Australia’s best value wellness retreats

Sangeeta Kocharekar Sangeeta Kocharekar
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If your mind, body and soul are in serious need of some TLC but so is your bank balance, check out these affordable wellness retreats around the country.

Relaxing, re-energising, and sometimes even emotional. Wellness retreats can be all of these things, but, let’s face it, they can also be expensive.

 

With that said, affordable retreats do in fact exist. There are retreats that, come bill-settling time, won’t see your newfound calm swept out the window. Even better, you can find them in Australia.
You just have to know where to look. Or, we can help you.

1. Happy Buddha Retreats, Wentworth Falls, NSW

Happy Buddha Retreats
Happy Buddha Retreats in Wentworth Falls, NSW.

A stay at Happy Buddha Retreats in the Blue Mountains will leave you with a whole new understanding of the word mindful. The retreat uses drumming circles, sharing circles, and meditation talks to teach you how to better get out of your head and into the present. Yoga classes and self-guided walks, including a stroll to a nearby waterfall, are of course on offer here too. As are homemade meals, each beginning with chef Khanh explaining her delicious creations in detail – an act that does wonders for mindful eating.

 

The cost: Prices start at $299 per person for two nights mid-week and include all meals, workshops and yoga classes.

Happy Buddha Retreat Pool

Relax by the pool at Happy Buddha Retreats.

Happy Buddha Retreat Waterfall Walk
Take a stroll to the nearby waterfall at Happy Buddha Retreat.

2. Kangaroo Island Health Retreat, Kangaroo Island, SA

They say it takes 21 days to break a bad habit, but at Kangaroo Island Health Retreat on Kangaroo Island, the aim is to have it reset in just seven days. Its Dynamic Detox program was designed for a complete lifestyle change, and sees you fed only tonic pastes and soup for its first four days before moving you onto whole foods. Rest assured, any memory of hunger pangs will be long forgotten when you bounce out the door, thoroughly cleansed.

 

The cost: Prices start at $2999 for a week-long retreat. Admittedly on the pricier end, but when you consider it includes nutrition and anatomy lectures, culinary lessons and Pilates classes and works out to just $428 a day, not so much.

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3. Griffins Hill Yoga Retreat, near Dunkeld, VIC

With yoga classes led by a teacher who has over 40,000 hours of practice under his belt, you know you’re in good hands at Griffins Hill Yoga Retreat. Set on 2.5 hectares of garden, and nestled in the Southern Grampians three hours from Melbourne, the retreat runs three-, five- and six-day programs. The focus here is on Igengar yoga, a form of Hatha yoga that emphasises detail, precision and alignment. In between classes, lace up your boots for a mountain walk, book a massage or check out a nearby cafe or restaurant.

 

The cost: Prices start at $690 per person for the weekend for a twin-share room. If you aren’t with a friend or partner, the retreat will pair you with someone (private king rooms for one guest start from $990 for the weekend). The rate includes all meals and yoga classes.

4. Daintree Ecolodge, Daintree Rainforest, QLD

Daintree Ecolodge
For a DIT-style retreat, book into the Daintree Ecolodge. Photo: Simon Shiff
Daintree Ecolodge Rainforest Bayan
The rainforest-facing rooms at Daintree Ecolodge. Photo: Simon Shiff

While local culture, nature and indulgence-themed packages are on offer at Daintree Ecolodge, the hotel is, for the most part, more of a DIY-style retreat. Start by picking your room, choosing from lagoon, canopy or rainforest-facing options, before then moving on to your activities. And from cooking demonstrations and degustation dinners to 4WD tours and Daintree Rainforest adventures, you won’t be short on choice. Always a plus, the resort is incredibly sustainable so as you connect with nature, you can be sure you aren’t further damaging it.

 

The cost: Prices start at $380 a night for two people and include breakfast.

Even dining at the Daintree Ecolodge Restaurant is a soothing experience when surrounded by this picturesque scene. Photo: Simon Shiff

5. Island Indulgence Retreats, Hindmarsh Island, SA

Island Indulgence Retreats in South Australia’s Hindmarsh Island marina is the brainchild of a mother-daughter team of a naturopath and a masseuse. The combination of the two clearly making for a very blissful weekend. Its women-only programs will see you indulging in a facial treatment, hour-long massage and nutrition workshop, all set on a serene waterfront. Also on the agenda are yoga and meditation classes and self-guided kayak tours. Retreats are capped at just eight guests.

 

The cost: Prices start at $595 per person for the weekend.

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6. Billabong Retreat, Maralyla, NSW

Cabins of Billabong Retreat in Maralyla, NSW
The cabins of Billabong Retreat in Maralyla, NSW.
Billabong Retreat Treetop Yoga Room
Join in on the yoga classes in the Billabong Retreat Treetop Yoga Room.

Nothing says relaxing retreat more than a bathtub on a balcony. At Billabong Retreat, just 45 minutes from Sydney (or a 10-minute drive from Vineyard train stop), deluxe cabin rooms come equipped with said tubs, perched over a very peaceful billabong. In between soaks, join in a yoga class, indulge in a spa treatment or simply curl up in the common area with a book and blanket. Meals here are served buffet-style and are all-natural and all-healthy.

 

The cost: Prices start at $250 a night for a bed in a dorm room, including all meals and yoga. Prices for the deluxe cabin room start at $500 per person a night, $700 for two people.

Billabong Retreat_Deluxe Cabin
Inside a Billabong Retreat Deluxe Cabin.
Billabong Retreat breakfast
The meals at Billabong Retreat are served buffet-style and are all-natural and all-healthy.

7. Ripple Retreats, East Fremantle, WA

Live in Perth or right near it, and only have a day to spare for some quality self-care? Book at Ripple Retreats. In a gorgeous garden in East Fremantle, you’ll learn how to properly breathe and relax, and how to harness the power of positive thinking. By the end of the day, expect to have peeled away at least some of those pesky stress layers, and further cultivated that deep sense of calm and inner peace.

 

The cost: Price for the day is $287 per person.

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Sangeeta Kocharekar
Sangeeta is currently the Lifestyle Editor for The Latch and POPSUGAR Australia. When she's not tapping away at her laptop, you'll find her planning picnics and dinner pilates or partaking in pilates. Clearly, she's also a big fan of alliterations.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.