Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

laura armesto

2

I booked for the optimal wellness 5 day program. Firstly let me say that when I was there about 50% of the guests were repeat visitors, so clearly it works for some people. The good Lovely setting, amazing valley views Some very experienced and knowledgeable presenters Lovely pools, good gym, nice dining room outlook Assigning seats for meals, and rotating these daily, allowing for socialisation with a larger number of guests and avoiding the where do I sit dilemma. The not so good The approach was incredibly authoritarian, which is not an effective way of supporting any change. The "rules" apparently also change depending on when you attend. Accommodation I booked middle range accommodation in one of the grove buildings, which with the special 20% off was around $4300. The room was spacious and had a bath and big day bed on the verandah, which was lovely. However it was part of a cabin/building on stilts, so that you could feel and loudly hear any of the guests moving in their rooms. Earplugs were not terribly helpful, as the whole room shook when they walked. Signature tea was provided and when I asked if I could have a different one (as I don't drink lavender) I was told that was the only tea provided in the rooms. Food Was extremely disappointing, often not nutritionally balanced, with very small servings of vegetables. Everyone at the retreat mentioned the food used to be better. Activities/Talks I found the retreat seriously lacking in activity offerings- Very simplistic Qigong at sunrise, followed by the choice of hard or easy walk or one other activity, breakfast then a choice between a yin (easy) or yan (activity) and that was it for the day, as afternoons were for spa treatments or resting. Daily talk was also very basic, if you are at all aware of wellness there is nothing to gain from attending (eg cafeine affects your sleep). There were also quite a few incidents that made it obvious staff were not aware of how to provide an inclusive and safe space. To me it felt like the retreat had no real direction and very superficial knowledge of wellness, as if it had recently opened and was finding its feet. Definitely not what I would expect from something running some 20+ years. If you are just starting on your wellness journey and need strict direction then maybe you'll get something out of it, but otherwise there are much better wellness retreat offers out there.

B A Kelly

2

When the Middle East conflict put a stop to a European holiday via Qatar, I decided to keep the leave I’d booked and treat myself to a healthy break from my demanding job. And, given south-east Queensland is a smorgasbord of health retreats, I also decided there was no reason to try just one. I booked into two retreats – around one week stay at each; one on the Gold Coast (Gwinganna) and another on the Sunshine Coast (see separate review). I was excited to stay at Gwinganna – I had seen many articles about it over the years with hints about the celebrities who had gone before me. I booked in for the 5 day Optimum Wellbeing program and extended with a Wellness Weekend to make up a 7 day stay. Well, I’m sad to say I learned that the power of marketing is alive and well, and what glitters on the internet is not always gold. The first hint that my blissful retreat had gone awry was the driveway. I already knew that undercover parking on site was limited, so I had left my car at home and hired a rental for the trip; my SUV has a bull in the logo, but it’s not suited to the open paddock. Given the driveway was, at times, impassable for two vehicles abreast, I was suddenly extra grateful for my little rental. When I reached reception, I found a retreat that looked a bit dishevelled - not in a genteel way - with a string of high-voltage powerlines running through its midst. That was my second indication that all was not as I’d expected. (Now I know everyone has an opinion about HV powerlines. For my part, I like to err on the side of staying well away. I told myself it was only 7 days. Nothing to see here.) What followed, however, didn’t improve. It turned out I was on the Carnival Cruise ship of health retreats, daily upselling of additional treatments included. There were some 60+ people (strangely, predominantly from Victoria and New Zealand) all doing the same program, being marshalled around like it was a school camp. No mobile phones outside your room, no leaving site without notice (someone suggested you had to ask permission, but I think that was hyperbole due to the secured gate that required staff assistance for exit/entry) and no planning your days – you were given your schedule the night before. Apparently, it was all about reducing stress. Frankly, it felt like adulting and self-control got left at the reception desk. The food swung from bland (no self-seasoning, of course) to occasional flashes of sublime. Sadly, too much of the former, not enough of the latter. My Orchard Deluxe room that I had chosen for the private deck and outdoor spa bath was far from clean. In fact, the mould in my travertine bathroom was so bad I couldn’t bring myself to shower the first night and I was up at reception as soon as it opened like the proverbial Karen to request it be deep cleaned. I know travertine is a difficult stone – I’ve lived with it and it requires careful maintenance. This bathroom had not seen such care in a looong time. I lost faith in using facilities like the dark-tiled steam room – I couldn’t tell how clean it was. And having colonics here? No, thanks. Frankly, the whole retreat felt tired and looked scruffy. There was mud, leeches, and the feeling that I really wasn't getting value for money. I was very much a number, not an individual guest. I will say many of the staff were professional and came across as well-educated in their fields. Hats off to the ever-cheerful Lucy, who had the role of camp counsellor. She bravely soldiered on every day in a very unenviable role. Fiona, the excellent pilates instructor, and the lady who took the Latin dancing were fantastic. Some of the spa staff were also particularly skilled. And the educational talks were informative, even if you knew much of what was said, there were little kernels of additional knowledge to be gained. But that was the best I could say about it. In fact, when my husband told me he was going to Melbourne for the weekend on business, I cut short my stay, happily burnt some $1,500 and got the heck out of there to join him. Enough said.

Robyn Wigmore

5

I spent five life-changing nights at Gwinganna recently at an 'Optimum Wellness' Retreat. The entire experience was incredible and I highly recommend you booking a retreat if you need a re-set, both physically and emotionally. The organic food was delicious and offered so much variety - I looked forward to every meal and every course was presented like a 5* restaurant with lovely edible garnishes. I thought that going without sugar, caffeine, alcohol and 'junk food' would be hard, but it was easier than I thought and I didn't want it to end. I've never felt healthier or more alive! The program offered a beautiful balance between activity and rest. The educational talks were fantastic, encouraging me to take a hard look at my lifestyle and habits and even a month after coming home, I'm still making healthy daily choices. My favourite exercise classes were three different dance classes which I absolutely loved and inspired to take up dancing when I got home. The yoga, meditation, sound healing and pilates were also fantastic. The setting is picture perfect with wallabies hopping around and stunning natural vistas where ever you look. The daily bush walks catered for every fitness level and took us through beautiful Aussie bushland - the 1,000 year old fig tree was particularly amazing. I also loved the 'bee hut' - lying in the little hut listening to the bees was so calming. I could actually write a book about my experience - too many highlights to list here and I don't want to spoil it for you - lots of surprises that made it even more magical! I think the fact that nearly everyone I met there had been multiple times (some 20 times!) speaks for itself. It's not cheap, but once I was there I could see the value (an investment in me!) and will definitely be going back - soon I hope! Thanks Gwinganna and everyone who works there, for the magical time. It was one of the best weeks of my life! (P.S. I don't have a lot of photos as you go 'technology free' while you're there. I just took a couple of photos on the last day when 'phones are allowed'. Even this is a brilliant way of being actually present and taking in the memories in your mind, not constantly reaching for your phone!)

Isabelle Robertson

5

I am just back from a 7 days detox retreat. It's my second ! A real reset... I feel so much more energized physically and mentally. The staff and the atmosphere is just amazing. Without talking about the amazing organic food from top chefs. They have so many diversified activities and treatments on offer, too many to say. And most important... I came back with tools to help myself. Thank you Gwinganna...