A healthy getaway
Sydneysiders are blessed with plenty of idyllic locations for long weekend getaways. In particular, there are many regions which cater to healthy hideaways, where you can either work out, wrap yourself in seaweed or soak away your stress.
However those looking to get right away from the city should consider taking a trip to Victoria.
Just an hour north of Melbourne are the towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, known as the spa capitals of Victoria. The area contains 80 per cent of Australia’s natural mineral springs and is also the playground of Melbourne’s gay and lesbian travelling set as the host of the Chillout Festival, held annually in March.
Several day spa therapy centres have sprung up here. Acqua Viva Day Spa opened in March 2000, and claims to be the first to offer mineral water for its guests to bathe in. Acqua Viva also offers excellent remedial or relaxation massage, mud and seaweed wraps and body scrubs, facials and foot treatments.
For a more invigorating health boost take a drive south of Melbourne to the gay-owned Yera Health Retreat in Rye. Here you can sign up for a weekend boot camp with a difference.
Instead of ex-marines yelling at you to “drop and gimme 20”, you’ll find a combination of workouts (at your personal fitness level), stretch and Pilates classes and an intensive yoga session. But, to balance the hard work, there are luxurious spa treatments, including a one-hour detox, lymphatic drain massage and an additional 30-minute deep tissue remedial massage, and Chinese herbal tonic at the end of your stay.
And, with a maximum of seven guests, it’s a fairly exclusive experience. Owner Rob Lobosco said organic meals, accommodation, treatments and the four-day detox program.
Year Health Retreat also hosts yoga health retreats. The $660 price includes several yoga and fitness sessions with trainer and healer Kathy Mazzacca as well as three workshops: stress and anxiety management; positive lifestyle skills; and food preparation, styles and tasting. Plus there are spa, acupuncture and detox treatments.
FAST FACTS
Daylesford is an hour north of Melbourne.
Acqua Viva Day Spa, 5 Tenth Street, Hepburn Springs. (03) 5348 2111 or visit www.dayspa.com.au.
Rye is an hour south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula.
Yera Health Retreat, Year Crescent, Rye, (03) 9331 1063 or visit www.yerahealth.com.au.
FLY TO MELBOURNE
Book your flight to Melbourne via Flight Centre Taylor Square, 8255 9988 or Darlinghurst, 9331 0993 or visit www.flightcentre.com.au.
