From Muay Thai training in Koh Samui to camel rides in Port Stephens, One Playground’s new Destination One retreats are bringing together fitness, recovery and travel in a fresh take on a typical wellness getaway.
One Playground has built its reputation on sleek, design-led wellness spaces across Sydney, but its latest venture expands its fitness philosophy far beyond the gym floor.
The super boutique gym chain has announced its evolution into the wellness travel space with “Destination One", a collection of retreats spanning coastal destinations in NSW as well as an international getaway to Thailand.
Carving out its own niche in the wellness world, One Playground aims to combine performance and recovery with experiences informed by destination, designed to leave guests feeling both challenged and restored.
We spoke to the coaches and team behind the concept to learn more about the retreats and why wellness-focused travel is striking a chord with Australians right now.
Angela Aho, Thailand coach.
Ariel Corneau, Port Stephens coach.
Gabby Roux, South Coast coach.
Joey Bowling, Port Fitness coach.
Jose Da Rocha, Thailand coach.
Matt Gardner, South Coast coach.
Camel riding, firewalking and Muay Thai
While One Playground’s coach-led, community philosophy underpins all three retreats, each has its own curated schedule.
The Port Stephens retreat, led by mobility specialist Ariel Comeau and seasoned boxing coach Joey Bowling, makes the most of the region’s coastal landscape. Hosted at The Ambers, a private five-acre, family-owned estate, the retreat takes place in a setting that Comeau says “perfectly aligns with the experience we want to create."
Guests can expect a mix of “outdoor experiences and adventure-based activities with the natural landscape of Port Stephens", from “camel riding along the beach and coastal walks to sunrise mobility sessions by the water".
Bowling is equally excited about the downtime, highlighting the “chef-made breakfast" after morning workouts, access to “the pool, the sauna and massages" and a final-night “Mexican fiesta with a non-negotiable dancing party!"
Immerse yourself in a wellness retreat nestled on a breathtaking five-acre estate at The Ambers.
The second New South Wales retreat heads to Gerringong, where guests will stay at Seacliff House, a secluded coastal sanctuary with sweeping views and a resort-style pool.
Destination coach Gabby Roux says participants can expect “performance-style training sessions, functional fitness, partner and team-based challenges, recovery and nervous system work, mindset workshops and breathwork."
Roux is particularly excited about the retreat’s “signature fireside evening and firewalking experience", adding: “The workouts are not just about fitness, they are designed to build resilience, trust, confidence, and self-belief."
Seacliff House is just two hours easy drive south of Sydney CBD.
The most ambitious of the three retreats takes guests to a luxury beachfront villa in Koh Samui. Alongside chef-prepared meals, an infinity pool and a catamaran day trip, participants will take part in strength training, recovery sessions and Muay Thai coaching.
Led by Jose Da Rocha, the Koh Samui retreat places a strong emphasis on cultural immersion, with the expert coach stating that local experiences will play “a massive role".
He tells us, “Thailand has such a strong connection to wellness, recovery and Muay Thai culture, which aligns perfectly with the style of retreat we wanted to create."
“Members will experience the culture, food, scenery and energy of Koh Samui through group dinners, local excursions, island experiences and activities that showcase the best parts of Thailand."
Fitness sessions at Baan Kilee.
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The growing appeal of wellness travel
The launch of Destination One comes at a time when Australians are increasingly seeking holidays that offer more than an escape.
According to Jayden Abonyi, One Playground’s Growth Marketing Executive and the driving force behind the concept, travellers are becoming more intentional about how they spend their time away.
“Post-COVID especially, people seem to value doing things that feel meaningful, social and memorable. Travel is part of that, but so is looking after yourself," he says.
“They want structure, movement, good food, recovery, connection and a sense that the time away has actually done something for them."
Wellness travel is becoming a top trend.
That growing appetite for wellness travel is also broadening who these experiences are designed for. While Destination One grew out of the One Playground community, the retreats are open to everyone, not just gym members.
Koh Samui coach Da Rocha emphasises that “You absolutely do not need to be an elite athlete or have Muay Thai experience to join", while Port Stephens coach Comeau believes the most important quality is simply “openness" and a willingness to step outside of routine.
That inclusivity reflects a broader shift in wellness travel. Experiences are increasingly being designed around participation rather than performance, with the focus on trying something new, building healthy habits and engaging more deeply with a destination (and ourselves).
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Retreat details
Port Stephens (August 27-30): features structured training, recovery sessions, mindset workshops, shared meals and time in nature. This getaway is all-inclusive excluding transport.
South Coast (September 10-13): combines elite training with high-performance mindset work. This getaway is all-inclusive excluding transport.
Koh Samui (October 12-18): centred around strength and conditioning, Muay Thai, recovery sessions and luxury wellness experiences. Excludes flights, includes airport transfers.
Costs:
Port Stephens: Rooms from $2999
South Coast: Rooms from $2250
Koh Samui: Rooms from $4499
Booking:
Join the waiting list here, and a member of the One Playground team will reach out within 48 hours.
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Isabelle is a travel and culture writer whose work has appeared in Sydney Travel Guide, Cruise & Travel and the The New Zealand Herald. Born and raised in London, but now living in Sydney, she loves exploring Australia, whether that’s pitching a tent under the stars, tackling a coastal hike or going for an ocean dip. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Literature from Durham University, where she served as Director of Commentary for the arts and culture magazine Wayzgoose.
Who says a healthy holiday always has to mean meditative silence?
Sitting on the balcony wrapped in a bathrobe, you warm your cold hands around a green tea as steam rises from the mug. The lorikeets haven’t come out yet, but the sunrise hot-air balloons have. Below, scrubby bushland gives way to rows of vines, where, in a few hours, the Hunter Valley’s cellar doors will begin pouring Semillon.
You might have booked the new Avani Cypress Lakes for a reset – but that doesn’t mean retreating from everything around you. Here’s how the Hunter Valley’s new resort is doing wellness without shutting the world out.
Location
Take in 360-degree views from Meditation Hill.
The brand-new Avani Cypress Lakes Resort is spread across 340 acres in Australia’s oldest wine-growing region. Rebranding in October 2026, it brings the former Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort and neighbouring Elysia Wellness Retreat together under the Avani name. It will also become Avani’s largest property in Australasia.
A long lunch among the vines is a siren song, but it might be even more of a temptation to spend the whole holiday at the resort. If you’re eager for the whole picture as soon as you get there, start your stay with a tramp up Meditation Hill for 360-degree views across the land, before discovering the rest of the resort.
Style and character
Make use of a private balcony in each villa.
Once you enter, be whisked (ever so gently) away to one of the resort’s 204 rooms and suites. Bedrooms come dressed in plush white linen, textured cushions and sleek upholstered headboards, with a palette that takes its cues from the outside, bringing in eucalyptus green and rich ochre that offset the creams, beiges and warm taupes.
For those group getaways, choose from one-, two- or three-bedroom villas, each with a private balcony, separate living areas and kitchen facilities. The one- and two-bedroom villas come with kitchenettes, while the three-bedroomers have full kitchens for those planning to make themselves properly at home with Hunter Valley cheeses and local wine bottles, and the Premier Villa offers a serious upgrade.
If a wellness retreat is already whispering your name between the gentle chimes of Tibetan bells, the Wellness Suites come with private balconies and put AvaniWell’s saunas, pools and day spa experiences right on the doorstep for the 16-plus crowd.
It’s all part of the resort’s balance between switching off and being social when the mood strikes.
AvaniWell
AvaniWell is set to become Australia’s largest integrated resort wellness precinct. And with 26 treatment rooms and more than 50 day-spa treatments and therapies, there’s plenty to tempt you away from the golf green and into that fluffy spa robe.
If the existing Elysia treatments are anything to go by, heated volcanic stones, gua sha face massages, Hawaiian Kahuna massages, Himalayan salt scrubs, remedial massages and even Watsu therapy are all on the menu. The Watsu takes place in a purpose-built magnesium pool heated to body temperature, where floats support you as a practitioner guides you through delicious stretches.
But relaxation doesn’t run to a schedule. You can dip in for a single treatment or make a few days of it, with a year-round calendar of activities to pick and choose from. You can also make some moves on one of the eight Pilates reformers, relax in an infrared sauna or cool off in an outdoor cold-plunge pool or unwind in the magnesium pool.
Beyond that, three pickleball courts and the golf course should tempt you out of your slippers.
Dining
Enjoy a nourishing meal at Fusion.
Avani’s story began in Sri Lanka, so it’s perfect that it’s bringing a taste of the island to Australia’s fusion-loving food scene. Enter Chakraya, the resort’s Sri Lankan-inspired restaurant. From its warm timber tones to its flavours, this high-end dining spot takes its inspiration from the island’s traditions.
After a night at Chakraya, move from warm and intimate to light and airy at Fusion restaurant. The interiors are as fresh as the food, with nourishing dishes that complement the AvaniWell vibe and are just the thing in between your sauna session and Pilates class.
Later, it’s time to get the residents of the three-bedroomer together at the Bistro & Bar (open from breakfast to dinner). Here, it’s all about the casual classics, eaten in blissed-out calm.
Other facilities
Find a golf cours, kids program and more on the property.
When there’s business to attend to, the resort has 24 meeting and event spaces for everything from conferences to weddings. But the fairway always beckons. Designed by Steve Smyers, the 18-hole championship golf course has dramatic elevation changes and fairway contours, 60 bunkers, generous greens and epic views across the vineyards to the Brokenback range. Mind it doesn’t sting your swing.
For the little ones, the AvaniKids program will keep them busy with creative activities and outdoor adventures. But if you’d rather wait it out in style while everyone else is off golfing or gallivanting, take your pick: a luxuriously long swim in one of three outdoor pools, a cabana by the upgraded pool bar or settling in for a film at the outdoor cinema right as those evening crickets start up.
