
Like most locals, I travel the six miles of road by bike, stopping off at perfect whitesand beaches. Glass-bottomed boat trips to spot turtles and hikes to view seabird colonies are among the back-to nature activities on offer.
I lunch at Lord Howe’s second boutique hotel, Capella Lodge, which boasts a view of twin volcanic peaks and a spa with a three-hour ‘Dreaming ritual’.
Tonight I may have a beach barbecue with wine from a boat shed honesty bar and ponder whether to next plump for Arajilla’s gold, silver or fruit facial.
Land-based solutions
Nature-infused ingredients and treatments inspired by nearby Asia are found in many of Australia’s spas. The country also offers incredible landscapes and unique remote settings to completely unwind under starry skies free from light pollution.
With most holidays Down Under involving a lot of time on the road, a rejuvenating pit stop can be welcome.
“Touring around Australia can sometimes be quite intense… we’ve noticed it becoming increasingly popular for clients to want to include a wellness aspect into their itinerary, to relax and unwind for a couple of days and break up their travelling,” says John Parker, Australia Product Manager at Premier Holidays.
“Australia’s spas are known for their unusual treatments,” he adds. Luxurious Qualia on Hamilton Island, for instance, offers naturopathy and iridology and counts Taylor Swift among its celebrity guests.
Short breaks during an Australia visit can foreground wellness, suggests Rachel McMurdo, Assistant Product Manager for Oceania at Travel 2.
“I’d suggest a gentle road trip in Victoria, with restful retreats in Melbourne and Lake Daylesford in the Grampians. The pace at the Lake House is deliberately slow, with an emphasis on good food and wellbeing.”
With millennials now well-versed in wellness, according to Wellbeing Escapes, it pays not to overlook even backpackers in suggesting some downtime.
New South Wales
Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley
(oneandonlyresorts.com) in the Greater Blue Mountains is among Australia’s ultraluxury lodges and offers wellness retreats with guidance from top practitioners.
Near Byron Bay, tourists can get physical at Gaia Retreat and Spa (gaiaretreat.com.au), co-founded by Olivia Newton-John.
And on Lord Howe Island, Capella Lodge
(lordhowe.com) reopens this autumn after a major refurbishment. Its spa treatments are inspired by nature and include Aboriginal massage techniques.
What’s new? In Sydney the new Ultimo Hotel
(theultimo.com.au) tailors guests’ visits, including dining and sightseeing suggestions, to their star signs.
Victoria
Victoria’s spa country boasts 141 mineral springs including geothermal waters. The 10-villa Hepburn bathhouse
(hepburnbathhouse.com) offers steam therapies and Japanese-style Shizuka Ryokan.
From October 28 Royal Brunei
(flyroyalbrunei.com) has a new daily route from Heathrow to Brunei, connecting onwards to Melbourne.
Sell it: Travel 2 (travel2.com) recommends the ‘exceptional’ spa at Crown Towers, Melbourne. Four nights here plus three at Lake House Daylesford costs from £1,579 including flights and car hire. Daylesford also features in AAT Kings’
(aatkings.com) Victoria’s Hidden Gems tour
ACT
Canberra Day Spa (canberradayspa.com.au) is a well-known haven with the latest technology like IPL skin rejuvenation. It also has couples’ pampering packages.
The Live Well Spa and Wellness Centre’s
(livewellnaturally.com.au) holistic approach includes acupuncture and chiropracty. Suggest a Capital Twilight Tour
(mulgabicycletours.com.au) by bicycle, hike up Mount Ainslie or swim in the Murrumbidgee River. Further outside Canberra, join Burnelee Excursions
(burnelee.com.au) for a horseback trek, or have a go at mustering on a working cattle farm.
Tip: During the Truffle Festival (June to August) clients can join trained dogs on countryside hunts for the underground delicacy.
South Australia
The state’s vineyards and the rugged Flinders Ranges are home to some excellent retreats.
Anzcro (anzcro.co.uk) has a four-day Arkaba guided bush walk, while Rawnsley Park Station (rawnsleypark.com.au) offers helicopter trips to sleep under stars in the Outback. Clients can also swim with sea lions and dolphins off the Eyre Peninsula.
Those with wellness goals should consider Kangaroo Island Health Retreat
(kihealthretreat.com), a specialist in detoxing and weight loss. On the same island, Southern Ocean Lodge (southernoceanlodge.com.
au) is the design-led star where the spa has knockout views.
What’s New? Guests at outback lodge Arkaba Conservancy (arkabaconservancy.com) can join a new walking tour to hear stories of the Aboriginal Adnamatna people.
Western Australia
Any clients arriving into Perth, perhaps via the new non-stop flight from London operated by Qantas, can start their holiday Down Under with the jet lag recovery spa package at luxurious COMO The Treasury
(comohotels.com).
Margaret River and its surrounding serene wine region offer a slower pace. Here the boutique Empire Retreat and Spa
(empireretreat.com) has its own vineyard and offers three-hour spa treatments.
In the outback, luxury El Questro (elquestro.
com.au) homestead has thermal pools on its land and arranges horse-riding.
The state’s fantastic flora and fauna experiences are sure to boost mental wellness: swim with gentle whale sharks off Exmouth or visit the vast wildflower plains, colourful for six months from June.
Tip: Pippa Middleton’s honeymoon included eco-glamping at Sal Salis at marine-life hotspot Ningaloo Reef.
Northern Territory
Luxury tented camp Longitude 131°
(longitude131.com.au), near Uluru, has a spa using natural ingredients like Kakadu plum, desert salts and the scented emu bush balm used by Aboriginal healers.
This is a great region to learn more about Aboriginal spirituality, with Arnhemland among the top places to view rock art.
Anzcro has a six-day Classic Larapinta Trek from Alice Springs, incorporating Mount Sonder at sunrise. For a true getaway, book clients an Outback Floatplane Adventure (outbackfloatplanes.com.
au) trip to a remote camp.
What’s new? Virgin Australia (virginaustralia.com) and Jetstar (jetstar.com) launched flights between Brisbane and Alice Springs/Uluru this summer.
Queensland
Gold Medal recommends Barrier Reef gateway Cairns for “great relaxation whilst surrounded by spectacular backdrops,” highlighting Vie Spa at Pullman Cairns International (pullmancairnsinternational.com.au).
On the Gold Coast but in a rural setting with a view, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
(gwinganna.com) is an ecotourism-certified health retreat that combines organic living, spa, movement and relaxation with organic cuisine and wellness seminars. Fully-inclusive packages are available from two to seven days’ duration.
Zen Beach Retreat (zenbeachretreat.com), set on a beachfront in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, offers aerial yoga and a magnesium pool.
The new W Brisbane (wbrisbane.com) has a spa with aromatherapy steam baths.
Sell it: Premier Holidays (premierholidays.co.uk) suggests a three-night wellness stay at celebrity favourite Qualia (qualia.com.au) on Hamilton Island, as part of a 10-night holiday that also includes Sydney and Melbourne. The package, with flights, costs from £2,869pp this November.
Tasmania
With UNESCO-listed wilderness national parks, Tasmania is a top tip for a back-tonature break.
Harmony Harvest Health Retreat
(harmonyharvest.com) has mountain-view villas in the bush near Hobart and offers a ‘retreat’ for typically one- to five-days, it uses organic products and avoids sugar, gluten and dairy in meals.
For luxury budgets, Saffire Freycinet
(saffire-freycinet.com.au), featured by Cox & Kings (coxandkings.co.uk) and Kuoni (kuoni.co.uk), is a topnotch getaway. It offers a ‘pearl exfoliation’, degustation menus and guided hikes.