Australia’s top luxury wellness retreats

Physical and mental health are vitally important when you’re travelling, with long days, late night and disrupted sleep patterns inevitably taking a toll. Of course, that doesn’t happen when you’re actively travelling for your health. In fact, quite the opposite.

Checking into a luxury wellness retreat is your passport to not only a blissful night’s sleep but uninterrupted relaxation – leaving the troubles of the world behind as you concentrate on your mind, body and soul.

Naturally, there are some exceptional examples across Australia, each delivering a distinct experience, be it a rural haven, coastal oasis or bushland sanctuary.

In no particular order, and by no means a complete list (watch this space, with more to be added soon), here are some of the best wellness retreats in Australia.

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Tallebudgera Valley QLD

One retreat to rule them all. At least, that’s how it can feel with the Gold Coast hinterland’s Gwinganna, which never fails to be mentioned among the very best retreats in Australia.

One of three premium Meditation Suites at Gwinganna.

On paper, it’s easy to see why, with all-inclusive two to seven-day packages covering healthy eating, spa treatments and a schedule of activities such as yoga, hiking and boxing, complemented by wellness seminars on nutrition, stress and movement.

Gwinganna's cuisine is known for being creative, delicious and nutritious.

Its location is a core element of the experience – the sounds of nature further grounding you as you explore the grounds – as are the luxurious villas and suites dotted across the property.

Elysia Wellness Retreat, Hunter Valley NSW

The Hunter Valley goes hand in hand with indulgence. Think wine tasting and long lunches amid the vines, followed by degustation dinners paired with yet more exquisite drops. It’s also home to Elysia Wellness Retreat, though the experience is vastly different.

Retreat from the noise and distraction of daily life.

For starters, it’s about transformation – readjusting your mindset, helping you set new goals, and getting your body active through a personalised program of low, medium or high intensity activities.

A two-bedroom villa at Elysia Wellness Retreat.

On the menu are the likes of breathwork and ice baths to boost metabolism and aid sleep, alongside a bevy of spa treatments including Thai massage and energy healing. The all-suite accommodation is top-notch too.

The Benev, Beechworth VIC

Victorians seeking a restorative getaway need only look to beautiful Beechworth, where The Benev invites guests to rest, refresh and reconnect in the grounds of an historic (and exceptionally well-restored) Gold Rush era refuge.

The building dates from 1863.

Today, it boasts a world-class spa, backed by a suite of luxurious rooms inclusive of a refreshment bar, daily spa treatments and a light breakfast at The Benev Pantry.

Reset with a relaxing massage.

Two-night packages range from ‘Grounded Together’ and its 3-hour spa experience with optional mountain bike adventure, through to ‘Deep Rest’, which includes two days of pampering treatments (think scrubs, masks and massages).

Injidup Spa Retreat, Yallingup WA

A world away from care on Australia’s wild west coast, Injidup Spa Retreat in Yallingup (an easy drive from Busselton, where direct flights now connect to Melbourne and Sydney) is the luxury retreat you’re looking for – and then some.

Villas are an oasis of calm.

Featuring 10 coastal chic villas, each with panoramic ocean views and its very own plunge, this adults-only sanctuary is a popular base camp for the Cape to Cape walk. Post-trek massage or picnic hamper, anyone?

Enjoy an invigorating soak in the natural spa.

Another essential part of every stay is a visit to ‘Injidup Natural Spa’: a formation mimicking the jets and invigoration of a spa as the ocean surges through a small opening between granite rocks into a large rock pool.

Soma Retreat, Byron Bay NSW

Made famous by the Nicole Kidman-led series Nine Perfect Strangers, Soma Retreat in the Byron Bay hinterland is an architectural wonderland designed from the ground up as a life-changing space.

The Main House at Soma Retreat.

Though available as a holiday let and corporate retreat venue – the accommodation is stunning – it’s the calendar of two to three-night wellness programs that really stand out.

Meditation sessions often take place within the retreat's geodesic dome.

Among them, a meditation retreat led by co-founder Gary Gorrow, as well as a signature ‘burn-out retreat’ featuring yoga, Himalayan breathwork, sauna and ice-bath coaching, and workshops to recalibrate the body and cultivate stillness within the mind.

The Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa, Palm Cove QLD

Nothing says ‘I’m on holiday’ quite like stepping out of the hotel and onto the beach in barely a dozen steps. That said, sometimes you crave more from your experience – not just a beautiful setting. That’s where The Reef House excels.

The early-morning view from Reef House Restaurant

Complementing its stellar location in central Palm Cove, the adults-only hotel serves up 21 included experiences, from stretching and breathing classes to yoga, aqua aerobics, and bicycles to explore. There’s also daily canapés and mixology classes on that list.

As for The Reef House itself, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a five star hotel, with elegant rooms, refined service and some fabulous wining and dining opportunities.

Looking for a restorative holiday with less yoga? Here are some of Australia’s best luxury hotels and island getaways.