Wellness travel can seem like an oxymoron to some — especially after a 19-plus-hour flight to Australia — but there’s something so luxurious about traveling for a great spa.
Whether traveling with your girls, solo, a partner or looking for something else to do on your already-planned family trip, a spa retreat is the siren call of wellness travel. It’s like all the goodness of a spa day, rolled into a family vacation and stretched out over a period of time in a bucket-list destination like Australia.
The Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Located on the Gold Coast, the Gwinganna Retreat promotes relaxation and revitalizing wellness in the Tallebudgera Valley. A bit off the beaten path, the 500-acre expanse is perfect for the active traveler.. Guests can try qigong, a form of tai chi, or go out on an old-fashioned hike with views for miles. This spa retreat is actually on the more active side, with 16 hiking trails and dance classes available, it might not be all the “namaste” you expect. Indulge in healthy meals and refreshing beverages between exercise, active adventuring and endless Pacific vistas.
Tallebudgera River mouth and Burleigh Head National Park at sunset. Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Photo: Tsvibrav | Dreamstime.com
Over in Victoria, Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa offers more than 140 mineral springs and is a great stop for families in the area, no matter how much time you have to spend. The spa first opened in 1895 and is one of the oldest in the country. With spa treatments, including massages, outside pools and private tubs — all boasting the mineral benefits of the Victoria Springs — the bathhouse is a low-maintenance way to stop, relax and recharge on your trip.
Looking for a bit of wildlife and wilderness? Daintree Ecolodge and Spa has both in spades. Located in the world’s oldest rainforest, in Tropical North Queensland, the Daintree Ecolodge offers an all-natural healing experience — one even approved of by the local Kuku Yalanji tribe. Guests flock to the rainforest to the Walbul-Walbul treatment, which uses desert salts and a variety of oils in a truly unique massage experience. The technique is derived from the location and only available at the spa. With so much on the spa menu and holistic treatments to enjoy, Daintree has a bit of everything for all ages and spa styles.
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