HIGHER STATE
Melbourne Airport Opens First Health and Wellbeing Club
Melbourne Airport’s newest hotel, the Novotel & Ibis Styles, is located within a 5-minute walk from Terminals 3 and 4, and a 10 minute walk from Terminal 2 (international) and Terminal 1. It is also a short drive to the Melbourne Airport Business Park, and they do offer 90 minutes free parking if you are picking up or dropping off. The vicinity offers a choice of a café, Italian restaurant and pub, and they try to use only Victorian products. There are also Departure Time display boards within the hotels so you can keep an eye on your flight times.
Located in the hills of Nusa Dua in Bali, the mission of Revivo is to provide a beautiful, safe and supportive environment to visitors and assist them through their selected program on a journey of selfdiscovery, healing and mind-body harmony. The wellness programs crafted for Revivo have been inspired by local and ancient healing traditions, and
designed to maintain or improve specific emotional, physical and mental health by combining elements of spa, movement, nutrition, and sleep.
THE FLOATING LEAF ECO RETREAT
ECO, COMMUNITY, TRADITIONAL, BALI
The Floating Leaf is located on the east coast of Bali, about 18kms north of Denpasar airport among the rice fields of Bali’s Gianvar region. The land for the Floating Leaf was initially purchased in 2002 and donated to the local village so they could grow crops. The retreat was then built and finally opened in 2012, with every phase of construction and planning undertaken with strict compliance to Balinese tradition and culture. Support of the local community still continues today with ongoing initiatives to protect and bring prosperity to the sacred land.
THE BODHI LEAF WELLNESS RESORT
CULTURAL, HEALING, TRADITIONAL, BALI
The Bodhi Leaf Wellness is a new resort that opened in June 2024. It is also owned by Maryam Putu Doiveck (Putu) and is located about a kilometre away from The Floating Leaf. The most popular programs that were being offered at The Bodhi Leaf during my stay were the Shamanic Healing with a traditional Balinese healer, Transformational Healing, and the Yoga Restore package. However as it is new, some programs are still being developed.
SAMAHITA RETREAT
KOH SAMUI, THAILAND
Samahita Retreat started operating in 2003, and is known for yoga teacher training, breathwork, and wellness teachings in Thailand. Located on Koh Samui (Koh means island and is often referred to as just Samui these days), it is about an hour’s drive south of the airport. The retreat provides stays for guests seeking wellness activities along with yoga teacher training that has an integrated breath-body-mind approach.
ABSOLUTE SANCTUARY
KOH SAMUI, THAILAND
Absolute Sanctuary is located on the north eastern side of Koh Samui, and is not far from the airport. There are 22 programs across 15 categories available at this retreat, depending on whether you want to detox, pamper, de-stress, manage your weight, change your lifestyle, indulge in yoga or Pilates, or simply enjoy a meaningful holiday .
Chiva Som is located in Hua Hin, which is about 3 hours drive south of the airport in Bangkok. It was created in 1993, when the owner, Boonchu Rojanastien, demolished his beachfront holiday home and replaced it with a purpose-built sanctuary for visitors wanting to experience how to “enjoy life and wellness.” Encouraging his loved ones to adopt healthy, life-transforming habits, he soon attracted more like-minded individuals.
RAKxa is located on the island of Bang Krachao which is on the Chao Phraya River and about an hour from Bangkok airport. RAKxa is all about integrative medicine – of science and wellness, and of traditional medicine and western medicine. At RAKxa they understand that true health is creating a unique picture of who you are, so they work with you to create a personalised program that works for you and that suits your needs.
PINE CLIFFS RESORT & SERENITY SPA
ALGARVE, PORTUGAL
Serenity – The Art of Well Being is a spa located within the Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal. Here you can consult with their experts for the perfect recommendation to heal your body and mind, and discover massages to revitalise your body. Your wellbeing is their mission, so choose from their uniquely crafted programs to fit with your tastes and interests, then get ready to surrender to a holistic experience.
VILALARA LONGEVITY THALASSA & MEDICAL SPA ALGARVE, PORTUGAL
Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa is a unique fusion of Thalassa, Spa and state-of-the-art Wellness and Anti-Ageing Solutions. The Thalassa Spa represents the best in how the marine climate and its derivatives are used for therapeutic purposes, with the use of modern equipment and novel treatments. The Longevity Medical Spa is a pioneer in preventive anti-ageing medicine – an integrated approach based on advanced scientific and medical technologies for early detection, diagnosis, prevention and correction of age-related imbalances.
Kamalaya Koh Samui is a wellness retreat centred around a cave that once served Buddhist monks as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat. With an emphasis on personal wellbeing and inner health, guests begin their experience with a personal consultation and a BIA (Bio Impedance Analysis). Once the physical, emotional and spiritual needs are identified, a wellness practitioner offers guidance for choosing the most appropriate mix of therapies and treatments.
Fivelements Retreat Bali opened in late 2010 as the first of a new genre of wellness destinations bridging the wisdom of traditional healing cultures with innovative Wellness concepts. To-date, the eco-wellness retreat has been recognized with eighteen international awards spanning across hotel, wellness, spa, culinary and sustainable design industries. With a focus on high impact wellness strategies, Fivelements is extending their concept across various models in unique cultural destinalions.
Located in Margate on a private 42 acre bush property with amazing mountain views, Harmony Hill Health Retreat is just a 30-minute drive from Hobart, Tasmania. Harmony Hill was created to be more than a luxury retreat. This blissful boutique destination accommodates just one individual and one couple at a time, allowing them to provide you with the attention and care you need to get your health back on track.
Peninsula Hot Springs is an award-winning geothermal hot springs and day spa based on the Mornington Peninsula. In their Bath House they offer over 50 globally-inspired geothermal bathing experiences which includes numerous hot pools, a cave pool, reflexology walk, Turkish steam bath, sauna, cold plunge pools, family bathing area, massaging thermal mineral showers and hilltop pool with 360 degree views of the region.