Where to have an emotional retreat in Queensland

The solace found in the simple act of walking was a revelation for many during tight Covid-19 lockdowns. With just a pair of sneakers of boots you can be on your way to mental wellness even by walking around the block. But more and more travellers are feeling the urge to put longer and multi-day hikes first on their holiday priority list, especially in destinations that hum with healing.

When the extended five-day Spicers Scenic Rim Trail launched amidst lockdowns, the response was so great they added a slew of summer dates, just to see if anyone would be willing to hike through the humidity. They sold out almost immediately. One of the Great Walks of Australia, this fully guided and supported 50km trek offers a moderate challenge and the opportunity to focus your mind on a very special slice of south-east Queensland as you traverse the foothills of Main Range National Park – part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest – and designated conservation land.

At nearby O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, you can escape as world-weary guests have done for almost 100 years and focus your stay around hiking myriad trails through Lamington National Park, easily accessible from the lodge, villas or recently upgraded campground. The onsite Lost World Spa is also one of the prettiest spots in Australia to indulge in some self love.

Elsewhere in the state, find stillness in the sandstone wilderness that is Carnarvon Gorge, 720 kms north west of Brisbane. A personalised full-day hike with Australian Nature Guides will take you through rugged ranges and freshwater streams to cliffs faces imprinted with ochre stencils, connecting you through millennia to this special place.

Inspired? Here are 10 Great Walks to lace your boots up for in Queensland.

To reconnect with you

If even the thought of having to organise your own time-out raises your anxiety levels, a stint at one of Queensland’s specifically designed health retreats has your name all over it.

Tucked into the Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast, Eden Health Retreat recently emerged from a multi-million dollar refurbishment with a brand new yoga pavilion, new lounge and dining area, and 12 new premium villas. And if you can’t commit to a seven-day program, three-day escapes are now available to you to check-in and check-out of real life for a long weekend. You don’t need to worry about being woken at dawn or roped into activities you don’t want to do; all activities here, from hikes to Ka Huna Bodywork and breathwork to Zumba are available as a pick and mix so you can design your ideal retreat. Even if that means just soaking up the nourishing meals and reading in your premier single lodge (the pick if you’re travelling solo).

Up north, amongst the calls of the curlews and the magical mist of the Daintree Rainforest, Daintree Ecolodge is renowned for their Indigneous-inspired treatments on land known as Wawu-karrba (or ‘healing of the spirit’). Developed in consultation with the local Kuku Yalanji people, treatments here are imbibed with cultural wisdom and draw on traditional healing methods. Picture yourself in an open-roof treatment room, the real-life rainforest soundtrack streaming in while you enjoy a rhythmic Kodo Massage designed to rebalance and realign energy flow, then retreating to one of the revamped Rainforest or Lagoon Bayans.

You’ll find more Indigenous-inspired wellness treatments here.

To break through blockages

Going to a yoga class or booking a massage is a good start, but if you really want to work on yourself Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in the Gold Coast Hinterland specialises in emotional healing. Since 2006, they’ve honed specialty retreats that focus on stress, nutrition, women’s health, sleep or mindfulness but it’s the breakthroughs they see in the horse arena that have often been the most dramatic.

What may at first sound like a flippant trend, equine assisted meditation or therapy sessions hold a mirror up to how we manage challenging situations in our lives. In slowing down and connecting with the horse, it allows you to be truly present and work through behaviour or patterns that no longer serve you. Opt to join a three-hour group learning session or one of the shorter, highly focussed one-on-ones during your retreat.

To rest and recharge

You can almost hear the sighs of stressed-out souls arriving on the doorstep of Tropical North Queensland's Silky Oaks Lodge. Perched above the Mossman River, the sustainable lodge has long been a beacon of wellness in Queensland with its Healing Waters Spa and celebration of local produce. Book in your annual leave now and plan ahead for some indulgent R&R, and start dreaming about that open-air bar and firepit.

Then again, there’s nothing like getting red dust on your boots and wind in your hair to shake off any excess Covid19 funk. At the all-inclusive Mount Mulligan Lodge, the newest addition to the Luxury Lodges of Australia portfolio, you and a maximum of 15 others can bask in 37,000 years of Indigenous significance in the shadow of Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) on this working cattle station. And while there’s plenty of (luxury-level) adventure in the form of ATV tours, hikes and kayaking, there’s also an incredible pool, sunset cocktails, and deep outback tank-style bathtubs.

Of course, if you’ve become quite accustomed to self-isolation, why not book yourself into one of these off-grid and slow stays.