This new Wild Wellness retreat in Mudgee is the ultimate reset

Where is the new retreat?

Glenayr Farm has long attracted visitors, thanks to its exclusive accommodation in the heart of an award-winning wine region, just 3.5 hours from Sydney. The working sheep and cattle farm is arguably one of the best places to stay around Mudgee, providing a small but impressive range of luxurious glamping tents and off-grid villas across its 129-hectare property.

Glenayr Farm in Mudgee has launched an all-new wellness retreat.

But Glenayr Farm continues to up the ante, revealing a new Wild Wellness retreat that promises to launch this regional stay to the top of your bucket list. Officially launched in May 2025, the immersive experience guides guests through a wellness regime that promises to restore balance, clarity and peace of mind.

What’s on offer?

Wellness looks different for everyone. So to make the experience as inclusive as possible, Glenayr has curated an extensive and diverse program that caters to all. Whether you’ve been riding the recent wellness wave or just dipping your toes in, you’ll find something to soothe you, mind, body and soul.

If you’re just getting started, ease yourself in with an infrared sauna session or soak in the magnesium spa. Both offer a variety of benefits, from stress reduction and muscle relaxation to improved sleep and better skin health. Guests can also unwind with communal or private yoga sessions held at The Barn – Glenayr’s new multi-purpose venue designed to host everything from weddings to workshops.

Retreat to your private villa after a day of pampering.

For those who have been dabbling in wellness for a while (or want to push the limits a little), take it up a notch with a refreshing ice plunge. While requiring a little more bravery, the wellness experience has proven to assist with pain relief, improve circulation and enhance mental resilience.

Prefer to be pampered? Slip into restorative bliss with an indulgent massage or facial, organised specifically around each guest. Afterwards, the property’s peaceful country trails invite you outdoors to reconnect with nature through walking and forest bathing. It’s the perfect way to round out your day of relaxation before retreating to your cosy onsite accommodation for the night.

Soothe aching muscles with an ice plunge. (Image: Getty Images/Aleksander Nakic)

Each Wild Wellness experience at Glenayr Farm is elevated by Alpine Spas, who jumped onboard to provide its high-end products that ensure guests enjoy only the best. Zyla Retreats also joined the team to support guests in their wellness journey. Through a range of guided workshops, expert facilitators will assist in reconnecting the mind, body and spirit through life-enhancing techniques guests can take home.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

How do I book a Wild Wellness retreat?

Wild Wellness is available to all Glenayr Farm guests, so all you really need to do is book! There are two private villas available, each featuring a king bed, fireplace, kitchenette, wood-fired hot tub and outdoor fire pit.

The Wild Wellness program is the ultimate indulgence.

Four onsite bell tents provide the ultimate Mudgee glamping experience. Glenayr Farm also recently launched its Accessible Villa, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom space that allows people of all abilities to enjoy the luxurious property.

Once your stay is confirmed, guests will have access to the wellness program and its facilities, including the Finnish sauna, magnesium spa, ice plunge, private treatment rooms and more. Staff will be able to assist with specific requests, including massage and facial appointments. Reservations are open now!

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

This new wellness retreat in Mudgee is the ultimate reset

Wellness meets wine at this wholesome regional escape.

Where is the new retreat?

What’s on offer?

How do I book a Wild Wellness retreat?

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Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.