Particularly around New Year’s, for many, the thought of taking some time out of your day-to-day to reset at a wellness retreat sounds particularly appealing. Two of the biggest roadblocks stopping you from doing so are lack of time and money.
If you do have time though, you’ll be pleased to hear that some wellness retreats in Australia aren’t as expensive as you’d think. Sure, their package prices might sound like a lot, but when you factor in that most include all meals, accommodation, and activities, they can be seen as good value. Plus, because the retreats are usually remote, you’re unlikely to be leaving to go anywhere to spend on anything else.
To give you an idea of what’s out there and how much they’ll cost you, ahead, we’ve rounded up four of the most affordable wellness retreats in NSW, including one starting at just $159 a night.
Billabong Retreat, Maralyla
Billabong Retreat sits a 45-minute drive outside of Sydney, a 10-minute drive from train station Vineyard. Book a themed retreat like ‘Stress Less Thrive More’, ‘Rejuvenation and Wellness’ or ‘Finding Stillness and Calm’, with daily workshops and yoga and meditation classes.
You can also book a stay with no structured schedule, just daily yoga and meditation, three meals included and the opportunity to book a massage, facial, reiki or neuro-emotional technique treatment.
The retreat’s accommodation options cater to all budgets, from three-person shared rooms to private cabins with standalone baths on balconies looking over a billabong.
Rates start at $300 a night for a private room with a shared bathroom.
Krishna Village – Eco Yoga Community, Eungella
Krishna Village is in Tweed Valley Hinterland, halfway between Byron and the Gold Coast and about a 30-minute drive from the coast. Customise your retreat, choosing which date you’ll arrive and leave — though you will need to book a two-night minimum. All bookings include daily yoga classes, three vegetarian and vegan meals and talks and workshops, which they can check beforehand on the retreat’s weekly schedule.
Guests will also get access to a large communal kitchen, dining and campfire area, reading room and yoga hall, all spread across the retreat’s farm setting. Accommodation options range from campsite and container rooms to pine cabins in the hills overlooking the valley.
Rates start at $300 a night mid-week for a private room with a shared bathroom.
Happy Buddha Retreats, Wentworth Falls
Happy Buddha Retreats is a yoga and meditation retreat in the Blue Mountains, a 90-minute drive from Sydney. Book two-night retreats like ‘Inner Joy Retreat’, ‘Sound Healing Retreat’ or ‘Breathwork Retreat’. If you’re up for the challenge, you might want to try the ‘Silent Meditation Retreat’.
Retreats are offered mid-week, weekends, and on select dates. All include accommodation facing a valley, three vegetarian meals a day and a programme of activities designed to free your mind and make you feel less stressed.
Rates start at $250 a night for a private room and bathroom.
Heart and Soul Retreats, Otford
You’ll find Heart and Soul Retreats in the hills bordering Royal National Park, about an hour’s drive south of Sydney. While visiting, if you do want to leave the retreat, you can hike nearby sea cliffs or forests, swim at empty beaches and observe all kinds of native wildlife.
All accommodation packages include two yoga classes, a guided meditation, and occasional evening activities and workshops. You’ll also get three vegan meals a day and the chance to book treatments at the Healing Centre next to the retreat’s reception. Treatments include chakra rebalancing, Tibetan singing bowls and deep tissue massage.
Rates start at $159 a night in a shared ensuite with up to three people.
Related: 15 Wellness Resorts in Australia Where You Can Recharge Both Your Body and Mind
Related: A Japanese Bathhouse Retreat Is Coming to QLDs Hinterland to Help You Find Inner Peace
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