A three day curated wellness event in the Adelaide Hills

Held from Friday March 31 to Sunday April 2, this event offered the opportunity to explore the best of wellness that this spectacular region has to offer. Local producers, soulful practitioners and passionate restauranteurs showcased a carefully curated selection of events and experiences that h designed were to enhance mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

Health is so much more than just regular exercise and nourishing your body; and this event embodied the true diversity of wellness. There was plenty of time to submit to the healing power of nature, enjoy local nourishing produce, and to share space with skilled practitioners to learn, create or unwind.

There were more than 60 events and experiences – so you could personalise your own wellness trail through the Adelaide Hills across the three days. The hardest part was narrowing it down! The events aligned with five unique pillars of wellness so guests could quickly identify the kinds of wellness experiences that most appeal to them.

‘Nature’ was full of opportunities to leisurely or actively connect with nature. ‘Provenance’ showcased the best of the region’s artisans and producers with bespoke nourishing food, farm, and drink experiences. ‘Relax & Unwind’ was the ultimate in ‘you’ time featuring pamper and mindfulness sessions, and other unique offerings designed to help you destress. ‘Learn & Create’ helped people to identify a way to unleash their creativity or master a new skill. And with ‘Stay’, guests made the most of the three days by checking into one of the local hotels or boutique accommodations, many of which offer a stay with a unique wellness twist.

Whatever you chose, it is a wonderful way to unplug from the hustle and bustle for a few days of rest and play. The Saturday afternoon saw Well Traveller TV’s Barry Du Bois share some personal wellness tips and ideas for creating a healthy home at the stunning Ukaria Culture Centre, alongside Farm Manager Cherie from Jurlique, Creative Director and Chef Kane from Topiary Dining and Michelle Byrne from soulful Shanti Sound.

Those seeking some inner peace were drawn to unique experiences such as the guided meditation and labyrinth walk at the Farm for Wellbeing, mindfulness with Worth Psychology and their therapy horses, or the chance to sink into a forest bathing session with Big Heart Adventures.

Many guests started their day with a gentle guided meditation session in the sumptuous gardens of Glen Ewin Estate before a delicious breakfast and some fresh fig picking. Some joined Roaming Zen for a 1-day retreat filled with dance and yoga, mindful meditation with art, scrumptious nourishing food and healing for the soul.

Food lovers needed to be quick to grab tickets to the “Easy cheesy home cheesemaking workshop” at Grünthal Brew, and the chance to be transported to the heart of Northern Italy for an unforgettable evening with internationally awarded Italian chef and Mindfulness teacher, Enrico Sgarboosa at Tilbrook Estate – both events sold out!

For the more active at heart there were some fantastic, guided hikes and adventure experiences on offer including an exhilarating rock climbing, abseiling and zip lining experience facilitated by Adventure Hub SA.  Other guests spent some time at the iconic Heysen property, The Cedars, with botanical drawing and wild bouquet making.

And just because this was a wellness itinerary didn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy the incredible vineyards of the Adelaide Hills. A number of outstanding vineyards threw open their doors to offer unique wellness experiences, some in collaboration with other local operators. Barristers Block teamed up with Maddie Deere Ceramics for “Pottery on the Block”, a 2-hour clay workshop with seasonal produce grazing boards to enjoy throughout the afternoon. And Mazi Wines hosted LuciferIN for yoga nidra and a wine flight.

The event also included plenty of kid-friendly activities. Fresh fruit picking at local farms was super popular – imagine crisp apples from At Lenswood and fresh Strawberries from Beerenberg. The amazing Dusk Tour at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary was a winner; as was the chance to let the kids loose at Woodhouse Activity Centre for a family digital detox – the kids ran amok for hours on the 54-hectare outdoor adventure wonderland. There was a whole suite of recreational activities that help burn off some energy and keep everyone thoroughly entertained.

Wellness wander is the perfect weekend away for families and groups of friends, as well as solo travelers. There really is something for everyone and we can’t wait to see you next year!

For more information, head to the Wellness wander website www.wellnesswander.com.au