Blissful yoga retreats in Australia

They say a change is as good as a holiday. And when you can mix up your yoga practice while travelling to a spectacular corner of the country, you’ll be completely re-energised. From rainforest yoga in the Daintree to doing the downward dog pose in a divine bush setting next to a billabong, here’s a round-up of the best yoga retreats across Australia

Located high on a plateau on over 200 hectares of the beautiful Tallebudgera Valley in Queensland, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is the perfect place to hone your yoga practice.

A stay at this all inclusive immersive health retreat combines organic living, spa, movement and relaxation with delicious organic cuisine and vital wellness seminars in a dedicated sustainable, low tech environment. On their 3-night yoga retreat your mornings start with pranayama breathing exercises, followed by a range of yoga classes. Each day includes asana practices including iyengar, hatha and yin based rituals such as restorative yoga and more. You can also explore the diverse range of trails around the property with a daily guided walk and enjoy superb views of the valley and the Pacific Ocean. Gwinganna is a wellness destination to soothe your soul and inspire you to live a healthier life.

An eco-lodge set in bushland around an hour’s drive from central Sydney, Billabong has an extensive wellness offering that includes meditation and mindfulness programs as well as some amazing yoga retreats. Settle into a deluxe cabin, with an outdoor bath looking out over the central billabong, before easing into their Freedom Through Yoga retreat. You’ll stretch out in morning and afternoon yoga sessions as well as attend daily yoga workshops where you’ll learn practices that go beyond physical yoga moves to truly reconnect with your mind and body. In between yoga sessions you can recharge with locally sourced organic fare and calm your mind with evening meditation classes.

This multi award-winning health retreat is nestled on 20 acres of breathtaking Bundjalung Country hinterland near Byron Bay. Gaia boasts 22 luxury rooms and suites, a restaurant and beautiful day spa. A range of retreat packages are available and for stays of 5 days or more you can add the Gaia Yoga Focus Program where you will be skilfully guided and supported by Gaia’s renowned Yoga Teachers. With personalised classes and a focus on Pranayama breathing techniques, you’ll see that the blessings of yoga reach far beyond the physical exercise benefits. Suitable for both beginners and experienced yogis, this program also offers the option to integrate pilates into your practice.

Karma Being retreats are the perfect combination of yoga, delicious food, culture and inner exploration. Each destination has been hand-picked to help you escape and immerse in your own wellbeing in some of Australia’s most luxurious properties. You could choose from the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, the island jewel of Tasmania or a soul enriching 4 night rejuvenation retreat in the Daintree rainforest. A typical day on Karma Being retreats always begins with yoga as well as opportunities for massage, meditation and time to explore the amazing places you are visiting.

Combine adventure with asanas with Untamed Escapes’s luxe yoga retreats that depart from both Perth and Adelaide. This eco-tour operator offers programs such as a four-day yoga and wellness glamping adventure in Margaret River. Here you can experience stand-up paddleboard yoga at Meelup Beach, yin yoga and Hatha yoga as well as hike through the rugged Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and enjoy delicious meals that celebrate each region’s local produce. There’s also a four-day holistic yoga retreat to South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, which features restorative yoga in picturesque surroundings, an Ayurvedic cooking class, meditation as well as sea kayaking and bushwalking.

If you are seeking more yoga experiences, you might like these blogs: Where to get your yoga fix in Adelaide and Five of Australia’s most luxurious wellness retreats.

Image credits: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Untamed Escapes, Daintree Eco Lodge