SPA SEARCH
AUSTRALIA
GAIA RETREAT
& SPA
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA
Olivia Newton-John is one of the owners
of Gaia Retreat & Spa in Australia’s Byron
Bay, and she calls it her spiritual home. Olivia knows
a thing or two about healing and shares it all at this
earthy-yet-airy sanctuary. The eco-friendly, organic retreat
stands apart from most other buildings amid the rolling
countryside, so the peacefulness is tangible in any spot,
from your contemporary-style room to the Kukura (Sanskrit
for “people”), a Samoan-style longhouse with
its large deck and relaxation lounges. When it comes to
dining, you will savor über-healthy spa cuisine (and
a welcome list of Australian wines so you needn’t
be too monk-like). Meanwhile, enjoy the Amala (Sanskrit
for “pure”) Day Spa. Yes you can pop in for
the day, but why would you? The restful haven really begs
a stay of several days to veg out, or be active as you
like with daily yoga, tai chi, qi gong, meditation, tennis,
pilates, salt water pool, etc. The vibe is very upscale
Zen that Olivia describes as “bare foot meets Armani.”
Treatments from around the world contribute different
flavors of healing: Indian Shirodhara, Lomi Lomi from
Hawaii, Swedish massage, Reiki healing, and more. The
Dreamtime Travel (3 hours $340) signature treatment has
its roots in Aussie earth-centeredness. A vetiver sage
body polish starts the ritual, exfoliating and removing
surface impurities. Then, to put the good stuff back,
clay minerals rich in magnesium, potassium, and zinc,
and scented with Australian sandalwood, are slathered
on your entire body. After cocooning for a while, rinse
off the dried clay and replenish with a sweet orange-scented
full body massage and moisturizing treatment. Have you
never been mellow, indeed. www.gaiaretreat.com.au
—David Tumbiri
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