Next Stop? Wellness Travel for 2023.
Planning your next vacay? We spill the tea on New Zealand’s best places to refresh.
Back in the day, when we booked a holiday, we thought about restaurants, amusements for kids and shopping. Now we find ourselves searching for a holiday that fills our cups through relaxation, detoxification and movement. We call this Wellness Travel – a major tourism trend ticking upward following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today we answer where to find the best spots to hit refresh.
What is Wellness Travel?
Wellness Travel refers to a holiday where you travel somewhere to receive health benefits – whether it be mental, physical or spiritual. Think yin yoga practice, energising vinyasa flows, nourishing Ayurvedic meals and nature walks.
New Zealand’s Top 5 Wellness Travel Spots
You don’t need to travel far to find soul-quenching retreats. Our own backyard has plenty of destinations to rewind and refresh.
- Aro Hā, Glenorchy
A mere skip away from the Southern Alps you’ll find Aro Hā, an award-winning retreat that combines luxury with wellness traditions. No stone is left unturned – Aro Ha invites you to engage in sunrise yoga, daily meditation, functional strength classes and subalpine hikes. You can take good habits home by booking into a cooking class or simply let them take the reigns and be nourished with their balanced, wholesome meals. Their spa includes a full menu of massages with infrared saunas. Technology is discouraged – so switch your phone off and switch on to your innerself. - Mana Retreat, Coromandel
From first impressions, Mana Retreat has created a welcoming space full of positive energy and inclusivity. This non-profit organisation helps their guests tune into themselves spiritually, get deep into the wild nature around them while educating about sustainable practices and nourishing the body with vegetarian meals – all are seasonal, local and organic. - Innerspace Retreat, Muriwai & the Coromandel
Nestled in North Island’s nature is Abby and Maria’s retreat, Innerspace. Where they unite Yoga and HIIT Pilates with nature and nourishment. - Solscape, Raglan
Solscape promises a playful, exciting and challenging escape. A short walk away from famed surf spots – Manu bay and Ngarunui beach while also at the foot of Mt. Karori – Solscapes rugged surroundings are completely unique. Here you can test yourself by learning to surf, practicing yoga or even going horseback trekking and mountain climbing. They’ve got their own conscious kitchen to keep you fuelled after your day of activity. - Anahata Yoga Retreat, Golden Bay
Idyllically situated at the top of the South Island, Anahata Yoga Retreat offers private yoga training, consultations and yogic cleansing practices. Offering a truly personalised experience, you can find out which yoga, breathing and meditation practices suit your personality, health challenges and energy flow. Recommendations take into account any imbalances or ailments you may have. This isn’t a once off wellness sort of thing, they will help you create your own at-home yoga practise so you can continue the good work you’ve started. - Cape South, Havelock North
Cape South is a 6 bedroom homestead endowed with magnesium salt swimming pool, infrared sauna, gym, spa and organic gardens. Build your own custom retreat – fancy a juice cleanse? Sure! Plant-based cleanse? Great. At the same time, choose to indulge in therapeutic massage, holistic facials, yoga, sound healing, reflexology and reiki.
Looking to travel further abroad? Top 3 international wellness travel spots
With the borders open, maybe you want to jet away somewhere further? Here are our three top wellness travel destinations at three price points.
$ Rama Garden Retreat, Bali
If you’re looking to move with intention and pick up the pace – Rama Garden’s 7 day Surf and Yoga Retreat will do just that. Start your day with an invigorating yoga flow followed by a swim and surf in the Indian Ocean. Snorkelling trips are also on the calendar. Lastly, a traditional Balinese massage will drag out any tension leftover. Enjoy fresh, healthy meals – make the most of Bali’s seasonal and local produce.
$$ Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Queensland
Nestled in the Tallebudgera Valley in Queensland, Australia, Gwinganna is a one-way ticket to fitness and peace. Offerings include organic living, spa, movement and relaxation with delicious organic cuisine and vital wellness seminars in a dedicated low-tech environment. Want to turn off the noise around you and tune into yourself? This is the place to be.
$$$ The Four Seasons Resort, Maui
In collaboration with cutting-edge health optimisation group, Next Health, The Four Seasons offers white-glove service for personalised health and wellness treatments. At first glance, this resort may look familiar. Here is where the hit series White Lotus was filmed. At second glance, it’s much more – TFS succeeds in redefining the standard of resort spas. Guests have access to the most technologically clued-up treatments – think, IV NAD+ and vitamin infusions, Ozone therapy, Stem-cell therapy and Exosome therapy.
