A transformational stay at Elysia Wellness Retreat

It’s not hard to see why Elysia was voted Australia’s Best Wellness Retreat at the World Spa Awards in 2024 (and a finalist in 2025!), because everything here feels intentional. From the moment you wind up the tree-lined drive and step through the towering doors, there’s a palpable sense of arrival, like you’ve crossed a threshold into serenity.

Built on principles of feng shui, the retreat’s layout mirrors a flowing river – open, spacious, designed to draw energy in and calm you from the moment you arrive. And calm, it does. There’s no pressure to dive into a strict schedule or wake up at dawn for a fitness class (unless that’s what you love). Here, wellness isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. If you’re looking for a health and wellness retreat in Australia that’s personalised, flexible and far more about permission to do whatever feels right for you than performance – Elysia is the place for you.

I began my mornings with yoga in their glass-walled studio with kangaroos gathered on the lawn just beyond my mat. Afterwards, I floated in the resort-style pool, strolled around the abundant vegie garden and got carried away with an inspiring book from the library.

Some afternoons were filled with guided walks, others with long, delicious spa treatments – energy balancing, deep tissue massage, a facial that felt more like a ceremony than a service. A quick PSA: even if you’re not staying at Elysia, you can still pop into their incredible Hunter Valley Day spa and enjoy a treatment. The offerings are extensive, the therapists world-class. And the settings? Unmatched.

The suites feel like your own private sanctuary, perched high up the hill with views that stretch. This is a wellness stay in NSW where the hush of the valley seeps in through the windows and the sky feels close enough to touch. My suite was waiting with a robe, pillow mist and a softly glowing oil burner that infused a relaxing essential oil blend through the space. I loved my turn-down service each night and all the other thoughtful details throughout – the kind that make you feel deeply cared for, even when you’re travelling alone. Especially when you’re travelling alone.

Food here is a love letter to wellness. Every meal is nutrient-dense and beautifully plated, designed to energise and nourish without sacrificing on flavour. Mostly plant-based, but there was a little chicken and fish served during my stay. No sugar or alcohol, but I didn’t miss any of it. You can dine solo in quiet contemplation or join the communal table and strike up a conversation with someone also looking to connect. No awkward small talk, just fellow travellers on their own path to feeling better.

Elysia offers something rare; not just restoration, but transformation. It doesn’t ask you to become someone else or overhaul your life in three days. Instead, it gives you time and space to return to the version of yourself you may have forgotten. Between the movement classes, the nourishing food, the stillness of meditation hill at sunrise – you begin to shift, gently and without force.

Pressed for time? Elysia now offers wellness mini breaks, making it easier than ever to step away and reset. The 3-night Pause Program is popular and was created to support women to navigate perimenopause with balance, awareness, and ease.

And if even three days feels like a stretch, overnight stays are available too, offering a meaningful adjourn without the need for a full week away. Whether you’re after a luxurious day spa to drop into while visiting the Hunter Valley, or a deeper, more immersive experience, this is a place that meets you where you are – and then gently nudges you somewhere lighter.

By the time I started the two-hour drive back to Sydney from this sensational NSW wellness retreat, I felt completely restored. The scent of lavender lingered long after the retreat slipped from my rear-view mirror. The stillness stayed even longer. And so did a new kind of softness – not from doing more, but from remembering what it feels like to simply be.

Discover more about Elysia and the incredible retreat programs here.