Rest and recharge at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is changing with the times but it’s still focussed on helping you unplug, recharge and refresh.
“Just go with your own flow and feel into your own body,” our instructor says.
It’s my first morning at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat and I’m practising Qi Gong with about two dozen others on a grassy hillside overlooking the distant ocean.
Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice designed to cultivate Qi (life force) and balance, and it’s one of the daily anchors on the Gwinganna program.
As we move slowly, breathing in synchrony, the sun rises, bathing the morning in gentle light.
The same Qi Gong routine is followed every day, which promotes confidence and calm. Although I’m a bit lost on the first morning, I’m craving this practice by the third.
Qi Gong switches us from the yang (doing) orientation which leaves so many of us with an overactive stress response, shifting us into a yin (being) state, which is soft, slow, gentle and reflective.
“Qi Gong helps flush the lymphatic system, cleanse the organs and allow us to breathe a deep, cleansing, full breath,” says Megan Bardsley, Emotional Wellbeing Manager and Equine Therapist at Gwinganna.
Next comes a morning walk – either gentle or challenging, depending on how you feel.
Foolishly, I opt for the challenging hike which takes us up the steep slope of Gwinganna’s old driveway, and start to fall behind.
But a volunteer hands me a branch which forms a makeshift hiking pole.
I continue to huff, puff and sweat up the hill, but the reward is an old yoga deck surrounded by trees.
We all then follow what’s dubbed ‘the goat track’ to a lookout over Surfers Paradise in the north and Fingal Head, including Cook Island, in the south, where it’s possible to swim with turtles.
I’m pleased I pushed myself to tackle the more forbidding challenge.
The view makes me feel on top of the world.
After breakfast, a program of further activities coded ‘yang’ (active) or ‘yin’ (restorative) follow. These include boxing, aqua fitness, dance, yoga, and much more.
Why do people come to Gwinganna?
Most Gwinganna guests have been here before – some of them, many times.
I notice a slightly competitive edge to some of the dinner table conversations around who has been here the most times, and who knows the retreat best.
The woman who’d been to Gwinganna 26 times held the record at my last retreat.
Everyone has a different reason for booking a stay at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat.
Some people are overweight or unfit. Others are recovering from injury. Some are stressed out, addicted to sugar, or unable to sleep. Still others are having marital troubles, can’t fall pregnant, or simply need a short break from life’s incessant demands.
Some people rock up with more traditional addictions too – to nicotine, alcohol, or harder drugs.
Be aware you can’t bring alcohol or drugs onto the premises.
“We take it very seriously, it’s a deal breaker for us,” says Megan. “If you’re found with alcohol, you’ll be asked to leave and there are no refunds.”
Can you drink at Gwinganna?
Gwinganna takes a hard-line attitude towards alcohol in most retreats – but there are a few programs where this approach is (slightly) relaxed.
Most recently, I attended the inaugural Healthy Escape retreat, a getaway which provides a glass of organic wine with dinner, albeit not much more than a thimbleful.
And instead of having to endure caffeine withdrawal agony, Healthy Escapees could avail themselves of a specially hired coffee cart outside the breakfast room.
I was surprised to find that not everyone was thrilled about this.
One woman who was on her ninth visit finally dragged her husband along, forewarning him that he’d have to give up coffee and alcohol, and here the retreat was, allowing both.
Who is the founder of Gwinganna?
In the tongue of the local Indigenous people, Gwinganna (aptly) means ‘lookout’.
The former avocado and pecan farm, conference venue and gathering space was first opened as a health retreat by Tony Leede (who also launched Fitness First Australia) in 2006.
Its celebrity connections – such as part-owner Hugh Jackman – lend it a certain cache.
Though there are hints of Eastern spirituality – the onsite labyrinth, for instance, is surrounded by stone statues representing Thai Buddhist earth goddess Phra Mae Thorani –this is not something that’s rammed down guests’ throats.
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is perched high on a plateau in the Tallebudgera Valley.
It sprawls over more than 200 hectares (500 acres) and provides a cocoon from external pressures and thus has a transformative effect on guests’ health habits.
What is the food like at Gwinganna?
Serving excellent spa cuisine out of its well-oiled kitchen, Gwinganna follows SLOW food principles (eating Seasonal, Local, Organic, Wholefoods).
For example, many of the salad leaves, herbs, edible flowers, and even fruit and vegetables that make it to the plate have zero food miles, as they come from the retreat’s onsite gardens.
Gwinganna also shuns ingredients that produce inflammation such as gluten, dairy and refined sugars – but there is no sense of deprivation.
For instance, when I head along to ‘welcome drinks’, I’m served a sweet, creamy golden turmeric chai (thanks to almond milk and honey).
The three meals a day are nourishing, delicious, and served in sufficient quantities to stave off hunger pangs.
On the Healthy Escape retreat, we enjoyed a buffet breakfast with options such as pumpkin, zucchini and capsicum frittatas; blueberry, raspberry and banana smoothies; orange and carrot shots; an egg with avocado and seeded toast; and blueberry cinnamon buckwheat porridge.
Lunch one day was salads with sirloin roast with horseradish cashew cream.
Dinner one night was orange crusted tofu or salmon, served with bok choy, mushrooms, tomato and broth.
Meals are taken in the communal dining hall and seating is allocated by the retreat on a regularly rotating basis.
This allows guests to form connections, and to sidestep being stuck with the same people.
What is the spa like at Gwinganna?
The Gwinganna Spa Sanctuary is billed as the largest facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, with 33 treatment rooms dotted around a circular wooden boardwalk that’s shaded by palms.
It sounds like a lot, but afternoons at Gwinganna are given over to rest and spa treatments.
The multi-page treatment menu offers familiar options like pedicures, facials and massages, as well as more ‘fringe’ options such as colonic hydrotherapy, holistic iridology, vibrational energy healing, and tarot card reading.
It’s also possible to book a range of equine therapy programs.
Incidentally, everyone who books the chi nei tsang (emotional blockage-releasing abdominal massage) raved about it, so it’s on my list for next time.
As I wait, I sip tea from delicate handmade cups with a milky glaze, breathe in essential oils and watch as, one by one, therapists lead other guests (dressed in identical bathrobes) away.
My facial involves two masks – the first like a damp sheet which is sublimely cooling.
While the second mask is on, I get to choose two sits for a mini-massage (scalp, hands or foot).
At some point, I inevitably fall asleep. It’s so utterly relaxing that I have to consciously think about where I’m placing my feet on the way back out.
Tip: If you have your heart set on a particular treatment or treatments, it’s best to lock this in ahead of time, rather than when you turn up, as not all therapists offer all treatments.
What are the accommodation options at Gwinganna?
Gwinganna regularly updates and expands its accommodation offerings to keep things fresh for returning guests.
I viewed (but didn’t stay in) three new rooms which opened at the start of 2023. Accessible by golf buggy, or a very long walk, they feature their own infrared sauna and massage chairs, along with indoor and outdoor bathtubs.
On two occasions, I’ve stayed in one of the open plan Meditation Suites, located a short walk from the dining room, shop, reception, and other hubs of activity.
The Meditation Suites are open plan design, featuring a king bed, kitchenette and laundry facilities and (best of all) a spacious bathroom with freestanding bathtub with bronze mosaic tiles in the middle of the room – reinforcing the message that relaxation is important.
Inside is a copy of ‘Total Meditation’ by Susannah Marriott and a Japanese circular zafu meditation cushion used in the Zen zazen tradition.
Outside there’s a deck, daybed and sand raking meditation bowl.
The gifts of Gwinganna I took home
Shots of apple cider vinegar before breakfast was one thing I was happy to leave behind at Gwinganna!
But I took many more healthy living tips home with me.
Dim lighting and minimal stimulation after sundown helps Gwinganna guests rediscover the benefits of early nights.
So, after my latest stay, I started turning off overhead lights, instead lighting candles at night, to support my circadian rhythms and wind down before bed.
Other frequently asked questions about Gwinganna
Is there WiFi at Gwinganna?
There’s very limited WiFi at Gwinganna.
You’ll find the strongest signal at the John Owen Cricket Stand located a short walk from the dining room.
This is the only place on the property where you’re permitted to have a mobile phone in your possession.
(I whipped out my phone to photograph a meal and was quickly instructed to put it away.)
Gwinganna discourages mobile phone use because it promotes the ‘digital detox’.
According to Lifeline, screen time spikes feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm, while disconnecting from devices allows you to rest and recharge, so it’s an easy enough practice to support.
How will I know if Gwinganna is for me?
Like most Gwinganna devotees, I started out small, and if you’re in any doubt over whether this is for you, I’d recommend you do the same, dipping your toes in the water, before taking a major plunge.
For example, during the pandemic, when the Queensland border was closed, Gwinganna opened to locals like me who were willing to try a one-day non-overnight taster.
The next year, I stepped up to a three-night program, then the four-night Healthy Escape.
Currently I’m eyeing the seven-night Ultimate Wellness (previously Detox) program.
There are also a range of retreats tailored to special interests – such as Mastering Menopause, Yoga and Mindful Living, the Longevity Project, and the Wellness Cooking Retreat.
Can I visit Gwinganna on my own?
Although couples, groups of friends, and family members do often attend together, you’ll be more than comfortable travelling solo to Gwinganna.
The retreat encourages guests checking in on their own, as they can attend to their own needs and nurture themselves without having to consult with significant others.
For more details
Gwinganna is located half an hour by road from Gold Coast Airport, and about an hour by road from Brisbane’s CBD. Packages include seminars, practical sessions and activities, meals and snacks and selected spa treatments, with the total price dependent on the accommodation you choose.
