Indholdsfortegnelse for WellBeing Wellness Experiences Issue 8 i WellBeing

To travel is to satisfy the soul. Step outside of the confines of your home and you shall see more of the world and more of yourself. Travel with a curious heart and mind and embrace the changes you find in new cultures and regions. To travel is to open yourself up to change and possibility — to see how things could be done differently. Journal on your journey and be still in the moment, relishing all this trip has to offer. The travel you’ll regret most is the trip you never take.…

2 a kind deed or favour As humans, one of our greatest virtues is the ability to be kind. Offer a kind word to someone who may need it; you never know how much it could impact the flow of their day. Invite someone to join you on your lunch break and, when you ask about their day, listen with presence and courtesy. Offer a smile to a stranger on the train, deliver a home-cooked meal to a friend, make you partner’s favourite dessert or pick up the phone and call your mother. Like a child reaching for a hug, extend kindness to everyone around you, including yourself. You know those kind words you say to others? Say them to yourself. Tell yourself why you’re a wonderful person and believe…

Whether you’re visiting for a day, the morning or simply an hour, a day spa can be a magical experience that leaves you feeling refreshed, revitalised and renewed. This is a place where you can truly unwind and escape from reality for a few blissful hours as a team of relaxation experts spoil you. Not only that, but the benefits of a trip to the day spa can linger long after your service has finished. With links between massage and better sleep, as well as skin treatments and a more radiant appearance, there’s a multitude of reasons to indulge in this kind of experience. We live in a busy world, and when we dedicate time to a day spa we want to make sure it delivers and that we’re not…

There’s something magical about bathing in mineral-rich waters drawn directly from their natural source. It’s a healing, restorative and luxurious process that ensures you leave the experience feeling truly well. Indulge in this ancient tradition at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, a sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation located in the celebrated spa capital of Australia — Hepburn Springs. Step foot on the grounds of Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa and you’ll begin to feel at ease. “We are located within the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve where the mineral waters flow,” Kate Burgess, Marketing Manager at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, says. “There are taps available to try the mineral water, and multiple walking paths through the gorgeous deciduous trees.” This wellness playground features a delight around every corner, with meandering trails, patches of…

When we live a life in harmony with the earth, we feel well, balanced and healthy. Yet in today’s fast-paced, technology-centred world, it can be hard to make space for a connection with nature and even with ourselves. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is the perfect place to build a healthier life. With the largest land space of any retreat in Australasia, Gwinganna arms guests with tools and techniques to build a healthier life once they leave the retreat and return home. “Days here are carefully designed to help re-set our natural circadian rhythm with time away from screens and technology, and space to simply be,” Che De Jong, Marketing Manager of Gwinganna, says. “Our goal is for guests to be nourished by organic food and supported by extraordinary spa and wellness…

The crystal-clear turquoise waters were truly captivating, lining the rugged cliffs that gracefully embrace the unique coastline. Nestled along the striking south-eastern coastline of New South Wales lies a hidden treasure waiting to be explored: Jervis Bay. Located in the Shoalhaven region — which is also home to Ulladulla, Huskisson, Berry, Lake Conjola, St Georges Basin, Nowra and more — Jervis Bay is renowned for its pristine beaches, azure-blue waters and thriving bushland. This coastal paradise beckons the intrepid adventurer seeking an unspoiled blend of wellness and excitement. When the opportunity to visit Shoalhaven came about, I jumped at the chance and booked flights for my husband and two-year old son. It had been a busy start to the year, and we were craving some adventure and rest. Four days…

Beyond the birds, two tiers of irresistible Twin Falls tumble above us, feeding the mist and colouring a startling emerald scene. Drawn to the water’s edge at day’s end, dustyred feet dangling in the current, we wallow in delicious, croc-free pools, watching azure kingfishers hunting on the wing. Beyond the birds, two tiers of irresistible Twin Falls tumble above us, feeding the mist and colouring a startling emerald scene that turns the brawny persona of this Cape York adventure completely on its head. For blokes who yearn to grow out their stubble and test their mettle battling washouts and croc-infested rivers, a trip to the Tip screams “boy’s own adventure”. But among Cape York’s bulldust and corrugations we discover a smoother pathway to blissfully deserted tropical beaches, rock art galleries…

A favourite aunt once told me that the boldest way to travel was to head to the furthest point and work your way back. Giant leaps of faith, she declared, were always rewarded, but my plan to reach the very end of the Eyre is hijacked just 40 kilometres off the highway by a sneaky little detour to False Bay. This first arc of blue at the head of the Spencer Gulf is calm and shallow. I walk to the Point Lowly lighthouse and peer across False Bay where Australian giant cuttlefish gather each winter, flirting and flaunting their ever-changing colours in shimmering mating displays. The spectacle is said to be unforgettable and wild, but this bay’s tranquil summertime guise is equally appealing and the warmth of the sea is…

After decades of conflict between farmers and wandering elephants along the Thai-Myanmar border, Thailand’s most beloved former leader — King Bhumibol the Great — conjured up a daring new plan. Throwing a border around the wild lands of the country’s last big herd, he turned those once angry farmers into tour guides and the elephants' greatest champions. Now they lead Thailand’s single-best wildlife safari, and the beasts that once trampled their farmlands have become their livelihood. Today, Kui Buri National Park protects a rare patch of green — one of the largest sweeps of intact forest in all of south-east Asia — and is home to an elephant population of 320 and rising. This is easily the most reliable place in Thailand to encounter wild elephants, and despite the park’s…

Dear wellness seeker, Welcome to Wellness Experiences, a magazine dedicated to experiences that will help you rejuvenate your mind and body through travel, adventure, connection and movement. This magazine is filled with features that will inspire you to explore our country and the world, as well as ideas for wellness activities you can undertake on your next vacation to help you find greater health and happiness. From swimming with the whales to hiking through the forest, you’re bound to find something to inspire you here. We also cover the practicalities of travel and wellness experiences with our articles on how to choose the best day spa for you and the must-know information for anyone looking to travel solo. An independent adventure can be a fantastic experience. Could this be your…

Most people associate the word “vitality” with energy and vibrancy but, for holistic health practitioners, it has a deeper meaning. In naturopathic philosophy, health is characterised by positive vitality, not merely the absence of medical findings of disease. Ill-health, in contrast, begins with a loss of vitality or a disturbance of “vital force” that interferes with an individual’s ability to self-heal. Vitality can be diminished on multiple levels — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, environmental — and, to replenish it, the first step is to identify and remove the cause. Then, plug into nature’s healing powers to recharge through whole foods, sunshine, fresh air, self-care and time in beautiful spaces.…

As I stand in front of the ocean, a great sense of peace washes over me. I exhale in tandem with each sigh of the waves onto the shore as a smile tugs at my lips. It’s hard to hold onto my worries at the beach — a challenge to keep my sometimes busy mind from simply letting go and being one with nature. By no means is this a phenomenon unique to this author. There’s something about bodies of water that draws in humans. Perhaps it’s due to their beauty — the mirror-like surface of the water that seems to reflect a multitude of emotions. Maybe it’s a more innate natural connection we feel — after all, the human body is made up of more than 60 per cent…

Imagine stepping out of your luxury accommodation and being greeted by a symphony of birdcalls and waves sighing against the shore. Hours of wellness stretch out in front of you, with the opportunity to do as much or as little as you want, from yoga to hiking to simply relaxing with those you love. Elements of Byron has long been one of Australia’s premiere wellness destinations. Here, guests can rebalance themselves as they engage in a vacation that meets their unique needs — because Elements knows that everyone is different. Your wellness should be perfectly curated to your wellbeing journey. Visitors here can enjoy four unique ecologies during their stay, with rainforest, dunal, wetland and eucalypt environments all within the site’s borders. In addition to the two kilometres of absolute…

When you were little, you’d spend your day dreaming of all the wild and wonderful things you were going to do. You’d play make-believe for hours, making mud pies, drawing with chalk on the driveway and laughing as the sprinkler soaked through your clothes. You’d tell friends you were going to be a dolphin trainer, a firefighter, a doctor or a racing-car driver. As a child, the possibilities were as endless as the days. Reignite your childlike mind and revisit a dream you might have let go. As the wonderful Gloria Steinem once said, “Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” Never stop dreaming and your plans will always be possible.…

Gingerly I inch towards the abyss: a yawningchasm that disappears deep into the earth. There’s no guardrail holding me back, no warning signs, just the forested ridgelines of a thousand flattop peaks beckoning me to the edge. Giddy, I lean out just far enough to glimpse the Clyde River carving its crooked path to the sea, and though there might be solace here, my quickening heartbeat pulses loudly. I’ve ventured inland, against the summertime flow of beach-bound holiday traffic, to gain some much-needed isolation in some of New South Wales’ loftiest havens. High on the Great Dividing Range, I wander beneath wild waterfalls and rocky crags, and discover — teetering atop plunging escarpment cliffs — that big sky views are only the beginning. Far from the sea there are rainforest…

At Butterfly Falls we wade through the shallows, inching silently towards the cool stone wall where a thousand fluttering butterflies shift restlessly in the midday heat. One step too far and the butterflies take flight, rising in vast waves to circle through the paperbarks and resettle beside the falls. Flanked by fragrant, honey-scented grevilleas and stalked by waterbirds, this lovely oasis provides the only crocodile-free swim in faraway Limmen National Park, a vast, million-hectare sanctuary in the Northern Territory’s far northeast. We laze here all day, diving deep to scatter tiny fish and floating beneath bright azure kingfishers hunting dragonflies on the wing. Only when the sun swings low and our bellies begin to rumble do we stroll back to camp to stoke a starry night campfire. For city…

There’s a local tradition that Cape-to-Cape hikers stick to, touching the cool stone of the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse before shouldering their packs and setting off south for Cape Leeuwin, 140km away on WA’s wild southwest coast. Through flowering pink Pimeleas I walk that trail too, brushing past peppermint trees and following their heady scent up crumbling Tamala Limestone cliffs to peer into the turbulent Indian Ocean far below. I scoop freshwater from timeless coastal springs, pitch my tent on lonely, windswept ridgelines and end three blissful days of wild walking at Cowaramup by cooling my heels in `a cerulean sea. This precious time in southwest Western Australia is my chance to re-wild: to reconnect with nature and myself. To reclaim a sense of solace beneath towering karri forests, on silent,…

Sitting cross-legged on the bare floor, Ketut tells me life is all about balancing the yin and yang, the spiritual and the material, good and evil, purpose and purposelessness. Of all the waiting rooms I’ve been in, Pura Lempuyang Temple is by far the most spectacular. Instead of white walls and fluorescent lights, I’m sitting beneath an open sky flecked with clouds tickled pink by the morning sun. I’m not here to see a doctor; this appointment is of a more spiritual kind. You could call it a check-up for the mind and soul. My guide, Andy, has arranged for me to meet with a holy man to learn more about the temple, one of the six holiest sanctuaries in Bali, and Hinduism, the predominant religion of Bali. “Understand Hinduism,”…

Life is a series of experiences, some of which we can control and others which we cannot. Be the master of your next experience and make it about wellness. A wellness experience can give you renewed energy to achieve your health goals. It can expand your mind, challenge your body and connect you with nature, helping you to realign. Plan your next wellness experience this week. Whether it’s a retreat, a day at the spa or simply an at-home beauty ritual, make the time to schedule this in. Prioritise your self-care experience and enjoy every single minute of it.…

Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the New South Wales Southern Highlands is Bundanoon, a charming country town with a distinct Scottish ambience. Wellness seekers, peace awaits you here — and it looks beautiful. Quest for Life is set on nine acres of landscaped gardens with a winding drive that leads to the stunning Killarney House. Set foot on these grounds and you will begin your journey to healing with the aid of the experienced Quest for Life team — and what a team it is. The foundation was established in 1989 by Petrea King, an author, inspirational keynote speaker, teacher and facilitator who specialises in emotional wellness. Now, as CEO of Quest for Life, Petrea leads a team of highly trained and qualified health professionals who value compassion, humility,…

Water has the power to connect and heal. You can strip away any pretence as you get out of your clothes and into a swimsuit, leaving you open to experience the beauty of bathing. Whether you are seeking wellness with those you love or going on an independent journey, a trip to a hot spring or mineral bath can leave you feeling rejuvenated, revived and reconnected. And, if you are seeking an Australian bathing experience like no other, you simply can’t go past the Great Victorian Bathing Trail. The trail is an initiative that unites some of our country’s most picturesque bathing destinations. Established by the Australian Hot & Mineral Springs Bathing Alliance, known publicly as Bathing Australia, this trail incorporates hot springs, mineral springs and sea bath facilities, allowing…

The idea of a walking experience or vacation may seem simplistic. After all, we walk every day — why devote your holiday time to such an activity? It turns out that there are many benefits to doing just that. A walking holiday allows you to discover things at a slower pace. Instead of racing from one activity or town to the next, you travel slowly, promoting a sense of mindfulness and peace. Walking allows you time to stop and smell the roses. You can be truly present as you place one foot in front of the other and move your body in nature’s playground. “Walking tour holidays offer a chance to disconnect from technology, often in remote locations with little to no phone service or Wi-Fi. It’s about disconnecting from…

Stillness can arrive at any moment. It can be welcomed through an awareness of mind, experienced between thoughts or cultivated from a deep place of reflection. Stillness can also appear seemingly out of nowhere. You might experience a rush of stillness as the rain starts to fall, after a long exhalation or as you drift out of the thinking mind. However it is that you reach stillness, try to prolong those periods for it is there that your deepest rest will come. Invite moments of stillness into your life as much as you can, whether that be through a breathing or meditation practice, a spa or retreat experience or a dive in the ocean. Stillness of mind and body will be your tool for an integrated, mindful and conscious life.…

Lao Tzu once wrote, “A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” We couldn’t agree with the Taoist master more! It’s time to toss away your itinerary and ramble, rove and roam wherever you’re called to go. Travelling is one of life’s greatest treasures and comes in many forms. You can travel physically to another state or country, you can travel mentally through the words of a book, or you can travel in your own imagination. Drift through the meandering laneways of a coastal village; float over the Aegean Sea on a boat with some new friends; wander the streets of an unfamiliar city until you find the perfect sunlit cafe and sit, watch and absorb. Give yourself the gift of not knowing what or…

My toes curl with the shock of freezing concrete as I step out of the house with bare feet. It is late in the afternoon and the air has a crisp bite to it, trapping my breath in a mist and sending tingling sensations through the fingertips and up the arms which turn into shivers down the spine. I run briskly across the only road through the small settlement of houses, yelping at the rocks as they stab at my soles before jumping into the warm spring water in relief. There is something very wild and majestic about Iceland, a country that not only lies at the clash of the Atlantic and Arctic waters, it also straddles the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates which continue to move and…