Wellness in the tropics

The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is right next door but guests at Silky Oaks Lodge don’t have to go that far for a natural high, with the lodge’s rooms tucked into the verdant treescape.

Keep it natural: Start the day with a swim in the clear and croc-free river that runs through the property. A natural current pushes you across the width of the river, a sensation that will get you giggling gleefully.

Treat yourself: Head to the Healing Water Spa for the Good Vibrations facial which includes a tension-lifting shoulder massage and sound therapy to clear your chakra points.

One more thing: Tropical flavours are on the menu at the beautiful Treehouse Restaurant, with ingredients from tamarind to finger lime grown in the on-site kitchen garden.

Set on the beachfront in one of northern Queensland’s loveliest villages, the adults-only Reef House is a laid back tropical hideaway.

Keep it natural: Who needs a meditation app when you have the ocean? Watching the ever-changing colours and the never-ending flow of the water to and from the shore is a sure-fire stress reliever. Grab one of the Reef House’s fishing rods and spend a relaxing morning on the jetty – you may even catch your own dinner.

Treat yourself: Harness the healing power of the sea with the Sea Holistic Massage, which includes a sea-salt exfoliation and the relaxing scent of sea lavender.

One more thing: The resort’s beach butler service turns a day lazing by the pool into a luxury escape, delivering cool towels and icy sorbet to your sun lounger.

At the northern-most resort on the Great Barrier Reef, it’s all about exploring the rich marine life of one of the world’s great natural wonders.

Keep it natural: Lizard Island has some of the best snorkeling spots on the Great Barrier Reef just metres from shore, so grab a snorkel and dive in. Marvel at giant clams and eye-catching corals, swim among shoals of brightly-coloured fusiliers, or float above turtles as they graze on abundant sea grass beds.

Treat yourself: Give your feet a treat with Essentia Day Spa’s Wellness Foot Therapy, in which your feet are exfoliated, nourished and massaged to ease the built-up strain.

One more thing: On Lizard Island every season is different, so join the in-house naturalists on one of their regular walks showcasing what the island’s flora and fauna are doing that month.

Keep it natural: The reserve is set on a 145-acre peninsula home to numerous different environments, from beaches to mangroves to rainforest. Take a guided tour through the coconut plantation to discover the plant’s many health benefits, from helping to reduce body fat and lower cholesterol to building the immune system.

Treat yourself: Refresh yourself from top to toe with a Spiritual Journeys’ Thala Beach Rainforest Meditation Retreat. Over an entire weekend dedicated to wellbeing you can enjoy daily yoga and meditation, a cooking class with a professional chef and your eco-bungalow surrounded by native forest.

One more thing: The unpolluted skies make this a great place for stargazing, so seize the opportunity to learn more about the stars and planets at the resort’s outdoor observatory.

 
Image credits: Tourism and Events Queensland