2 minute read
Be well.
WOMEN’S RETREAT: Te Wahi Ora, Piha, North Island
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Our coastline is never too far away, so it’s easy to forget just how restorative the ocean can be. Te Wahi Ora is a beach-fronting retreat run by women, for women. Modest rather than flashy, relaxation is achieved by rest: by inhaling sea air and falling asleep to the sound of waves. Enjoy massage, wholesome food and selective counselling. The experience is welcoming yet effortless, with the beach just a skip away and the rare opportunity to do as much or as little as you like.
SILENT MEDITATION: Dhamma Medini, Auckland, North Island
One hour north of Auckland but in some ways, in another dimension altogether, Dhamma Medini teaches Vipassana meditation over the course of ten, silent days. Regarded as one of India’s most ancient, albeit challenging methods of selfobservation, the technique is taught step-by-step, with food and accommodation included.
YOGA: Anahata Yoga Retreat, Tākaka, South Island
Yoga © Auckland Unlimited
Cradled in the forest with views across Golden Bay in Nelson Tasman, here guests stay in straw bale yurts, dorms and cottages. It’s totally off-grid so embrace the back-to-nature lifestyle and ditch the digital enablers (we’re talking smartphones). Replace your screen time with sauna sessions, yoga workshops and a weekly fire ceremony.
HOLISTIC: Cape South, Hawke's Bay, North Island
Sip on tea made with herbs from the garden before an hour-long hot-stone massage. Perhaps you've always been intrigued by reiki or reflexology? Or you'd like to sit down with a nutritionist and discuss your diet. At Cape South, there’s on-site apothecary, a yoga studio, infrared sauna and an outdoor swimming pool. The feel-good experiences stretch to the aesthetics, too: the homestead is French colonial in style and feels perfectly homely.
LUXURIOUS: The Lindis, Otago, South Island
Glamping in a teepee © Auckland Unlimited
One night at The Lindis costs well over $2000, but it does deserve every superlative bestowed upon it. Set in 6000 acres of high country, the lodge is cut into a hillside, leaving the South Island wilderness virtually untouched. Luxuries include an exceptional wine cellar, outdoor bathtubs and floor-to-ceiling windows with staggering views.
IN THE TREES: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef, South Island
A retreat that will satisfy both the savers and those who like to splurge, accommodation here ranges from deluxe tree houses to campervan sites. The former boast private jacuzzis amongst the forest canopy. A communal sauna, spa pool and barbecue area is available to all.
WALLET-FRIENDLY: Solscape, Raglan, North Island
An eco-retreat that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, Solscape teeters on a cliff side overlooking the ocean and offers a handful of seriously cool glamping options, including mud huts, teepees and a caboose. Simple and sustainable, there's a plant-based café on-site with meditation and yoga lessons both morning and afternoon.
SURF INSPIRED: Surf ‘n’ Stay, Whangamata, North Island
Yoga in the morning and hammocks to fall into after a full day of surfing, this surf retreat accommodates both absolute beginners and those wanting to take their skills to the next level. With all the chilled-out vibes you’d expect, you can meet new people over the dinner table, book in for a post-surf massage or simply crack a cold one and chill out.
