Relaxing Weekend Getaways in Australia

Working 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, can leave you feel stressed and pulled in a million different directions when you add into the mix personal commitments and life administration.

If you feel like it's about time you prioritised your physical and spiritual wellbeing, but don’t have the time for a holiday, a relaxing weekend getaway is in store.

Clear your schedule and take two days to totally relax and unwind with these weekend escapes offering 10 glorious ways to revitalise, rejuvenate and get you ready to face the world again.

1. Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Pets might be great for your peace of mind, but when it comes time for a relaxing weekend getaway, organising pet-sitting services can be a nightmare.

Run by husband and wife team Peter and Sian West, Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats consists of pet-friendly holiday cottages and houses by the sea, perfect for you and your furry friends. Located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, it’s an easy 1-hour drive from Melbourne.

Peter and Sian provide the ultimate in relaxation by providing everything you need for your stay including a kitchen provisions basket, BBQ facilities and wood for the fireplaces that are in each home. You don’t have to travel far to experience the delights of the Mornington Peninsula, including nature trails, ocean vistas and the famous wineries.

Peter and Sian recommend spending some time at Peninsula Hot Springs during your weekend getaway, Australia’s first natural geothermal springs. The stresses and strains of everyday life will simply melt away as you immerse yourself in the heated, soothing mineral waters at this award-winning spa.

2. Byron Yoga Centre, Byron Bay, New South Wales

Byron Yoga Centre is a tranquil eco-haven specialising in yoga classes, yoga teacher training and health retreats. Described as a place of healing, this is the perfect place to take time out from your hectic schedule and focus on your health and wellness with a relaxing weekend getaway.

Your relaxation is in your hands when you enrol in their flexible retreat program, allowing you to do as little or as much as you choose.

Take a dip in the mineral salt water swimming pool, enjoy early morning yoga or evening guided meditation and indulge in a massage. While you’re there you’ll have the opportunity to learn about healthy living and detoxing to incorporate into your life back home.

The centre is just 20 minutes away from uber-chilled Byron Bay, where you can relax and listen to the waves lapping on the shore, hang out in a cafe and watch people go by.

3. Raintree BnB, Berry, New South Wales

This exclusive bed and breakfast in the rainforest of Berry, is the ultimate sanctuary in which to relax and unwind on your weekend getaway. Owners Cheryl and Russell welcome those looking for a luxurious base to explore Berry, or simply chill on your private deck and enjoy the mountain view. In winter you can warm your toes by the open fire.

Complementary homemade Devonshire Tea is offered for early arrivals and continental breakfast is served each morning. In your suite you’ll also find port and chocolates, loose leaf tea and nespresso coffee.

During your stay, Raintree can organise an aromatherapy session by a local therapist to visit you in the comfort of your room.

In the township of Berry, you will find shops, art galleries and cafes set among beautiful countryside. Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve is great for birdwatching, picnicking, hiking and cycling, or make a day trip to the nearby Seven Mile Beach.

4. Mountain Whispers, Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Each of the lovingly restored historic residences that comprise of Mountain Whispers are dotted through the picturesque Blue Mountains, just 2-hours west of Sydney. Nestled in the magical bush landscape favoured by Sydney weekend holiday makers, each self-contained home offers the grandeur of days gone by.

‘Mountain Whispers is my healing brand and it heals all those who enter,’ says proprietor Lorraine Allanson.

Luxurious nostalgic elegance is the order of the day at Mountain Whispers, where you can indulge in bespoke treatments from the privacy and convenience of your home away from home.

Yoga and meditation classes are available, as well as in-house massages and facials from Mountain Whispers therapists, to complete your relaxing weekend getaway.

Careful attention to detail, such as port and chocolates to be consumed before an open fire and champagne dinners cooked by your very own private chef, will leave you floating on cloud nine in no time.

When you’re not being pampered, Lorraine recommends the Brahma Kumaris Centre nearby for meditation and dining overlooking the magnificent Blue Mountain valleys. Take a dip under a waterfall at Leura Cascades or Katoomba Falls, or pack a picnic and enjoy the valley views from Lincoln’s Rock.

5. Health and Fitness Travel, Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, Tasmania

Health and Fitness Travel arrange bespoke holidays for those who want to take time out to improve their health and wellness. Does that sound like you? Tasmania provides some of Australia’s most untouched nature for exploring and getting back in touch with the healthiest version of you.

With Healthy and Fitness Travel, you’ll have the opportunity to navigate the coast of Mt. William National Park in north-eastern Tasmania. You’ll be part of a small group of walkers to stay at the retreat for four days. The Bay of Fires Lodge Walk providing a fantastic opportunity to explore nature, woodland and the unspoilt beaches of the area.

The remoteness, the azure waters, and the white sandy beaches are an ideal backdrop for total relaxation. In the Bay of Fires Lodge Spa, a range of treatments are available, from body exfoliation to hand and feet rituals.

6. Back 2 Earth, Berry, New South Wales

Five minutes from Berry but miles from care, lies the idyllic farm retreat known as Back 2 Earth. With an ethos of sustainability, environmental awareness, zero waste and self-sufficiency, Back 2 Earth is a health retreat offering a range of massage therapies and treatments.

For a detoxifying and relaxing weekend getaway you can even reserve a spot in their raw food workshops.

Treatments on offer include a float tank experience, reiki treatment and couples counselling. If you want to get back in touch with nature on your relaxing weekend getaway, you can get involved with the life on the farm. Feel your lungs fill with fresh air as you feed and groom the animals and enjoy the simple pleasures of country life.

You may never want to return to city life after a weekend sitting by the dam, strolling through the fruit forest, picking herbs and teas from the vegetable gardens. In winter, bond with other guests as you sit around the fire pit exchanging stories and gaze at the stars.

7. Chi of Life Weight Loss and Wellness Retreat, Mount Coolum, Queensland

A stressed lifestyle can induce unhealthy habits that are difficult to break without support. Chi of Life Weight Loss and Wellness Retreat, located at Mount Coolum, offers a comprehensive program centred on weight loss that is tailored to each individual.

You’ll need to clear a week to benefit from the program, which runs for a minimum of six days.

While you focus on your health, you’ll also enjoy a wonderfully relaxing stay in their luxury villa accommodation on Queensland’s Coolum beach.

The retreat aims to educate guests to inspire healing from the inside out, with a holistic approach to wellbeing ‘combining nutrition, exercise and relaxing treatments to address the mind, body and soul for real physical and spiritual benefits’.

Treatments include energy healing, infrared sauna, yoga, meditation, beauty treatments, massage and spiritual readings. Guests can enjoy a mix of exercise, fun group activities, and calming treatments as well as enjoying a dip in the ocean in between.

8. Byron Bay Detox Retreats, Byron Bay, New South Wales

Ridding the body of toxins with relaxing weekend getaways can help you to feel clear, light, energised and recharged.

Fronting onto Tallow Beach among 30 acres of native bushland, it’s hard to imagine a more suitable setting than Byron Bay Detox Retreats for a comprehensive naturopathic detox to purify the entire body and hit the reset button on life.

You’ll need slightly more than a weekend for the fasting program, with the guided detox lasting five days. During this time, you will be guided and nurtured throughout your fast and provided with treatments such as colonic hydrotherapy and infrared saunas, as well as meditation and yoga.

You can also choose from a range of additional treatments and ancient healing techniques to rebalance your mind, body, and soul.

‘This retreat works at a deep, cellular level of purification and guests experience the euphoric feelings of being on a fast and a revitalized, reset life upon completion,’ say the detox experts at the retreat.

9. Mt Hay Retreat, Berry, New South Wales

Set on 360 acres of lush green pastures, Mt Hay is a private, tranquil haven with breath-taking views. Against the spectacular backdrop of Broughton Head, staying at one of the five exclusive suites of this working farm ensures that you will be surrounded by nature and wildlife.

The luxurious retreat offers a ‘secluded and peaceful sanctuary, well away from the cares and complexities of contemporary life,’ say the owners.

Qualified therapists visit the retreat to deliver personalised treatments for guests in the privacy of their light-filled rooms.

The grounds of Mt Hay Retreat offer even more potential for relaxation with a 33-metre indoor heated pool, decadent spa, giant chess set and sky-scraping swing. Wander through the establish fruit tree grove and discover hidden glades and tranquil dams.

Pick up delicious picnic goods from one of Berry’s local delis and relax in the bucolic setting. If you’re after a relaxing day out, head to the beach and make your way back home stopping in at a few of the excellent cellar doors in the region.

10. Kangaroo Valley Escapes, Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales

‘The clear air and the star filled nights are unforgettable,’ say the passionate locals behind Kangaroo Valley Escapes. Offering a range of high-quality accommodation and exclusive luxury properties in Kangaroo Valley, it’s the perfect escape from city life where you can enjoy early morning walks watching the mist slowly rise from the valley and gaze at the clear skies and bright stars by night.

Each of the elegant houses are decorated to a high standard and are perfect if you’re looking to get away with family or friends. Choose the right size and location for your group and let Kangaroo Valley Escapes do the rest. Staff are available to guests for any questions or recommendations to make your stay as relaxing as possible.

Kangaroo Valley Escapes suggest partaking in a kayak tour along the Kangaroo Valley River during your stay for the chance to observe the local birdlife. Pack a picnic and explore the wildlife, waterfalls, and walking trails of the rainforest with your nearest and dearest – you’ll return to the city feeling like a new you!

When life is getting on top of you, it may just be a matter of taking two precious days to regroup and recharge with an idyllic weekend escape. Pick your favourite from these top 10 luxurious escapes to renew your energy and leave you feeling ready to face the world.

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