Nestled in the foothills of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, the Golden Door Elysia is a health retreat imbued with the restorative powers of calmness and serenity.
It’s evident from waking up to the choral sounds of birds and the lazy grass-feeding kangaroos grazing in the early morning mist with the precipitous mountains that rise unexpectedly in the horizon. It’s also evident from the transformative feeling that comes from kick-starting your day with the ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi Qi Gong at sunrise.
This low impact exercise which began as a martial arts involves slow, gentle movements and deep breathing and is aptly dubbed ‘moving meditation’. This, followed by a brisk morning walk, fills you with renewed energy, greater awareness and an overall sense of wellness. By the time you arrive at breakfast for fresh fruit, birch muesli and egg frittata, you can already feel your body is being nourished both mentally and physically.
There is no coffee at Golden Door Elysia and no mobile phones allowed and this forces you to slow down and relax and appreciate the tranquil surrounds rather than be swept up by the fast pace hubbub of life. Nutrition, exercise and relaxation are the cornerstones of the Golden Door philosophy but without doubt one of its many allurements is the vast array of beauty treatments.
There is something magical about making a booking for a facial and waiting in a room with the tones of ayurvedic music in a fluffy white dressing gown and slippers. You feel awash with excitement with the anticipation of simply knowing that you are about to be pampered and indulged.
This wasn’t my first trip to the Golden Door Elysia but even though it was a few years earlier I had an overriding memory of how much I enjoyed the retreat’s Babor Facial. This rejuvenating and luxurious treatment was unquestionably the best facial I’d ever experienced and the memory of how I floated out of the room afterwards was still vivid.
No surprise that the Dr Babor Ultimate Facelifting Treatment, which lived up to its reputation the second time around, is the signature treatment from a huge range on offer including the Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, Chakra Awakening and Rebalancing and the Cleopatra Steam Infusion.
For a glorious 80 minutes, I lapped up the attention from a gentle peel, rich creams soaking into my skin, a heavenly facial and neck and arm massage and a nourishing mask followed by even more creams. Once again, I floated away with my skin feeling plumped and glowing and not wanting to lose the satiated feeling moved into the relaxation lounge to read magazines and drink lemon infused water.
During my stay, I enjoyed talks from wellness experts, swam in both the indoor and outdoor pools and dined on nutrient rich food and had my spirits lifted by talking to the caring and friendly wellness experts. It was a completely nurturing experience and one I chose to do on my own which for many busy people is incredibly liberating because it forces you to focus on yourself, nothing else.
Best of all, the sense of calmness remained with me long after I left and importantly so did the clarity of why a balanced life is a good life.
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